South Gosforth First School
Founded in 1891 and housed in a distinctive pyramid-roofed building since 1992, South Gosforth First School is one of the area's most established and community-focused schools.
South Gosforth First School on Alnmouth Drive has been at the heart of its community since 1891 — making it one of the oldest schools in the Gosforth area. Now housed in a distinctive pyramid-roofed building built in 1992, it serves children from nursery through to Year 4 and is consistently rated Good by Ofsted.
The Basics
South Gosforth First School is at Alnmouth Drive, NE3 1YF. The school has around 329 pupils on roll, slightly above its published capacity of 326. Headteacher Mr Rob Adams has led the school since September 2019. School hours are standard first school times, with nursery available from age 3.
The school motto is "Roots to grow, wings to fly" — and it feeds into Gosforth Central Middle School at Year 5, then on to Gosforth Academy.
Ofsted
The school has been rated Good at every inspection going back to at least 2006 — including the most recent full inspection in June 2022.
Inspectors noted that "pupils read with fluency and expression" thanks to a strong phonics programme, and praised leaders for thoroughly reviewing the curriculum with careful sequencing so pupils build on prior learning. Behaviour was highlighted as a strength: "pupils feel happy and safe" and can learn without distraction. 77.5% of parents surveyed said they would recommend the school.
Curriculum
The school's curriculum is built around four drivers: Character, Culture, Creativity, and Challenge, with five core values: kindness, empathy, respect, responsibility, and perseverance.
Daily number practice starts in Reception and continues through the school. The phonics programme is a priority — most children are confident readers by age 6. RE lessons include visits to a local gurdwara and synagogue, and the school runs the No Outsiders programme celebrating diversity and equality.
The school is part of the Gosforth Schools Trust, following the shared Gosforth Gateways curriculum framework across all nine first schools and two middle schools.
Clubs and Outdoor Learning
After-school clubs include choir, football, gymnastics, allotment club, and reading for pleasure. The school has a mini allotment, a school pond with wildlife, and a nature garden. A pupil-led Eco-Warriors group promotes environmental awareness — they organised the Big Plastic Count and World Earth Day activities.
The school also has a dedicated sensory space called The Rainbow Room, two creative art spaces, and a large field for sport.
History
South Gosforth First School was founded in 1891 as a community school. In 1992, it moved to its current purpose-built building on Alnmouth Drive — the distinctive large triangular roof structure has earned it the local nickname "the pyramid school." It became a founding member of the Gosforth Schools Trust when the trust was formally constituted in 2014.
Admissions
Applications are managed through Newcastle City Council. The school is oversubscribed, with distance from the school as the main tiebreaker after priority criteria (looked-after children, SEN, siblings). Contact the school office on 0191 285 3453 or email admin@sgfs.uk for more information.
For a broader overview, see our guide to the [Best Schools in Gosforth](/blog/best-schools-in-gosforth).