Mrs. Alison Fleming

FROM NEWTON PREP SCHOOL, LONDON

In this episode of Education Corner Podcast, we spoke with Mrs. Alison Fleming, Head of Newton Prep School in Battersea, London. Newton Prep School is a coeducational prep school for children aged 3-13, known for its excellent academic results and broad range of co-curricular opportunities. Alison discussed the benefits of co-education, the unique curriculum offered at the school and the challenging impact of the VAT on independent school fees.

Reflecting on her path to becoming a headteacher, Mrs. Alison Fleming described her journey as pragmatic, influenced by personal and family considerations. She shared: “I wasn’t educated privately myself. A state primary school and state grammar school was my background.” She initially had no intention of joining the independent sector but found herself considering the option when her eldest son started a state primary school that had “some teaching methods that I found curious.”

Alison commented: “I felt I did want to become a Head, but I suspected it wasn’t going to be a Head in Hampshire or Wiltshire. Instead, it was going to be a London Head.” The more traditional Shire counties model did not attract Alison as much as the diversity and dynamism offered in London. After a deputy headship at Highgate Junior School and a headship at Dulwich College Junior School, Alison joined Newton Prep, which she has led for over a decade.

Newton Prep School’s coeducational setting reflects Alison’s belief in preparing children for real life. “Coeducation is normal life and I think schools should reflect the reality of children’s existence,” she asserted, adding: “It’s vitally important that boys and girls learn what it is to be alongside each other.”

Alison emphasised the importance of fostering respect and understanding between genders: “Our job as educators is to journey with the children and help them to sort out any differences that might come along.”

A teaching opportunity at a local prep school led Alison into the independent sector. She candidly admitted: “After quite a lot of lively conversations with my husband, who was not at all keen on the independent sector decision, I accepted the role, which brought with it some fee remission for having my children there.” This initial move marked the beginning of her journey, which eventually took her from Hampshire to London.

Newton Prep’s ethos is shaped by values of ambition, effort and self-discipline, drawing upon Isaac Newton’s thoughts: “My powers are ordinary. Only my application brings me success.” Alison connects this deeply to her own upbringing, sharing: “My father, born in a coal mining village in South Wales, always told me: ‘Education is your passport. That is what’s going to take you to new places.’ I was driven by that message throughout my childhood and I think I’ve taken that with me in my professional working life.”

Alison emphasised the importance of effort over innate talent: “It’s largely a misapprehension to think that children are born gifted. For the vast majority, you will succeed by effort and application.”

To inspire her students, Alison has been leading by example, stating: “Five years ago, I decided to start learning to play the piano as an absolute beginner. It’s hard work, and it has taken everything in my power to get to Grade 5 - I’m fiercely proud of that!”

The school’s admissions process begins with two primary entry points: nursery and reception. Alison explained: “We take about forty-eight children into nursery and look for another thirty-five to join in reception.” Assessments for younger children focus on developmental milestones, often determined through observed play, while older students undergo more formal evaluations, including maths and English tests.

Alison stressed the importance of finding the right fit between the school and its children: “Our pitch and pace are ambitious. I need to be satisfied that they are meeting normal developmental milestones because if they are not, I think they would be put under a great deal of stress.”

Newton Prep School prides itself on a curriculum that extends beyond just exam preparation. Alison stated: “We want to make sure that we are addressing the concerns and issues that are relevant and pertinent to this generation of children. Our curriculum will adapt; we are not a school that has the same curriculum plans in place each year.” She particularly highlighted the importance of the arts: “We want to provide those wonderful opportunities for our children to do art, music and drama, and to develop that creative side of their personalities.”

The Newton Prep Diploma exemplifies this innovative approach. Designed for Year 7 and 8 pupils, the diploma integrates humanities, arts and classics into interdisciplinary projects. The Diploma is about moving away from traditional “subject silos” that are “fundamentally not related to each other,” and encouraging pupils to think critically across their subjects, culminating in a gold, silver or bronze award, “depending on what extra the children have brought to this Diploma.”

Navigating London’s competitive senior school admissions process is a significant focus for Newton Prep School. Alison explained: “From Year