The new secondary school at Blaydon was formally opened on Saturday afternoon by the Rev A.B.Tebb C.C. chairman of the governors.

The school was founded in 1905 by the Durham County Council to provide facilities for higher education in the Blaydon district. Temporary premises were secured in the top floor of the Blaydon council offices and the school commenced under the care of Miss C.C. Ashworth BA,with 37 pupils and one assistant mistress.  Each year the number of students steadily increased, and in 1908 it was found necessary to secure a classroom at the Co-Operative hall and in 1910 a site was procured for a permanent building.  Miss Ashworth left in 1911 and the governors, with a view to the approaching opening of the new school, appointed Mr. R N Wilson BA, BSc, as its first headmaster.

The new buildings are pleasantly situated on Shibdon Road, Blaydon, Swalwell and Scotswood stations being all within easy reach, the school forms an excellent centre for North West Durham.  The buildings comprise, in addition to the usual classrooms, a large assembly hall, with gallery and platform, an art room, a library and committee room, a chemical and botanical laboratory, including preparation room, a lecture theatre, a workshop, a gymnasium, a cookery and laundry room, a girls' changing room, a boys' changing room, a boys' cloakroom, a large dining room, etc.  The furniture of the various rooms is of oak, egg shell polished, and of special design.  The playing field covers more than four acres, and has been leveled at considerable expense.  Four tennis courts have been laid down.

A course of instruction has been prepared which extends over a period of six years, falling naturally into two sections - junior and senior,  The junior section provides for general instruction in the English language, French, geography, history, mathematics, elementary science, drawing , music, physical exercises, with domestic science for girls and woodwork for boys.  The senior section embraces specialisation and scholars will enter upon one of the following courses of work:

1. The literary side, in preparation for Armstrong College, for pupil teachership and other professions, and for the matriculation and Inter BA examination of London University

2. The science side, in preparation for Armstrong College, and for pupils wishing to be analytical chemists.

3. The engineering side, for pupils intending to proceed to the degree of BSc (Engineering)

4. The commercial side, in preparation for commercial life and for the Civil Service

In accepting the key from Mr. Robson, the Rev A B Tibb said he did not think the opening of the door would be a very formidable task, but he felt at the moment as one in authority, having at his disposal the key and being able to either keep them out or let them in.  As, however, they were going to have a meeting inside, it was very important that he should get them in and that as soon as possible.  "This door," he continued, "I will call the door of opportunity - of opportunity of higher education than the elementary school can give. A number of the young people who will come into this school will come through the payment of fees - £4 10s covering everything for the year - and a number of young people will come because they have won scholarship, having sat an examination and shown enough brainpower to give us an indication that they are worth educating.