Dame Allan’s Schools has cemented its commitment to STEAM education with the official dedication of its state-of-the-art new facilities in Newcastle. 

Pupils at Dame Allan’s Senior School treated guests, including local dignitaries, governors, alumni, and those involved with the project, to tours of the impressive Jubilee Building before it was declared officially open on Tuesday by Lucy Winskell OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear.

The £8m development houses a spacious art department with central exhibition hall, a design and technology centre, three fully equipped science laboratories and new modern foreign language facilities over two storeys.

Lord Lieutenant Winskell described Dame Allan’s as an educational ‘beacon’ in the region. “What you have achieved here and what’s ahead of you is outstanding,” she said of the Schools. “Your investment in brains as well as bricks is impressive.”

She also praised the Schools for the rounded education they provide.  

“Pure academic achievement, as important as that is, won’t provide students with the skills they need in a changing society,” she said. “They also need soft skills… resilience, teambuilding, tenacity, good communication, empathy. I sense in this school that those principles and attributes are instilled in pupils.” 

The Jubilee Building, named in honour of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, is one of the most significant builds in the long history of Dame Allan’s Schools, which dates to 1705. It sits at the north end of the senior schools’ site in Fenham and boasts 16 modern classrooms and a living wall. 

Principal Will Scott said the development would further strengthen the Schools’ provision of an ‘inspiring environment that nurtures the breadth of talent, care for others, and excellence’.

He said: “The Jubilee Building represents a clear statement of intent to look positively to the future and to continue developing Dame Allan’s Schools to the benefit of the education of our pupils. 

“Alongside the dedication and professionalism of our teachers, the design and the quality of the space for learning are a mark of the care and the importance that we attach to our work.” 

The transformative development provides state-of-the-art facilities for those interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics, and pupils have been making use of the space since the start of the academic year. 

Year 12 pupils Polly and Isaac accompanied Ms Winskell, together with Chair of Governors Ian Belsham, former Principal Dr John Hind, and the Bishop of Berwick Mark Wroe, on a tour of the building.

Polly, from Fenham, said: “The facilities have made a real difference to pupils  – the  building has really modernised the Schools and brought new life to Dame Allan’s.”

Isaac, who is studying history at A Level, added: “To see the Schools’ longevity through generations and the way it has evolved is something, as a pupil, to feel really proud of.”

Durham-based architects Howarth Litchfield, and Sunderland development consultancy Identity Consult were both involved in the project from its infancy and had a presence at the dedication ceremony. 

Architect Elisa Berry, director of Howarth Litchfield, said: “To see the pupils now using these fantastic facilities is really rewarding.”

Tuesday’s event formed part of a week-long series of activities to celebrate the Jubilee Building, including visits from local primary schools and a performing arts showcase. 

The Right Reverend Mark Wroe, whose daughter attends Dame Allan’s Girls’ School, blessed the building. He said: “The Jubilee building is an excellent resource that serves our children’s education now and into the future.

“It’s a brilliant use of space and has a wonderfully innovative design that inspires all those who work and learn here.”