Governor
-
School:
Royal Grammar School -
Location:
Newcastle -
Salary:
n/a -
Hours:
see role information -
Contractual Status:
Fixed term -
Closing Date:
6th Oct 2025
Governor
Required as soon as available
RGS Newcastle is seeking to appoint up to four new Governors to join the School’s Governing Board. We are looking to appoint two governors in the 2025 / 2026 academic year and two further for the start of the 2026 / 2027 academic year. We are specifically seeking individuals with experience of leadership roles in the following areas:
1. Property (or estates management);
2. Human Resources;
3. Performing Arts;
4. Health & Safety; and
5. Fundraising.
Applicants will be welcomed from the private or public sectors, from within our network of parents and Old Novos or those brand new to our community. Individuals will find the voluntary role of Governor challenging yet rewarding and will be able to contribute to the ongoing success of our thriving day school, which has remained at the forefront of North East education for 500 years.
We are looking for Governors who will help deliver our School’s strategic development plan and ensure that the School meets its compliance, legal and financial requirements. The Board has responsibility for the stewardship of the School’s extensive resources and to use these to the best level in the provision of outstanding education for students.
Click here to read more about our strategic direction.
A Governor will have the ability to communicate with all stakeholders from students to parents, Old Novocastrians and donors, through to the wider educational and business communities.
The role of Governor is not remunerated although travel and other reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. There is a comprehensive induction process and there is ongoing training provided, which Governors will be expected to attend. Governors are required to attend termly meetings of the Governing Board, and occasional committee or working group meetings, depending on their area of expertise. A time commitment of approximately 3 days per term can be expected.
Becoming a school Governor is a rewarding opportunity to help shape the future of a school and support the success of its pupils. Governors play a vital role in setting the strategic direction of the School, holding leaders to account, and ensuring financial oversight. You don’t need to be an expert in education — just someone with a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. The role also offers valuable opportunities for personal and professional development, including experience in leadership, strategic planning, and governance, and working with a strong team of successful national leaders in their fields.
To apply, please submit a covering letter and completed application form to jobs@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk by 9.00am Monday 6th October 2025.
Royal Grammar School
In 1525, the Mayor of Newcastle, Thomas Horsley, wrote his will, in which he generously gifted his estate to fund a grammar school. Five centuries later, Horsley’s vision lives on in the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle’s corridors and classrooms, and his philanthropic spirit drives the RGS’s commitment to education.
Few schools can claim a 500-year history. Over the years, the RGS, has continued to flourish as the premier independent school in the North East of England and as one of the country’s leading schools – consistently topping the regional table for academic excellence.
Today, RGS is a fully co-educational school with over 1,300 students aged 7-18 (Years 3 to 13). Its academically selective places are highly sought after. The school has more than 250 students in the Junior School, which shares the same outstanding site as the Senior School. Its Sixth Form is one of the largest in the independent sector, with more than 340 students.
While RGS prides itself on academic excellence, the school is also known for its emphasis on a holistic education. The school’s ‘There’s More to Life’ approach informs its holistic education, which is central to students’ success, health and happiness.
RGS is based in the heart of Newcastle, immediately opposite Jesmond Metro station. The school occupies over 30 acres of land and has state-of-the-art facilities, including five brand new art studios, a new library, a modern Sixth Form Centre, a 25m swimming pool, two Sports Halls, a Performing Arts Centre, outdoor football/rugby pitches at Mooracres, an artificial turf pitch for hockey and the former County Cricket Ground.
Academic Success
RGS is a special place, known and respected throughout the whole country as well as the North East. It’s a place where aspirations are high, results are outstanding, and opportunities are endless. Our students go on to study highly selective courses at the most sought-after universities but also leave the school realising that life outside the classroom has been equally beneficial.
In 2023, RGS was named ‘Independent School of the Year’ overall in The Telegraph Group’s national awards. Most recently, the school was again named North East Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025 by The Sunday Times’ Parent Power Schools Guide.
Academically, the school is highly selective. Students are assessed for entry at the key entry points (Y3, Y5, Y7, and a handful at Y9, plus Sixth Form). The biggest entry points are Y3 (60 students), Y7 (c.75 students) and Y12 (c.45 students). Beyond the academics, in Junior School (Y3-6), entry is assessed through activity days, whilst at Y7, students are assessed through online tests and an interaction day. Sixth Form entry is through interview only.
Students sit baseline tests in Y7, Y10, and Y12 – the average GLA CAT score for both the current Y7 and Y12 is 117. We have several students who have the assistance of our dedicated Learning Support Team, which works across Junior and Senior School.
Co-curricular Activities
At RGS, students can choose from over 170 co-curricular activities, ranging from music, drama, and sports to unique options like e-sports and knitting. All students are encouraged to discover what excites and inspires them.
Sport is also a central part of life at RGS, with students actively participating in a variety of activities including hockey, cricket, and basketball, from early morning until late afternoon. RGS views sport as a fundamental vehicle for students to develop lifelong skills, character, resilience – and, above all, a love for daily movement.
While it may seem tricky to balance schoolwork with so many exciting co-curricular and sporting activities, RGS has found that students actively engaged outside the classroom often perform even better academically. Both programmes are designed to help students develop essential life skills, from self-awareness to decision-making and self-organisation.
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