- Work Hard
- 27th May 2026
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Why Newcastle High School for Girls is giving girls the most brilliant start
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There’s a school in Sandyford that’s just been shortlisted for Early Years Setting of the Year at the Tes Schools Awards 2026 – and honestly, once you hear what they’re doing for girls from the age of three, it’s not hard to see why.
Newcastle High School for Girls has built something genuinely special in its Nursery and Reception provision. This isn’t simply a place where children come to learn their letters and numbers before the real education begins. This is a carefully considered, expertly delivered foundation that shapes confidence, curiosity and self-belief from the very first day and it has just been recognised on a national stage for it.
WHERE IT ALL BEGINS
For most families, choosing a Nursery or Reception setting is one of the biggest decisions they’ll make. At Newcastle High School for Girls, that choice comes with something most settings simply can’t offer: a deep, longstanding specialism in how girls learn.
Set within five acres of leafy grounds in Sandyford, the Early Years environment is both inspiring and purposeful. Bright, welcoming classrooms open directly onto outdoor learning spaces, allowing girls to move freely between indoor and outdoor exploration. This isn’t accidental – every detail of the setting has been designed to support independence, decision-making and the kind of confident curiosity that stays with a child for life.
From the moment girls join, they are immersed in a Girls First environment where they are encouraged to speak up, take the lead and understand that their voice genuinely matters.
A CURRICULUM SHAPED AROUND GIRLS
The Early Years curriculum at Newcastle High School for Girls combines play-based learning with carefully structured teaching, supporting development in literacy, numeracy and communication while leaving plenty of room for creativity, exploration and independence.
Crucially, it’s a curriculum shaped specifically around girls — recognising how they engage, how they build confidence and how they thrive when given both challenge and encouragement in equal measure.
Opportunities stretch well beyond the standard Early Years framework too. Girls benefit from specialist teaching in music, Spanish and physical education alongside regular Forest School sessions, giving them multiple ways to express themselves, build resilience and develop the kind of teamwork skills that matter long after school is done.
Early Years Phase Leader Louise Gibson explains:
“Our EYFS approach is designed to nurture a natural sense of confidence, resilience and curiosity in the girls. They are immersed in an environment where every experience is a learning opportunity, helping them develop the skills they need for the next steps in school and in life.”
Whether experimenting in STEM activities, exploring the outdoors or working collaboratively, girls learn to take initiative, view mistakes as part of learning and back themselves — essential foundations for leadership that begin to form long before they’re old enough to spell the word.
A STRONG START FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD
One of the most telling measures of any Early Years provision is what happens next. At Newcastle High School for Girls, girls consistently meet Early Learning Goals as they leave Nursery and Reception and move confidently into Key Stage 1 — not just academically ready, but with a strong sense of who they are and what they’re capable of.
That transition marks the beginning of a much wider journey. As girls progress through the school, the Girls First ethos continues, building on the independence, confidence and voice developed from those very earliest years all the way through to Sixth Form.
Girls can join NHSG Nursery from age three, and eligible parents can access 30 hours of free Early Years Grant funding up to the age of five.
Head of Junior School Emma Barnett puts it beautifully:
“Our Early Years and Junior School offer a thriving environment where curiosity is celebrated and individuality is nurtured. Each girl is encouraged to feel confident in saying, ‘Yes, I can do it.’ This culture is deeply rooted in our 150-year legacy of pioneering women.“
As the school marks its 150th anniversary this year, even its youngest pupils begin to understand they are part of something bigger – introduced through everyday school life to a legacy of trailblazing women who have helped shape what it means to be a Newcastle High girl.
GO AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF
If you’re thinking about Early Years education for your daughter and want to experience the Newcastle High School for Girls atmosphere for yourself, the school’s Whole School Open Week runs from Monday 8th to Friday 12th June 2026. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit at a time that suits you, meet the team and see exactly what makes this setting so special.
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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