The care and welfare of our students is a high priority in Newtown School. Students are encouraged to give of their best, to support one another and to grow in confidence. We provide an environment in which students feel comfortable, safe and secure in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
Support & Growth
Positive interaction is actively encouraged between students. We strive to provide the conditions where our students can develop abilities, skills and talents. We provide activities appropriate to age and stage that encourage each individual student to develop spiritually, culturally, morally and socially. We place a strong emphasis on developing student’s responsibility – for themselves and others.
The school is an open and friendly school with a whole-school approach towards Pastoral Care involving all staff and students.
The supporting framework of the pastoral care system is:
- Each class group has a tutor who is a teacher in regular class contact with them.
- Each class group also has a Prefect assigned to them and regularly it is the Prefects who are the best place to help students with minor problems. Prefects will also alert staff to issues which may require staff intervention.
- 1st Year, Junior Cycle (2nd & 3rd Year), TY (4t Year) and Senior Cycle (5th & 6th Year) coordinators support the students and tutors in the relevant years.
- For boarders in residence, a member of the House Staff is allocated to each year group.
- The Guidance Counsellor, is available to help and advise students on a one-to-one basis.
- Neville Louden is our Quaker Pastoral Care person who supports students and staff through leading Meetings for Worship (Collect), organising border activities and is available to meet with students one to one or in small groups.
- Residential and nursing staff, as well as providing medical assistance, offer support and a listening ear to any student worries.
- Social, Personal and Health Education (S.P.H.E.) is taught within the timetable for years 1-4, and Relationships and Sexuality Education (R.S.E.) for years 5 & 6.
The Clans
The Clans promote a sense of belonging and community within the school and more recently they have been supported by the C.O.S.I team who have organised fun activities to bring the whole school community together.
