Newton Prep Battersea

[impeccablemax]

Hello, has anyone got any views about Newton Prep with the new Head -especially from year 3/5 and its preparation to 11+. Its pastoral care? We have read about the time before Mrs Fleming arrived but nothing thereafter. Thank you!

Yes, we have a daughter at Newton Prep. She absolutely loves it there, and has made new friends very easily since joining in Yr 2 last autumn 2014. The head is, we think, the best prep school head in London: no question. Very approachable, clear-sighted, hugely knowledgeable and experienced and dedicated to the pupils in a very intuitive way. The teaching is good, with areas of stretch where appropriate, and the facilities look great. The international mix of children is appealing - she's meeting kids from all over the world.

Imp and Pyra,

My experience may be too old for you - but for what it is worth ....

My Ds went to Newton and we could not have been more pleased with the school. He is now in 6th form at a very well regarded secondary school and doing well. The teachers who prepared him for entrance from Newton were excellent, truly first rate.

Re the new Head - obviously no first hand experience but anecdotally she seems to be making an effort to forge links with wider destination schools.

Pyra - we looked at both Thomas's and Newton. You will find advocates for both - as it should be - as Thomas's (I assume you mean Thomas's Battersea, there are a few) is also good. On a very basic level - Newton has a larger and more well equipped site than Thomas's Battersea IMHO (but less pretty ) Now, that does not a school make, but something to think of. When Ds went - Newton had a reputation for the "brighter" children. Probably not true, before someone jumps down my throat, but our (DH and I ) experience (one day and only two people ) was that the Newton children were a bit "sparkier" Caveat - - other opinions are available and anecdote is not data etc.....

I am saying this by way of personal experience. I do have great friends whose DCs went to Thomas's Battersea and thought it was great. In truth I think Pyra , you have a nice problem to have and your Dd with thrive at either school , so do not worry

So just FWIW
eNM

Sorry - just to say my comment "one day" above was re the open day. Actually Ds was there for pretty much 10 years - nursery to 13yo.

Again, I would not wish to argue against anyone who has had a wholly positive view of Thomas's. I can only put my own view forward and know of people who have a similarly positive view of Thomas's.

OP - although the Head has changed many of the teachers will be the same. If the ethos of the school is the same/similar to when Ds was there then I would say that pastoral care is very good.

Given my out of datedness, if either of you want to PM - please do.

eNM

The new head is making Newton Prep the school it always should have been.

There was an exodus of staff in the couple of years after the old head started. There has been no such exodus this time, and longer-serving staff seem much happier (both teaching and admin) ie back to their old selves.

The big building projects are done (just some tidying up round the back still to be finished), and facilities are very good (especially library, auditorium and sports both indoors and out). And I don't think there's anything major planned for a while.

Hi there

Very encouraging to hear, it is also one of our favoured schools. Do you know if there is a senior school planned? I heard rumours as they had bough a lot of the surrounding land.

Thank you!

What surrounding land?

Everywhere around it is built up.

(there's been idle talk of a senior school on and off far ages, but I'd always thought it was flight of ideas (stoked by parents who can't face the stress that is London day secondary transfer), not an owner's plan)