Dame Allan's School, Newcastle
Encyclopedia
Dame Allan's Schools were founded in Newcastle upon Tyne
in England
in 1705, and are two of the oldest school
s in the city.
and the widow of a tobacco
merchant, to provide a proper education for "40 poor boys and 20 poor girls of the parish
es of St Nicholas and St John". The schools were endowed with land at Wallsend
, to the east of Newcastle. The original school seems likely to have been near St Nicholas' Church, and certainly was by 1778. The schools occupied at least six sites before they moved to the present site in Fenham
, in 1935.
The plural, "schools", refers to the school's "diamond structure." In effect, Dame Allan's consists of 4 different schools: the co-educational Junior School
for nursery to Year 6 (though Nursery to Year 3 are located in a separate building in Forest Hall
); the single sex boys' and girls' schools for years 7 to 11; and the co-educational sixth form
(years 12 to 13).
In 2007 refurbishment of existing buildings continued with a new library, Computer Resource Centre and ICT teaching rooms. These rooms are now spacious modern teaching areas, which are available to students during break, lunch and after school. 2008 saw the opening of the all weather pitch and new tennis courts which have been constructed on the existing areas on the Fowberry Crescent site and the redevelopment of the entrance area of the schools.
, and potential candidates must pass written exams and an interview. The fees are currently around £2,894 per term
in the Main Schools and £2,277 per term in the Junior Department. These fees include books and external examination entry fees, but do not include meals. Scholarships of up to 50% are available on the basis of academic merit
, and bursaries of up to 100% are available on the basis of academic merit and financial need.
Being a private school, Dame Allan's does not strictly adhere to the National Curriculum. It does enter all its students in public examinations such as GCSEs
and A-levels, so the subjects taught are closely tied in to their national counterparts. All students must study English, mathematics, and the sciences to GCSE level, and it is strongly recommended that at least one foreign language be studied to this level. Sixth form students have a much wider range of study, with no mandatory subjects and the introduction of many new subjects in year 12, including A-levels in politics, psychology, sports, business and theatre studies. Dame Allan's is an Anglican
school.
In 2005 the school recorded its best ever set of exam results, including a handful of Top 5 results in several subjects, notably GCSE languages. Furthermore, two pupils were awarded 6 grade As at A-level. The school consistently performs to an extremely high standard in public examinations, with the girls' school often slightly outscoring the boy's school at GCSE
level. The school has not yet been inspected by OFSTED but received a positive report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2000.
The 2000 inspection summarised the schools as "a civilised and civilising community ...[which provides] a well-rounded education for pupils from the age of 8 to 18". and the 2006 report states "Dame Allan’s are good schools with several great strengths and no significant weaknesses. The schools succeed very well in their key aims of providing a broad education for their pupils, where academic success is greatly valued but so is the moral, social and spiritual development of pupils...They have developed a strong sense of community; relationships are excellent and well-qualified and highly committed staffs provide very good personal care and support for pupils. Good teaching helps to ensure that pupils make good to excellent progress" and "By the time they leave, pupils have become well-educated, rounded individuals with a clear set of values and a moral compass to guide them through adult life."
The school has a very good record of extracurricular activities
, having earned a national reputation for the performing arts
, in particular dance
, and been awarded a Silver Artsmark Award.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1705, and are two of the oldest school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s in the city.
History
They were founded by Dame Eleanor Allan, the daughter of a local goldsmithGoldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
and the widow of a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
merchant, to provide a proper education for "40 poor boys and 20 poor girls of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es of St Nicholas and St John". The schools were endowed with land at Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
, to the east of Newcastle. The original school seems likely to have been near St Nicholas' Church, and certainly was by 1778. The schools occupied at least six sites before they moved to the present site in Fenham
Fenham
Fenham is an area of the west end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It lies to the west of the city centre, and is bounded on the north and east by a large area of open land known as the Town Moor. To the south lies Benwell, whilst West Denton lies to the west, Blakelaw and Cowgate to the north, and...
, in 1935.
The plural, "schools", refers to the school's "diamond structure." In effect, Dame Allan's consists of 4 different schools: the co-educational Junior School
Junior school
A junior school is a type of school which caters for children, often between the ages of 7 and 11.-Australia:In Australia, a junior school is usually a part of a private school that educates children between the ages of 5 and 12....
for nursery to Year 6 (though Nursery to Year 3 are located in a separate building in Forest Hall
Forest Hall
Forest Hall is a village east of Benton in North Tyneside in the north of England.-Facilities:There are pubs, social clubs and a shopping centre with a variety of shops, take away food outlets and two restaurants. It has two supermarkets. One is Sainsbury's Local, which opened in November 2007...
); the single sex boys' and girls' schools for years 7 to 11; and the co-educational sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
(years 12 to 13).
Facilities
A number of new classrooms were built between 2004 and 2005 to replace older facilities, with some intended specifically for the sixth form centre. The Sixth Form Centre was opened by the Queen of England during an official visit on 14 October 2005 and was named the Queen's Building.In 2007 refurbishment of existing buildings continued with a new library, Computer Resource Centre and ICT teaching rooms. These rooms are now spacious modern teaching areas, which are available to students during break, lunch and after school. 2008 saw the opening of the all weather pitch and new tennis courts which have been constructed on the existing areas on the Fowberry Crescent site and the redevelopment of the entrance area of the schools.
Academics
All schools are privatePrivate school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, and potential candidates must pass written exams and an interview. The fees are currently around £2,894 per term
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
in the Main Schools and £2,277 per term in the Junior Department. These fees include books and external examination entry fees, but do not include meals. Scholarships of up to 50% are available on the basis of academic merit
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
, and bursaries of up to 100% are available on the basis of academic merit and financial need.
Being a private school, Dame Allan's does not strictly adhere to the National Curriculum. It does enter all its students in public examinations such as GCSEs
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
and A-levels, so the subjects taught are closely tied in to their national counterparts. All students must study English, mathematics, and the sciences to GCSE level, and it is strongly recommended that at least one foreign language be studied to this level. Sixth form students have a much wider range of study, with no mandatory subjects and the introduction of many new subjects in year 12, including A-levels in politics, psychology, sports, business and theatre studies. Dame Allan's is an Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
school.
In 2005 the school recorded its best ever set of exam results, including a handful of Top 5 results in several subjects, notably GCSE languages. Furthermore, two pupils were awarded 6 grade As at A-level. The school consistently performs to an extremely high standard in public examinations, with the girls' school often slightly outscoring the boy's school at GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
level. The school has not yet been inspected by OFSTED but received a positive report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2000.
The 2000 inspection summarised the schools as "a civilised and civilising community ...[which provides] a well-rounded education for pupils from the age of 8 to 18". and the 2006 report states "Dame Allan’s are good schools with several great strengths and no significant weaknesses. The schools succeed very well in their key aims of providing a broad education for their pupils, where academic success is greatly valued but so is the moral, social and spiritual development of pupils...They have developed a strong sense of community; relationships are excellent and well-qualified and highly committed staffs provide very good personal care and support for pupils. Good teaching helps to ensure that pupils make good to excellent progress" and "By the time they leave, pupils have become well-educated, rounded individuals with a clear set of values and a moral compass to guide them through adult life."
The school has a very good record of extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activity
Extracurricular activities are activities performed by students that fall outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school or university education...
, having earned a national reputation for the performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, in particular dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, and been awarded a Silver Artsmark Award.
Notable former pupils
- Peter PilkingtonPeter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of OxenfordPeter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford was a British public school headmaster and a Conservative member of the House of Lords....
(1933-2011), Conservative Peer and former Chairman of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission - Dame Myra Curtis (1886-1971), Treasury Civil Servant and Principal of Newnham College, CambridgeNewnham College, CambridgeNewnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
- Ian La FrenaisIan La FrenaisIan La Frenais, OBE, , is an English writer best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement. They are most famous for television series including, The Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Porridge, Lovejoy and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.They have also written various other work...
(1937), writer - Sir David LumsdenDavid Lumsden (musician)Sir David James Lumsden PhD, DPhil, MA, MusB, FRCM, FRNCM, FRSAMD, FLCM, FRSA, Hon RAM, Hon FRCO, FKC .*Choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist,**St Mary's Church, Nottingham, 1954–1956**Southwell Minster 1956-1959,...
(1928) Choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist; former Principal of the Royal Academy of MusicRoyal Academy of MusicThe Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas... - Margaret DaleMargaret Dale (dancer)Margaret Dale was a British dancer who later became a producer and Director of Dance for BBC television.-Early life and career:...
(1922–2010), dancer and television producer - Ellie CrisellEllie CrisellEllie Crisell is an English journalist and television presenter. Crisell currently works on the BBC's 8pm news summary, and as a relief presenter on the BBC News Channel...
(1976), English journalist and television presenter - David LeonDavid LeonDavid Leon is an English actor perhaps best known for portraying the character Othello in photographer Rankin's directoral debut "Lives of the Saints", Guy Ritchie's film "Rock'N'Rolla" and British television series Cutting It, set in a Manchester hair-dressing salon.In 2007 Leon Played Billy the...
(1980), actor - Edward HindsEdward HindsEdward Hinds FIOP FAPS FRS is a British physicist noted for his work with cold matter. He was educated at Dame Allan's Boy's School in Newcastle before being offered a place at Jesus College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1968. He obtained both an undergraduate degree and a doctorate before...
FRS (1949), Professor of Physics - Marian FosterMarian FosterMarian Foster is a British television and Radio Presenter.She is most famous for presenting the BBC1 afternoon chat show Pebble Mill at One for fourteen years, from 1972 to 1986. Before that she was one of ITV's first women reporters. She was also a host on the BBC2 car show Top Gear...
(1948), Broadcaster - Professor The Reverend Canon Vigo Auguste DemantVigo Auguste DemantVigo Auguste Demant, Anglican clergyman, theologian and social commentator, was one of the 14 committee members who served on the Wolfenden report on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution. He was born on 8 November 1893 and died on 3 March 1983 at the age of 89...
(1893–1983), Theologian, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Oxford - Professor Elizabeth FallaizeElizabeth FallaizeElizabeth Fallaize was a British academic who was Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a French studies scholar....
(1950–2009), Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096... - Professor David A. T. StaffordDavid A. T. StaffordDavid Stafford , full name David Alexander Tetlow Stafford, is projects director at Edinburgh University's Centre for the Study of the Two World Wars and Leverhulme Emeritus Professor in the University's School of History, Classics, and Archaeology.Stafford took his B.A. at Cambridge University in...
(1942), academic historian - Dr Mary Stiasny, academic; Assistant Director Institute of EducationInstitute of EducationThe Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, London and formerly Director of Education at the British CouncilBritish CouncilThe British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland... - Trish WilliamsonTrish WilliamsonPatricia 'Trish' Williamson was an English TV presenter, producer, and filmmaker, best known for her stint as a "weathergirl" on the ITV breakfast television programme Good Morning Britain on TV-am throughout the 1980s.The daughter of journalist Harold Williamson, who notably worked on the BBC...
(1955-2007), broadcaster - Dr Richard Maitland Laws FRS, academic; formerly President of the British Antarctic SurveyBritish Antarctic SurveyThe British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
and Master of St Edmund's College, CambridgeSt Edmund's College, CambridgeSaint Edmund's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the... - Jane Carter (1928-1995), leading energy economist
- Prof Philip Routledge OBE (1967) Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Honorary Consultant Physician, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust
- Phil Routledge (1976) author of numerous science text books, including Ascent, Fusion, Scientifica and Edexcel GCSE Science
- Nic Bewick (1976) architect, co-founder Studio&Partners, Milan
- Alistair Gascoigne (1976) Director of Infection Prevention and Control; Consultant Physician, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Neil Hazon (1976) Reader, Department Of Biology, St. Andrews University
- Len Brown (1976) NME journalist, television producer and author
- Cliff Blakey (1976) Leading landscape artist
- Peter Bowden (1976) Chartered Surveyor Director DTZ
- Bryan Millar (1974) Director of Finance ,Bradford NHS trust.
External links
- The findings of the most recent inspection of the Boys' Schools by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2006
- The findings of the most recent inspection of the Girls' Schools by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in 2006
- Official school website
- A brief review of schools in the area mentioning Dame Allan's