Members

Newtown School focuses on the education and fulfilment of each student. The school supports the discovery of self, confidence development, and teaches independence and a respectful attitude. As well as academic success, students are nurtured in the school and encouraged to grow into well-rounded, intelligent young people.

Every student is empowered to achieve their academic potential and to help them develop into thoughtful and intelligent young people ready to make positive changes in the world. The school creates a peaceful, nurturing culture that all students and staff benefit from and a mutually respectful relationship exists between all people on the campus.

Academic life

Classes at Newtown are mixed ability, except when there is specific reasoning to divide the class. Small class sizes help teachers reach students on a more personal level and to keep them engaged with the content.

The school focuses on giving the students a love of learning that will last them a lifetime and aren’t obsessed with their ability to pass tests. Students at Newtown School achieve because they’re interested in their learning and happy in the school environment.

Junior

The junior school gives students access to 21 different subjects to let them get a fantastic range of experience. This is incredibly beneficial when it comes to specialising for GCSE and higher study, as students know what topics interest them and what the most want to study in greater detail.

There are lots of core subjects taught at junior level, which include: English, Irish, maths, history, geography, science, art, and PE. Music is compulsory in first year, and then becomes an optional subject for students. Students can also study CSPE, SPHE, drama, computers and choir.

About the junior cycle

Fourth Year Transition Programme

The fourth year transition programme at Newtown School offers a broad variety of different learning experiences to students and helps them feel prepared for higher study. It promotes maturity, independent learning, and social, technological and scientific skills that each student will use in life after school.

Core modules that the transition programme students all take include: English, Irish (unless exempt), maths, history, geography, and science. There are many additional optional choices that the student can pick between. These are all based on the specific skills and experiences that their teachers can deliver.

Optional courses include subjects like: music, business, art, languages, technical skills (graphics, woodwork, cooking), orienteering, community work, horticulture and permaculture, photography, badminton, event management, dance, and many more.

About the transition programme

Senior

In the senior cycle, students are encouraged to take between 7 and 8 subjects for study. English, Irish and maths are mandatory and can be studied at ordinary or higher level. Before beginning their fifth year, students undertake aptitude testing and are given personal careers guidance to help them decide on their elective subjects.

A wide range of courses are offered by Newtown School. Students can pick from subjects like: construction, agricultural studies, sciences, languages, geography, accounting, music, economics, art, business, and the learning certificate vocational programme.

More about the senior cycle

Learning Certificate Vocational Programme

The learning certificate vocational programme offered by Newtown school is designed to build on a student’s academic and vocational skills. It is a two year programme that focuses on self-directed learning, innovation, enterprise, work and community. It gives the student the skills they need to cope and thrive in an every changing world

Whether the student is planning on entering higher education, employment, or to start their own business, the programme can help them to become responsible, inspired, confident problem solvers ready for life after school.

More about the programme

Extra-curricular activities

Newtown School offers more than a 9am – 4pm curriculum. Both day and boarding students are encouraged to get involved with a wide range of extra-curricular activities both on and offsite.

Sports

Sports are a big part of any education in a Quaker institution. Emphasis is on participation at Newtown School though there have been many students who have achieved sporting excellence during their time. The school hosts regular competitions between different teams within the school and with other sports teams in the area to help students develop their teamwork skills and for friendly competition.

There are lots of sporting activities that students can get involved with. These include: badminton, hockey, rugby, swimming and lifesaving, tennis, cross country running, and equestrian activities.

Music

Newtown School has 9 practice rooms of various sizes that students can use every day to develop their musical talents.

Music lessons in specific instruments can be provided by the school for an additional fee, and there is a weekly schedule of musical activity including a girls’ choir, chamber choir, junior choir, and orchestra.

Activities & Workshops

While sports and music are incredibly popular with students at Newtown School, they are also able to participate in lots of other extra-curricular activities. These include things like: drama, debating, linguistics, journalism, photography, and orienteering.

Gaisce Awards

Students are encouraged to get involved with the Gaisce Awards, the President’s National Challenge Award for Young People. They set themselves personal challenges and work to achieve it, with Newtown students often being awarded bronze, silver and gold Gaisce Awards. Students get active and start making a difference in their community, developing their own skills and interests while they do so.

If a student does not want to participate in a Gaisce Award, they’re still encouraged to do work for the community. They assist charitable organisations and local groups to help them support their local area and understand the hardship that others face every day.

Boarding

Boarding at Newtown School is a very popular option that lots of students and their families choose. It’s a co-educational boarding school, though sleeping quarters are divided by boys and girls. There are two boarding residences, Annamaur for the girls and Arnold Marsh for the boys.

There are options for weekly, occasional and day boarding basis. Occasional boarding is subject to there being space in the residences, and can be used to allow students to remain at the school overnight for short periods of time. Day boarding allows students to stay at the school until after evening prep so they can take part in after school, extra-curricular activities.

Students are invited to decorate their dorms with pictures, posters and some of their personal belongings from home to help make the space their own. Students mainly sleep in dorms, but there are twin and single rooms available. Both residences have a common room with facilities students need to relax and enjoy their free time.

Each year group is assigned their own residential member of staff that they can turn to with any problems, and there is always at least one member of staff on duty whenever students are in their boarding houses. Residential staff have rooms in the two boarding residences, and non-residential teaching staff take part in residential duties on a rota basis.

The school has a dedicated, professional catering staff to provide nutritious meals for all staff and students. There is a varied menu and special dietary needs can be accommodated.

Learning Support

The school knows that every student learns differently and that some students require supplementary lessons and resources to help them achieve their best. Newtown are able to offer additional support to students who have learning difficulties, physical and sensory disabilities, emotional and behavioural issues, and a range of other special educational needs.

Newtown School have a dedicated learning support team who work with students to get them the additional support they need to succeed. There is also a guidance counsellor working in the school who is available to help both student and staff.

The level of support the school is able to offer depends on the allocation of additional teaching hours they receive from the Department of Education and Skills each year. They are able to submit requests for additional support based on the reports submitted to the Department each year.

More about learning support

Entry Criteria

There are certain things a student must do before they are able to enter Newtown School. Students need to be over the age of 12 before they can start their studies and they, and their parents, must have accepted the school’s Code of Behaviour. A student data form and birth certificate will also need to be completed with the official application.

For students wishing to enter the school in later years, they request to see the student’s two most recent school reports along with a letter from the parent which outlines their reasons for requesting a school transfer.

About Newtown’s admission policy

Newtown School Fees

Newtown School is a registered charity and operates on a not-for-profit, so its fees are set to break even on the normal activities undertaken by the school each year. There is an application fee of £50 for all new students and an annually reoccurring fee of £200 for administration.

The school try to keep additional costs as low as possible, but uniforms, sports gear, music lessons (if taken), and necessary text books are an additional cost, as are external trips. Day students can also choose to have meals provided by the school for fee.

Grants and scholarships are available to students, but you need to contact the school directly to get more information about these.

See up-to-date fee information

Arrange a Visit

Before you decide whether Newtown School is the right choice for your family, it’s worth visiting and experiencing the environment for yourself. Speak with the teachers and current students to make sure it’s right for you.

BACK TOTOP