Newport School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a nurturing and inclusive school community. It values and celebrates each pupil as a unique individual. The school holds high expectations for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The curriculum is broad and highly ambitious. It helps pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding. As a result, pupils are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education.

The wider curriculum provides many opportunities for pupils to develop as independent, confident and successful learners. The school carefully and thoughtfully plans each activity. It places particular emphasis on building pupils' confiden...ce and communication skills.

Through this approach, pupils express themselves fluently, share their views clearly and listen attentively to others' opinions.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are kind, responsible and considerate, demonstrating high levels of self-control.

This begins in early years, where children quickly learn and follow daily routines. Inclusivity is a core focus. This approach ensures that all pupils feel represented and valued.

The school's ethos is reflected in the calm, purposeful atmosphere across lessons and the school. This creates an environment where pupils feel safe, fostering caring relationships between pupils and adults.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school promotes a culture of aspiration with the highest expectations for all pupils.

Dedicated, caring leaders and staff collectively share a commitment to excellence. Together, they have carefully developed a rich and ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including pupils with SEND. In each subject, the school clearly identifies knowledge so that teaching staff know precisely what pupils should learn.

Teachers make purposeful links between subjects to enrich pupils' understanding. For example, Year 5 pupils use their knowledge of coordinates from mathematics when learning about longitude and latitude in geography.

The school ensures that teachers develop detailed subject knowledge through high-quality, subject-specific training and coaching.

This enables them to model learning effectively and challenge pupils to extend their thinking. Teachers consistently check pupils' understanding, addressing misconceptions. They also revisit prior learning and connect it to new subject content.

As a result, pupils remember what they have learned and deepen their understanding over time. For instance, in physical education, children in early years learn to move safely and manage space by designing an obstacle course. By Year 4, they have further developed these skills, using equipment such as hockey sticks to navigate space effectively.

They learn to move in one direction while passing the ball behind them.

A love of reading is evident across the school because it is given a high priority. Pupils are enthusiastic about books and enjoy both reading and being read to.

Well-trained staff deliver the phonics programme with precision from the moment children enter the school. Books used for teaching reading are carefully matched to the sounds that pupils know, providing the practice needed to build accuracy and confidence. This approach helps to ensure that pupils decode and read fluently.

The school, together with its pupil reading ambassadors, selects ambitious texts to ensure that each year group experiences a broad and rich range of literature.

The school works tenaciously to make sure that pupils with SEND are identified and their needs are well supported through bespoke and timely extra help. Working in partnership with external agencies and families plays a key part in the school's approach.

The school integrates its personal development offer into every aspect of the curriculum. It is committed in its efforts to develop pupils into responsible global citizens. Pupils demonstrate an excellent understanding of equality and diversity.

The school uses a whole-school approach to teach resilience, aiming for these skills to be transferable for life. Pupils take on various leadership roles, including as playground leaders and pupil parliament members, who engage in projects such as creating hampers for the community. This fosters helpfulness and social responsibility.

Pupils learn about democracy through the selection processes for these roles. This includes voting activities held in the school polling station. The school's approach to promoting personal development prepares pupils exceptionally well for life in modern Britain.

Pupils demonstrate exemplary behaviour. This begins in early years, where children are highly motivated and engaged across all areas of learning. Staff explicitly teach routines from the moment children enter the school.

As a result, pupils move independently and sensibly from one activity to the next. They work diligently and collaboratively in class, eager to achieve their best. These positive attitudes make a strong contribution to their high achievements.

The school works closely with families to prioritise attendance and punctuality. As a result, pupils attend school regularly and on time.

Leaders, including the governing body, have established an ambitious culture that places pupils' learning at the heart of everything that the school does.

Staff take pride in working here and value the extensive training provided for them. They appreciate how the school supports their well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.