George Dakyns was born in Rugby, in 1856, the son of Thomas Henry Dakyns. He attended Clifton College, and then studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he emerged with an MA in 1882, together with magnum cum laude in "Moderations", Classics and Modern History.

His first teaching post was as Assistant Master and House Tutor at the High School in Newcastle, Staffordshire, where he lived on the premises.

In 1883, he married Augusta Field, and moved to South Shields. He took over from WH Philips as Headmaster of the South Shields High School in 1890.

He left South Shields in 1896 to take over as Headmaster of the Morpeth Grammar School.