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- 28th Oct 2026
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Dame Allan’s JumpIn: the Newcastle taster day that’ll ease secondary school nerves
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Imagine being able to try out secondary school before you’ve even applied. That’s exactly what Dame Allan’s JumpIn offers.
Across the week beginning Monday 9th November, the independent school on Fowberry Crescent, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YJ is opening its classroom doors to children hoping to join Year 7, 8 or 9, giving each of them a taster day that feels just like a normal school day. Real lessons, real teachers, new faces, and yes, the school lunches too.
If your household is deep in the “which secondary school?” debate right now, this one’s for you.
SO, WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS AT JUMPIN?
Think of it as a day in the life. Your child sits in on lessons, finds their way around the senior school, meets other prospective pupils, and gets to know the teachers who could be teaching them next year. Then there’s lunch, which any parent knows is a make-or-break moment for an 11-year-old.
Here’s the clever bit. Before the day, Dame Allan’s asks about each child’s interests, so the lessons they take part in are ones they’ll actually enjoy. It also means they’re usually grouped with children who love the same things, which makes walking into a room full of strangers far less scary.
There’s a pastoral lesson too, where pupils can ask staff absolutely anything about school life. No question’s too small.
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Nervous about the big day? Completely normal. We asked two current Year 7s who took part in JumpIn last year how they found it.
“It is really normal to feel a bit nervous, but overall JumpIn was a really good experience. You have nothing to worry about. My favourite bit was laser cutting a keyring in DT – I still had it until a few weeks ago (when it finally snapped),” says Umar.
“JumpIn days are a good (and fun) way to get to know your classmates and your teachers. You do different activities that will help your team-building skills, and it is a day you’ll never forget,” says Year 7 pupil Molly.
WHY AN OPEN MORNING ISN’T THE WHOLE STORY
Choosing a secondary school is a huge decision. For children, it’s a new world with a whole new set of challenges. For parents, it’s about knowing, really knowing, that it’s the right place for their child.
Open mornings are perfect for a first look, but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. JumpIn fills in the gaps. Spending time in lessons with the teachers gives families a much clearer picture of what a Dame Allan’s education actually feels like, and whether it’s the right fit.
Because nothing beats getting a feel for a place in person.
THE START OF SOMETHING BIGGER
Here’s where Dame Allan’s does things a little differently. At lots of schools, transition support only kicks in once a place has been offered or accepted. At Dame Allan’s, it starts with the admissions process itself.
That means by the end of their taster day, children have already met some of their potential classmates, learned their way around the senior school, and put faces to teachers’ names. Those early building blocks make September feel a whole lot less daunting.
And it’s not a one-off. There’s always something going on at Dame Allan’s, so prospective pupils get invited back for events and camps throughout the year, from the senior school drama production to the Spring Concert at Newcastle Cathedral.
By the time the first day rolls around, it already feels a bit like home.
AN ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT THAT’S ACTUALLY ENJOYABLE
Yes, really. Plenty of schools simply sit pupils down for an exam. Dame Allan’s award-winning entrance assessments mix the test with team-building games and interviews, because exams are stressful enough at any age.
Sixth Form buddies are on hand all morning, offering a friendly face and answering any questions about school life or the day ahead. In the interviews, staff hear all about each child’s hobbies and passions, from their sports and instruments to their favourite art projects, building a picture of who they are and what they’d bring to school life.
The team-building games, meanwhile, let pupils burn off a bit of nervous energy while working alongside their future classmates. It’s where plenty of first friendships begin.
Not bad for an exam morning.
HOW TO BAG YOUR CHILD’S JUMPIN SPOT
If you’re weighing up an independent school in Newcastle, a JumpIn taster day is the easiest way to see whether Dame Allan’s clicks for your family. Sessions run across the week beginning Monday 9th November, and spaces are available to children looking to join Year 7, 8 or 9.
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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