Welcome to our School!

Newton Poppleford School provides a caring environment in which we set high goals for our children in all activities. We encourage them to take a pride in their own achievements, and in those of others. With our enthusiastic and friendly staff, excellent academic performance, extensive grounds and beautiful surroundings, we can provide the ideal start for children to develop and thrive.

The current capacity for the School is 168 children. We have a teaching staff of 7 and 5 Learning Support Assistants, catering for both Early Years (Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1) and juniors (Key Stage 2), up to the age of 11 years.

• to develop and maintain lively, enquiring minds together with a willingness and confidence to ask questions and to argue rationally
• to match expectations, interests and experiences to the needs and abilities of each child
• to develop each child’s full potential and to take pride in that achievement, while taking pleasure in the achievement of others
• to help children to understand and respect the feelings and values of others in a diverse society and to consider thoughtfully their own attitudes, values and beliefs
• to help children to develop independence and co-operation
• to develop children's literacy and numeracy
• to provide enriching and stimulating experiences through physical activities, the creative arts and first hand experiences
• to reward each child’s endeavours and achievements
• to establish a friendly, welcome and warm relationship with parents and community.

The different learning needs of individual children are central to the planning and implementation of our School curriculum. We believe that matching the curriculum to the needs of the individual, is fundamental to effective education. The School curriculum is arranged so that individual progress is continuous, both within and across the Key Stages. The experience gathered in one phase or area of the curriculum can then be built upon in the next. Within and across each curriculum area, children are given the opportunity to explore and discover; to frame questions and solve problems; to discuss and to debate, using a variety of media. The different demands of each curriculum area, and the varied learning needs of individuals, require flexibility of teaching methods and forms of organisation. Children experience working in groups of various sizes, which have been brought together for a variety of reasons.

During the school year a wide range of activities is offered. These include Recorder Groups, Football, Cricket, TAG Rugby, Athletics, Tennis, Multisports, Dance, Golf, Gymnastics, Choir, Chess and Handbell Ringing Club. Tuition for string, wind, brass and percussion instruments is available, chargeable to parents each term. A residential course, held in one of the outdoor centres located on Dartmoor, is provided for our Year 5 pupils.