A Level success for Dame Allan's families

THE STRONG family ethos at Dame Allan’s Schools shone through today as members of staff joined their teenage children to collectively celebrate a raft of impressive A Level results.

Principal Will Scott was among the proud parents who returned to the Newcastle independent school to watch his daughter Georgie, who joined Dame Allan’s Sixth Form in September 2020, receive straight A* grades in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. Georgie will be taking a gap year to travel to Southeast Asia before studying Zoology.

Mr Scott, who has been Principal for two years, said: “From the moment I arrived it was clear to me how much family means here. This is true both in the sense of families connected to the Schools and with each other, down generations and across a huge range of backgrounds, but also the Dame Allan's 'family' where our pupils feel known and we all - staff, parents and governors as well as children - look out for each other because of that sense of belonging. 

“As a parent, that has meant a lot to me, knowing that my daughter wasn't just going to school, but from our family to a different family where skilled and caring professionals could help her to develop and achieve her potential, and the Schools have done a brilliant job for her.”

Bursar and Clerk to the Governors, Vicki McDonald, who attended Dame Allan’s herself in the 1990s, joined daughter Emily to collect her A Level results. She celebrated straight A* results in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, and will now go to the University of York to take a BSc in Genetics.

The 18-year-old from Killingworth, North Tyneside, who has been actively involved in drama and music, said: “I’m really happy with my results and excited to go to York, but will miss school. I’ve always felt at home here and made friends for life.”

Meanwhile, Year 1 teacher Jackie Needham was with her son Ben, to collect today’s results. Ben will read Mathematics at Peterhouse College, Cambridge following straight A* success in A Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science.

His mother Jackie, a Key Stage 1 Phase Leader from Newcastle, said: “I like the fact that the schools have high expectations, but are very focused on developing the whole child. Everyone has their strengths and it's about finding them and building on them - something Dame Allan's does very well.”