ONE of the oldest schools in the North has announced an £8m development which will transform its arts facilities and create spacious new classrooms, science labs, and a well-being centre for its dedicated pastoral team.

Work on the development at Dame Allan’s Schools, which dates back to 1705, will start in the summer, and will provide additional space and new facilities at the historic senior school site in Fenham, Newcastle.

The development will see some dated buildings demolished to make way for three new art rooms and a central art exhibition space for showcase events, some of which will be open to the public.

It will create a new sixth form space within art, as well as design and technology.

The Northern Echo: From left, students Juliette Johnson of Blyth, Northumberland. Ciara Hawe of Newcastle, and Bhava Raja of Newcastle with Dame Allan's principal Will Scott outside the building which will be demolished to make way for a new £8m investment projectFrom left, students Juliette Johnson of Blyth, Northumberland. Ciara Hawe of Newcastle, and Bhava Raja of Newcastle with Dame Allan's principal Will Scott outside the building which will be demolished to make way for a new £8m investment project

In addition, the development will free up room in the school to create a well-being centre, which will be home to the school’s pastoral team of three counsellors, psychological therapist and the Chaplain.

The 16 classrooms being built will comprise six additional classrooms and three new science labs.

The environmental elements of the project will include a large living wall on the North side of the school, with electric charging points for vehicles.

The development was due to start last summer, but was put on hold due to the Covid pandemic, as the school wanted to focus on supporting parents who had been financially impacted by the crisis.

Principal, Will Scott, said: “This is a significant and exciting development in the history of the schools.

The Northern Echo: Principal Will Scott outside of the Senior School at Dame Allan'sPrincipal Will Scott outside of the Senior School at Dame Allan's

"Dame Allan’s is very popular, and the investment will provide much-needed space for our pupils as well as ensuring they’re learning in the very best environment.

“The section of the school being replaced has been added to considerably over the years and so this development will provide a much more pleasant and fluent journey for our pupils as they walk through school.

"It will also provide a home to our outstanding pastoral team who do a fantastic job here in looking after our children.

The Northern Echo: An artist impression of art exhibition space oneAn artist impression of art exhibition space one

“We’re delighted we can finally go ahead with the scheme after we delayed the development due to Covid.

"We wanted to ensure we could support parents as much as possible in what has been a difficult year for many.”

Ian Belsham, Chairman of Governors said: “Dame Allan’s numbers have been increasing year on year and they haven’t slowed down because of Covid.

"This exciting development is a sign that we’re moving forward with confidence and investing in the future of our schools.”

The Northern Echo: An artist impression of art atrium twoAn artist impression of art atrium two

Menisha Gela, Director of Development, said: “Teachers working in cross-curricular STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts and Mathematics) settings often see their students making connections between concepts and solving problems in new and exciting ways.

"It’s precisely this innovation and creativity that lies behind our approach to the North End development.”

Former students at the school include Dr Richard Laws CBE, Director of the Antarctic Survey and Master of St Edmund College, Cambridge; the late Prof David Conning OBE, Director-General of the British Nutrition Foundation and Keith Atkinson MBE, a UK leader in heritage mapping.

The Northern Echo: Artist impression of the external view on siteArtist impression of the external view on site

Dame Allan’s is popular with parents for its Diamond model of education, whereby girls and boys study alongside each other in its junior school before going to separate boys and girls schools and reuniting in the sixth form.

Will Scott added: “Our model is the best of both worlds- boys and girls learn in different ways so we can tailor our teaching methods.

"It means they have the best academic education with the benefits of preparing socially for university in the sixth form."

The Northern Echo: Artist impression of the external view from another angleArtist impression of the external view from another angle

Work on the development is expected to start in July and be complete by the end of next summer.

Planning permission has already been secured for the development and the school has carried out a consultation process with local residents.

A range of temporary, high quality classrooms will be provided until the new buildings are complete.