The RGS Newcastle Group

We are delighted to share with you an exciting development; Westfield School (Westfield) is to join the Royal Grammar School Newcastle (RGS), in the newly formed RGS Newcastle Group of Schools (RGS Newcastle Group)

The respective governing bodies have signed an agreement formalising discussions that have been ongoing for some time. Shortly, governors will exchange contracts, with an expectation that the merger will complete in late Spring 2026.

While there is still some work to be done around regulatory approval, we wanted to take this opportunity to inform the RGS and Westfield communities of the underlying rationale for the merger, and the benefits we believe this will bring to our whole community.

Both schools share a long-standing commitment to excellent teaching, pastoral care, and the holistic development of every pupil. While the respective schools have different demographics, a commonality is our dedication to pupil progress, with both schools achieving enviable outcomes relative to individuals’ ability.

These shared values and the complementary offerings of the two schools have led us to this natural and confident step forward for two communities that already think deeply alike. We believe that combining our expertise, facilities, and resources to form a group of schools, as is occurring across the independent schools’ sector, will provide an even richer educational experience for all students at RGS and at Westfield.

In the short term, the day-to-day operations of both schools will continue as normal, enhanced by the benefit of shared back-office functions and economies of scale.

In the medium term, a key focus for the Westfield site will be the development of a Nursery and Pre-Prep, for which we see a potentially significant demand.

In the longer term, while each school will continue to function independently with their own admissions criteria, the merger offers an opportunity to collaborate on curriculum breadth, expand co-curricular options, invest further in facilities, and ensure continued financial sustainability of a strong, consolidated group of schools which meet the needs of a broad variety of children.

Separately, and unrelated to the merger, Neil Walker has confirmed that he will retire from his role as Head of Westfield at the end of the current academic year. This has been a deeply considered decision for Neil, as Westfield has been a huge part of his professional life. 

However, as he approaches retirement age, Neil feels this is the right moment to step back. He is incredibly excited about the opportunities that the merger brings and is immensely proud to have played a key role in securing Westfield’s future as part of a strong and sustainable group of schools. 

Before his departure, Neil will continue to play an important role in the operational implementation of the merger plans and will oversee a careful handover to his interim successor, Kate Quinn, currently Westfield’s Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding 

Lead. Kate’s appointment will provide continuity and stability of leadership for the school community while the Governors undertake a thorough recruitment process for a permanent Head. Kate will report to Geoffrey Stanford, who will become Executive Head of the RGS Newcastle Group.

Please find below a set of questions and answers to help explain our vision and approach. Whilst the detail is being worked through, our priority throughout this merger process is to ensure transparency. Further updates will be provided as planning progresses and as always, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to get in touch.

In closing, we are proud of all that both schools have achieved to date and excited about the opportunities this merger creates for our respective school communities. Together, we can look ahead with real optimism as we shape the next chapter of excellence across the RGS Newcastle Group.

1. What are the key details of the two schools?

RGS was founded in 1525 and is Newcastle’s oldest school, receiving its Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I.

Originally a boys’ school, RGS has been co-educational for 25 years and now educates over 1,300 students, aged 7 to 18 (Year 3 to Year 13) from its city centre location, which has c30 acres of facilities.

RGS is academically selective and well known for its public examination results, plus its equal focus on pastoral care and breadth of co-curricular opportunity.

Westfield School was founded in 1960, originally established as a girls’ school, from September 2025 it has admitted boys into its Junior House.

Now educating 180 students aged 3 to 18, at its six-acre campus in Gosforth, Westfield is highly regarded for its nurturing environment and outstanding pastoral care, as well as excellent academic progress which is achieved by dedicated teachers in small class sizes.

2. What do the schools share in common?

RGS and Westfield share a deep-rooted commitment to the same core principles. Both schools place academic excellence at the heart of their mission, ensuring every child is supported to reach their full potential.

We each believe that this is best delivered within a pastorally strong and nurturing environment, where individual wellbeing is prioritised. Alongside this, both schools believe that co-curricular opportunities shape well-rounded, happy and successful young adults.

The two schools also share an ambition to raise academic achievement and educational opportunities in the North East, and have already worked together successfully on a number of Partnership projects, in particular delivering Maths and Further Maths in State schools across the region.

3. Why are the two schools merging?

It will come as no surprise to parents that it is a challenging time for the smallest independent schools, yet we firmly believe that Newcastle families deserve a breadth of different independent school options, that suit the unique needs of children in our region.

Allowing both schools to thrive is key to furthering these aims.

Westfield taking the opportunity to merge into the RGS Newcastle Group will

strengthen long-term educational provision, broaden academic and co-curricular opportunities, and ensure financial resilience.

Similar consolidation is happening across the UK independent schools’ sector.

Crucially, we believe that the merger will provide an opportunity to develop and expand the RGS Newcastle Group's Nursery and Pre-Prep provision,

responding to the strong local demand for early years places offered by expert educationalists.

In addition to our closely aligned values, the demographic of our students is highly complementary.

While RGS excels in developing students who thrive in a fast paced and challenging academic setting, Westfield will continue to be proudly non-selective, ensuring all pupils achieve their full potential by providing specialist expertise and supporting students’ individual needs.

We expect that the schools will continue to operate within these respective strengths, but we believe there are significant opportunities to align operational functions and bring students together for co-curricular and other activities.

4. What does this mean in legal and structural terms?

The two schools are merging to form the RGS Newcastle Group of Schools (the RGS Newcastle Group)

The full board of existing RGS Governors will remain Trustees of the merged charity, with two Westfield Governors joining the combined Board.

Operationally, Westfield School, as it currently functions, will become a division within the larger entity, the RGS Newcastle Group, with the following offerings:

Geoffrey Stanford, will take the role of Executive Head of the RGS Newcastle Group, whilst continuing as Head of RGS Newcastle. There will be no immediate change to the RGS Senior Leadership Team.

Westfield will continue to have its own Head and Senior Leadership Team, as at present, led by Neil Walker as Head until the end of the 25/26 academic year, succeeded by Kate Quinn as Interim Head.

Each school will keep their individual identity, teachers and site, while benefiting from the organisational strength that comes with shared resources.

In particular, both schools will retain their separate educational admissions criteria and curriculum, with RGS Junior, Senior and Sixth Form all remaining academically selective.

However, being part of one RGS Newcastle Group would mean that student transition between schools, where appropriate, would be smoother.

Both schools are committed to maintaining close relationships with their school communities and will ensure that student, parent and staff voices continue to be heard through established governance channels.

These arrangements will remain in place as they are now and will continue to play an important role in supporting and challenging each school.

This allows both schools to build on their existing strengths while opening up new opportunities for our students and families.

*Westfield Nursery already welcomes children aged 3-4; it is our intention (subject to regulatory approval) to welcome babies from 6 months and extend the provision to 51 weeks a year.

5. What is the timeline?

Merger contracts are being exchanged shortly and the merger is planned to complete in late Spring 2026.

Between now and then, both schools are working together on detailed operational planning, all aimed at ensuring a smooth, carefully managed transition.

6. What does this mean in practice for current Westfield families?

We are really excited about the benefits to Westfield pupils and their families, providing continuity of quality education experience in the school where they are thriving.

For current Westfield families, day-to-day life will continue with the warm, nurturing ethos that families value at Westfield unchanged.

Westfield’s character, traditions and culture will remain, while benefiting from the broader opportunities that come from being part of a stronger, united organisation.

In particular, by joining the RGS Newcastle Group, Westfield will be able to leverage some of its considerable assets, to invest in developing its site and facilities.

Looking ahead, we will be exploring possibilities for Westfield students to share co-curricular opportunities with RGS, including potential shared trips and expeditions.

We also hope to maximise the benefits of an expanded alumni network, to further enhance the careers advice/networking opportunities for both schools’ students.

In time we will be exploring opportunities to collaborate on teaching and learning practice, and curriculum, where the well-recognised respective expertise of both schools’ teachers, will benefit all students.

7. What does this mean in practice for current RGS families?

For current RGS families, day-to-day life will remain largely unchanged, we remain focussed on making sure RGS families receive the quality experience for which RGS is known.

Our recent announcements regarding the expansion of our A-Level offering and introduction of BTEC Sport highlight the continued investment in our curriculum.

We are also continuing to develop high quality teaching and learning, SEND and technology provision, all of which have been a focus in recent years. Looking ahead, we are developing our Sports’ provision, with the arrival of our new Deputy Head (Co-Curricular) who joined us from Sedbergh School in January 2026.

Crucially, all of this work continues, and our ambition for excellence, stability and financial resilience at RGS remains unchanged by this merger; indeed, it will strengthen RGS's position.

In terms of developments relating to the merger, we are really excited about the potential of having a Nursery and Pre-Prep provision within the RGS Newcastle Group.

While RGS will retain its existing academically selective admissions criteria, having this provision within the same family of schools will ease the transition of students, as appropriate.

In time RGS students may see more Westfield students and staff in co-curricular opportunities, which will increase the breadth of opportunities for all students.

8. Westfield recently transitioned to co-education in its Nursery and Junior School, will this merger affect the Senior School?

Westfield families will be aware that Westfield Junior School welcomed its first boys from September 2025.

This merger is not intending to make any immediate changes to the co-educational Juniors and single sex Seniors and Sixth Form model that is currently in place.

9. Will students have to move sites?

No. All students will continue learning on their current site. Our immediate capital focus would be the development of the Nursery and Pre-Prep provision on the Westfield site, and we are very excited about the possibilities for this extended provision that is linked to the excellence, for which RGS and Westfield are well known, in the heart of Gosforth.

10. Will staff jobs be affected?

Both schools value their staff highly. While the Group may explore opportunities to align some back office functions, both schools currently operate lean staffing structures. As such in the immediate future we expect the number of staff in each school to remain as they are, or even potentially grow in line with the new opportunities the merger will create. Any proposals affecting employees will be subject to the appropriate consultation processes.

11. Will fees change?

There are no immediate plans to change either of the respective schools’ fee structures.

Future annual adjustments will follow the usual review process and will be communicated to parents with appropriate notice.

However, we do anticipate that having a merged RGS Newcastle Group will bring opportunities for economies of scale in the future, and our intent to keep future fee increases affordable remains the same.

There will also be no immediate change to either school’s approach to bursaries, with all current bursary awards continuing (subject to the existing process of an annual review).

12. Will the schools' ethos or values change?

No. The RGS Newcastle Group will continue to prioritise strong pastoral support, academic ambition, and character development.

13. What opportunity will there be to learn more?

Parents and pupils will receive regular updates. There will be dedicated information events, opportunities to meet staff and governors from both schools.

14. I have younger children for whom we are considering schools. Will the changes impact imminent admissions arrangements?

We are aware that this announcement is an exciting development and anticipate that the increased benefits to learners will trigger more applications to join one of the RGS Newcastle Group of schools.

Our Admissions teams are available to answer any questions about your individual circumstances and the schools’ separate admissions policies for entry in 2026.

For families considering admission beyond September 2026, or for the RGS Westfield Nursery and Pre-Prep (below aged 3), we strongly advise that you register your child’s details now, and we will keep you informed of opportunities.

 15. Who can I contact with further questions?

The Governors, Heads and Senior Leadership teams at RGS and Westfield respectively, fully support the collaboration and are working closely on these plans. We are committed to keeping all stakeholders fully informed throughout this process.

In addition to regular written updates, there will be dedicated opportunities for parents, staff and pupils to ask questions and learn more about the next stages. Dates for these events will be shared shortly.

In the meantime, families are welcome to contact us directly with any questions and we will ensure these are directed to the most appropriate member of the leadership team.

In the first instance please send any questions to the RGS Clerk of Governors (clerk@rgs.newcastle.sch.uk). Of course, Geoffrey Stanford and Neil Walker are available to talk with any parent, as always.

Comment from Mr Neil Walker, Head of Westfield School

"I am delighted about this merger and looking forward to the benefits it will bring to our families and staff.

For Westfield families, this merger ensures continuity in the nurturing environment where our students are thriving, while unlocking new opportunities.

It will enable investment in our facilities and allow us to develop our Nursery and Pre-Prep provision, which we know is in high demand locally.

Being part of a larger group will also give us access to shared resources, specialist expertise, and economies of scale that strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional education.

It will create new professional development opportunities for our staff and help us attract and retain the very best teachers.

This merger will allow us to build on the significant strengths of Westfield. Working in partnership with such a respected institution will allow us to realise the full potential of our combined strengths for the benefit of all students.

I fully support this merger and look forward to working together to create something truly special for our students and families."

Comment from Mr Geoffrey Stanford, Head of RGS Newcastle

"For RGS families, this merger represents continuity and stability, strengthening of our position through the benefits of operating at scale, while providing the potential for exciting new opportunities for our students.

Most notably, it allows us to introduce Nursery and Pre-Prep provision within the RGS Newcastle Group, something we have long aspired to offer and is in demand.

Importantly, this merger strengthens our ability to invest in facilities and curriculum innovation, ensuring that the RGS Newcastle Group will remain at the forefront of educational excellence.

It also opens doors for collaboration in teaching and learning, and for shared co-curricular experiences that will enrich the lives of all our students.

I am thrilled at the prospect of working with Westfield, which stands out for its warm and nurturing culture, where students are truly flourishing.

This speaks volumes about the dedication of its staff and supportive environment which enables every child to thrive.

I firmly believe that bringing together the complementary strengths of RGS and Westfield will secure the long-term resilience of both schools, ensuring generations of young people continue to benefit from the very best education in the North East.

This is a positive, forward-thinking step, and I am proud to endorse it wholeheartedly."

https://www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk/about-us/group/2814