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- 8th Oct 2025
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150 years of putting girls first: How Newcastle High School for Girls has shaped generations of trailblazers
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For a century and a half, Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG) has been putting girls first.
With 150 years of trailblazing behind it, this pioneering school continues to lead the way in girls’ education across the North East, empowering each new generation to think big, act boldly and make their mark on the world.
A LEGACY OF PIONEERS
From the very beginning, NHSG has been a place where ambition takes flight. Its alumnae have changed the course of history – quite literally.
Take Ella Bryant, the first woman to graduate from Durham University in 1892. Or Chief Wren Wendy Vernon Brown, OBE, a former Head Girl who helped the Royal Navy become the first branch of the armed forces to open combat roles to women.
Then there’s Ruth Caleb, OBE, (pictured) who became the BBC’s first female Head of Drama and a BAFTA Award–winning producer and Yolande Heslop-Harrison, one of the first women ever to receive the Royal Society’s Darwin Medal for her pioneering botanical research that laid the groundwork for the Millennium Seed Bank.
Today, the spirit of innovation continues with Professor Ruth Plummer, MBE, whose world-leading cancer research is transforming patient treatment across the globe. These remarkable women didn’t just make history – they were shaped by a school that believed in their potential as individuals and as girls.
CHANGING THE STORY FOR GIRLS
When NHSG first opened its doors in 1876, the world was a very different place. Back then, girls were rarely offered a formal education and those who did receive one were often taught at home, trained more for marriage than for independence. The idea that girls could (or should) pursue higher education was radical, even dangerous.
NHSG, founded in Gateshead as part of the newly formed Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), set out to change that. Its very existence was an act of assertion – a statement that girls deserved the same academic opportunities as boys. From that moment on, NHSG became a catalyst for change, equipping generations of young women with the knowledge, confidence and courage to challenge stereotypes and follow their dreams.
A 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL WITH A POWERFUL HERITAGE
Fast forward 150 years, and as the region’s only all-girl school, its mission is stronger than ever. As part of the GDST family, the school continues to champion girls’ education, empowering pupils aged three to 18 to become confident and trailblazing leaders in a fast-changing world.
While technology and society have evolved, the school’s values remain timeless: Girls First, Forward Thinking and Fearless. In classrooms filled with creativity and collaboration, girls are encouraged to think for themselves, lead with empathy and embrace the power of possibility.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS – AND LOOKING AHEAD
This milestone year isn’t just about looking back; it’s about inspiring the future. NHSG is delving into its archives to help today’s pupils discover the stories of the women who came before them — and to see themselves as part of that extraordinary lineage.
Because, as the school proudly says, in a world that doesn’t always put girls first, NHSG does. It did 150 years ago, and it still does today – nurturing ambition, unlocking potential and empowering every girl to take her place in the world with confidence and purpose.
WANT TO DISCOVER MORE?
Join NHSG for the Senior and Sixth Form Open Morning on Saturday 8th November, or the Nursery and Juniors Open Morning on Saturday 22nd November and see for yourself how girls learn without limits.
Visiting in person is the best way to experience the warmth of the school’s community and the excitement of learning at NHSG. Secure your spot today by making an online enquiry.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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