Temporary Year 2 Teacher

In a London landscape crowded with prep schools, Newton Prep stands out. The school, founded in 1991, has an unbeatable combination of size and eclecticism, coupled with extraordinary facilities and outside spaces. Its position at the heart of Central London’s most burgeoning development, Newton is a short walk away from the Nine Elms to Battersea riverfront. This hosts the bustling new ‘town’ around the rebuilt Battersea Power Station; a new extension of the Northern Line tube now means the school is within five minutes of three stations.

When arriving, visitors and prospective parents always comment on Newton Prep children: they are well-educated, of course, but noticeably curious, kind and articulate. Above all, in this modern world, they are equipped with the best of British values: pupils are encouraged to think for - and be - themselves.

Academic success is central to all that is taught. More than that, however, the school ensures children are equipped with a sense of self, resilience and hopefulness. We encourage children to think outside the curriculum. Whether it’s piano lessons, judo or Boggle, children need ways of engaging: we aim for our Newton Prep children to enter adolescence feeling that they already have more to contribute than just academic achievements. Yes, we need to get them into the right schools, but not at the total expense of their well-being, character and love of learning.

Inspiring a love of learning is central to Newton Prep’s offering. With a huge all-weather pitch capable of supporting four fixtures at a time, a 120-seat recital hall, a music technology suite, recording studio, 300 seat auditorium, three gymnasiums, bustling art studios, dance studios, two libraries and three hands-on science labs, children are encouraged to “do” as well as “learn”. We have an oasis of a garden where our children perform Shakespeare, hunt for mini-beasts and conduct scientific experiments.

Despite the excellence of their education, Newton Prep children are notable for their lack of arrogance; there is no sense of entitlement here. The kindness and generosity shown by the pupils towards their peers is remarkable; we are particularly proud of the engagement between the older children and our youngest pupils.

This spirit of community is also built into the Newton Diploma, our revolutionary humanities curriculum for Years 7 and 8. This is a cross-curricular, rigorous and exciting programme which allows pupils to explore links between subjects, extend initiatives for service and leadership, and breathe real fire into their intellectual curiosity.

We are not a blazers-and-boaters kind of school. As a school only thirty years young, we are not limited to looking back at the past to inform what we do in the future. We focus all our present energies on ensuring a bright future for our bright children. We want Newton Prep children to enjoy their precious childhood years.