ISI School Inspection January 2025
“ Curriculum provision is a significant strength of the school”
Key Information
School address
Newton Prep School, 149 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BX
Telephone 020 7720 4091
Head Mrs Alison Fleming
Proprietor
Newton Prep Ltd. Chairman: Dr Farouk Walji
Registered address
213 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6BD Telephone: 020 7937 6304
Email chairman@newtonprep.co.uk
Mission statement
The School is unashamedly ambitious for its pupils who have access to outstanding facilities. We want them to achieve their academic potential whilst also engaging in sport, art, music and drama. We want them to involve themselves in the total life of the School, which includes after school clubs and activities and a wide range of trips. We celebrate the diversity of our pupils; we want our children to develop a strong sense of community, learning how to make a positive contribution to the community of Newton Prep and the world around them. The ethos and philosophy is one that is based on mutual respect and kindness shown to others. Fundamentally, we want Newton Prep children to enjoy their precious childhood years.
Aims of the school
• To ensure that every child is given opportunities to flourish and develop in all areas of school life
• To listen and respond to the pupil voice
• To celebrate and embrace difference and diversity
• To encourage every child to make their own positive contribution to the life of the School
• To prepare each child well for the range of senior school entrance examinations
• To provide a forward-thinking educational experience that equips the children for life in the future
What ISI Says
“The wellbeing and needs of pupils are central to decision-making.”
Welcome
Newton Prep is inspected by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate. They typically come to the school every three years so our inspection at the end of January was not wholly unexpected. The team was in school for three days, observing all aspects of school life. They interviewed children, including looking at their work together. They met with staff and members of the School Council, observed lessons, play times and co curricular activities, and pupils, staff and parents were asked to complete questionnaires.
Inspection can be stressful. At its worst, it can be a bland boxticking exercise but, at its best, a very capable Reporting Inspector can ensure that their team gets to the heart of what the school is all about. And that was our experience in January. Reading the report makes me enormously proud. I know how hard the teaching staff work to give the children the best possible learning opportunities.
I was, therefore, thrilled that ‘curriculum provision’ has been acknowledged as a ‘significant strength’.
You can read the report in full here.
I hope you enjoy reading what the inspectors had to say about us in the following pages.
What ISI Says
“Pupils develop a rich understanding of the topics they study and apply their learning in different contexts with confidence, independence and complexity. Curriculum provision is a significant strength. ”
ISI Significant Strength
Since 2023, the ISI has used a new framework by which to assess schools against the Independent Schools Standards. This framework centres pupils’ wellbeing in its approach to school evaluation, as well as centring pupil voice as part of the inspection process.
Newton Prep’s
Curriculum Provision is a
SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH
Only 11.6% of schools are reported to have received a significant strength.
What ISI Says
“ Leaders provide pupils with a curriculum that is meticulously planned around how subjects link together so that pupils can deepen their understanding of the content, concepts, knowledge and skills that they need to acquire.”
Section 1: Leadership and management, and governance
l The school is well led and managed. Leaders are highly respected and valued by staff, parents and pupils.
l Leaders ensure that the school delivers an education in line with its aim to provide a forward thinking educational experience that equips children for life in the future.
l The wellbeing and needs of pupils are central to decision-making. Leaders have established highly effective relationships with pupils and their families.
l Leaders and staff continually review and are ambitious to improve the curriculum on offer, for example through initiatives such as a new reading scheme in the early years, the introduction of archaeology in Year 6, and the ‘Newton Diploma’ in Years 7 and 8.
l The school makes good use of its extensive facilities and effectively promotes the safety of pupils on trips and visits.
l Leaders create a warm, positive and inclusive atmosphere. The well-being and needs of pupils are central to decision making.
This is an abridged document featuring highlights from the ISI full report, which can be can be viewed on the ISI website isi.net
What ISI Says
“The school’s extensive facilities are well designed and maintained.”
Section 2: Quality of education, training and recreation
l Pupils develop a rich understanding of the topics they study and apply their learning in different contexts with confidence, independence and complexity.
l Curriculum provision is a significant strength of the school.
l The strengths in leaders’ approach to curriculum planning ensures the youngest children get off to the strongest start in their learning. The early years curriculum is well thought out and adapted to children’s aptitudes and needs.
l Teachers have strong subject knowledge and are enthusiastic about their areas of expertise. They use questioning effectively to challenge and encourage deeper thinking. Pupils are encouraged to discuss and debate in lessons. Teachers listen carefully to pupils’ views and adapt lessons in response to pupils’ interests and discussions. Pupils become learners who can justify opinions and think critically, and are ambitious, curious and creative in their responses.
l A wide selection of academic, sporting, creative and performing arts opportunities develops pupils’ skills in a range of areas, such as choir, classics, chess, yoga, Italian, computer animation and literature.
l Leaders’ methodically planned curriculum enables pupils to develop a rich knowledge and understanding through the skilful linking of subjects.
What ISI Says
“ The extra-curricular programme is extensive and well attended.”
What ISI Says
“Pupils develop high levels of confidence and self-esteem.”
Section 3: Pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
l Pupils have a good understanding of and consistently demonstrate the school’s values of respect, tolerance and integrity. They develop a deep understanding of diversity. Staff model and promote these values enthusiastically.
l Children in the early years are gently enabled to express their feelings, encouraging increased self-knowledge and confidence.
Older pupils’ self-confidence and self-esteem are further developed through the many opportunities to perform and speak in front of others.
l Relationships between pupils, and between pupils and staff, are positive and standards of behaviour are high.
l Leaders prioritise opportunities for pupils to raise concerns or get additional support for their emotional and mental health.
l A wide range of responsibilities across the school enables pupils to develop their leadership skills.
“Newton Prep allowed me to experiment with new hobbies which helped me decide what I want to focus on at senior school”
AMELIA, YEAR 8
What ISI Says
“ Pupils achieve well across year groups and are well prepared for the next stage of their learning, including the youngest children.”
Section 4: Pupils’ social and economic education and contribution to society
l Leaders regularly review the curriculum and resources available to ensure that they promote inclusion, including representation of the school’s diverse community. Pupils have a thorough understanding of the importance of equality, diversity and respect.
l Teachers enable pupils to serve the wider community through links with local institutions and charities.
l Leaders have designed an effective curriculum programme to develop pupils’ awareness of future career choices.
l Pupils contribute to their own community through the school parliaments, actively suggesting ideas to improve the school.
“Being part of Newton Prep’s community has made me so much more confident in my own abilities”
YEAR 8
TARIQ,
Book A Visit
Visiting the school is essential for you to see how your child can thrive here.
Newton Prep children are bright and inquisitive, each with unique abilities, interests and aspirations. They have exceptional opportunities at this school – for personal development, adventure and achievement in many directions. We encourage their curiosity and imagination at every stage of school life, and provide important foundations for a love of life and learning in this formative period.
Register your interest in Newton Prep today, use this link to book a visit.
Battersea Park 2 mins
Queenstown Road 5 mins
Battersea Power Station 5 mins
156, 344, 436, 44 1-3 mins
Battersea Power Station 15 mins
