History
Newton Prep – its history and structure
Newton is a relatively new school, having been set up in 1991 when it opened with just 70 pupils. They would not recognise the school today. What is now the Millennium Hall was the dining room, two of the reception classrooms were the library, the library was the hall, there was nothing where the dining room, gym and undercrofts were, no modern classrooms and no Astroturf! The top floor and multispace were the rooftop, the area where the changing rooms now are was a small grassy area and the auditorium was but a dream.
The school now has almost 600 pupils, from Nursery through to Year 8, and has enjoyed considerable success in recent years in terms of destination schools for its alumni. Last year , Year 8 pupils went on to schools including Westminster, St Paul’s, Eton, Lancing and Marlborough. Past pupils often revisit Newton and are always made to feel welcome.
The school has grown along with its reputation and so have the facilities and opportunities it can offer our children. The aim of this section of the website is largely to help you understand how your child or children can get the best out of the school.
While Newton Prep is an independent school, run by a company on a for-profit basis, it is unusual in many respects for a school of that nature. It has a School Council made up of many eminent educationalists and others with an interest in education. The School Council and its smaller sub-committee, the Executive Committee, each meet every term and the members of these bodies regularly both challenge and inspire the senior management team.
There is also a scholarship fund, set up at the outset, to fund places for children who would otherwise be unable to attend the school but whose intelligence and academic ability are at the top end of the scale. Most of the fundraising by the Parent Teacher Association is for this fund which also receives significant donations from other sources.
Another strength of the school is its Parent Teacher Association. As well as being a social and fundraising body, the PTA gives the parent body a voice within the school. Regular meetings and a good working relationship between parent and teacher members of this body make it an effective organisation in the life of the school.