Newcastle High School for Girls (NHSG), a private day school for girls aged three to 18 in Newcastle upon Tyne, is inviting additional applications for entry into Year 9 after deciding to expand.

Following what the school describes as an unprecedented demand for places, NHSG will change from a three-form entry to a four-form entry from September, meaning Year 9 will now house four form classes instead of three.

NHSG’s recently appointed head Amanda Hardie said: “We have received unprecedented demand for this year group which has meant we were forced to operate a waiting list based on our school’s policy of no more than 25 pupils in a class. As demand to join NHSG has continued unabated through this year, we have passed the critical point to enable us to make the decision to expand. This means that from September we will be able to take up to 100 pupils in Year 9, compared to the previous cap of 75.”

“Not only does the move mean that we are able to meet current demand but also that we have the capacity to take even more pupils who will benefit from the outstanding education we offer here at NHSG. Year 9 is a critical year, it is the foundation for the GCSE work that starts in Year 10 and being settled into your chosen school early enables this important work to begin in earnest.”

NHSG has planned a Year 9 Open Day on Friday 15 March, where parents and potential pupils can tour the school, with the children able to experience lessons on site for themselves.