I am often asked by prospective parents what a Newland House education looks like. For many years, Newland House has been known as a relatively traditional prep school and there are many qualities which we seek to develop in our pupils that could be categorised in this way.

Our pupils are respectful of others, polite and want to do their best and these are good examples of the virtues that we actively celebrate and encourage. What the school does really well though, is preserving these traditional values whilst being innovative and forward thinking in terms of our curriculum offering.

How education needs to empower children to enable them to be successful in the future could be considered a matter of speculation, but we believe that there are some fundamental skills that they will need, regardless of the direction the world takes. These include the abilities to be adaptable, to think critically, to collaborate effectively and to communicate clearly. We do not assume our children will simply develop these qualities through some kind of educational osmosis, but rather we actively teach these skills within lessons and through the extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities that we offer. 

Our curriculum for children across all year groups is broad and far-reaching and this is something that we will never compromise on. For us, the Arts, Drama, Design and Technology, Sport and Music are as important as what might be viewed as the more ‘academic’ subjects. Why? Firstly, because we believe that education is about developing all aspects of a child’s character and secondly because we want children to discover what they are passionate about and what makes them happy.

All of what I have described about a Newland House education sets our children up perfectly for what comes next. Children leave us as confident and well-rounded individuals and crucially, with a love for learning that we hope will continue with them for life.

Chris Skelton, HEAD

Newland House is an independent, co-educational, Preparatory day school for boys from 3 to 13 years and for girls from 3 to 11 years, based on the Teddington and Twickenham borders. We are an established and popular Prep which is trusted by local families who value their engaging and balanced curriculum and the all-round educational experience that their children enjoy. The school has a new and very successful Nursery, a beautifully designed Pre-Prep and the Prep offers a surprising range of amenity and outdoor space all set in a safe and desirable residential area.

The school has a deep commitment to developing the whole child and maintaining a balanced curriculum where children’s personal development is prioritised. We focus on increasing confidence and working with parents and children to create an individualised learning experience. Our extensive, engaging curriculum, fosters a sense of self-confidence and provides opportunities for children to reach their full potential by encouraging learning at a comfortable and appropriate pace. Traditional standards are very important to us and exceptional pastoral provision supports individual development and a strong sense of community.