Private Boarding School in Ireland

Newtown School, Waterford:
We at Newtown House (located just 10 minutes walk from the heart of Waterford City in the south east of Ireland) believe that in a rapidly changing world, education must concern itself more and more with the calibre of student it produces as much as with the courses to be studied. Adaptability, confidence, the courage to make changes where they are necessary and, above all, the ability to get on with other people are amongst the qualities that we promote through a sound liberal education for life.

Founded and run by the Religious Society of Friends, Newtown draws pupils of all religious persuasions and appreciates the contribution of all denominations to our society. It is our belief that a caring society that dedicates itself to the eternal values common to all religions will lead its members towards a real religious commitment.

The School aims to promote a sense of caring for others, which includes pupils, teachers and other staff and extends to a commitment to the local community and the outside world. Within this caring community the school seeks to provide a sound liberal education for life, aimed at preparing its pupils for the environment that they will meet in the future. It is committed to a mixed ability intake and aims to foster adaptability, self-motivation, confidence and a sense of responsibility amongst all its pupils.

The school aims to communicate a set of values, which reflect a balance between the spiritual and material aspects of life. In such an environment encouragement is more desirable than negative criticism. All pupils are of value and worthy of respect and the school aims to convey this to its pupils so they should not only realise this but also behave accordingly.

Teachers and scholars make a community living and working together under discipline in friendship and mutual respect. The whole community should live together in friendship, each one recognising the special position held by the others and the contribution required from each for the perfection of the common life. Each and every member of the school community enjoys the right as a member of the community to participate fully in and to contribute positively to the life and work of the school community without let or hindrance from others.

To work towards this ideal we must -
* talk to the appropriate people about difficulties as they arise
* share our enthusiasms with others and support each other in becoming
involved because those who contribute most benefit best and the
community sustains a range of curricular and extra-curricular activities
which offers ample opportunity for individual recognition across the
spectrum of ability and aptitude

Boarding Programme; Day Programme; Junior Cycle Programme (a three year course leading to the Junior Certificate examination); Transition Year Programme (a one-year programme taken before embarking on the two-year Leaving Certificate programme); Senior Cycle Programme (a two year programme to Leaving Certificate examination); Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (L.C.V.P.); Personal Development Programme; Sports Programme; Extra Curricular Activities Programme.

Newtown School is a three weekly boarding school in that every three weeks (mid-terms and bank holidays permitting) all boarders go home on a Friday afternoon and return on a Sunday evening. We call this a long weekend. By special permission, some boarders elect to become weekly boarders, going home after study on Saturday and returning Sunday evening.

The intention is that staff find their work rewarding and despite the growing pressures of modern school life there should always be time for staff and pupils to talk together and work together, inside and outside the classroom. The individual attention that is required if we are to care for all our pupils implies the personal interest of the teachers and recognition must be made for the demands that this makes on them.