Activities and facilities

Here at Newbury Manor School, we believe that extra-curricular activities can enhance learning, reduce anxiety and boost self-esteem for our young people. Time and time again, we have found that introducing a student to the right activity, when combined with the right support, helps them to re-engage when they are struggling to access other areas of the curriculum. Often, it also leads them to continue to develop the hobby in their own time, helping them to build positive links in their community.

A quality setting for a quality education

Thanks to a considerable investment from owners Aspris, Newbury Manor School has recently undergone extensive refurbishment. The upgraded school building has a strong focus on providing a high quality setting for young people’s learning and is located on a very large countryside site with considerable acreage and stunning views.

Specialist on-site facilities

The school site has a range of specialist facilities and/or adaptations to ensure that we can fully meet the learning, therapeutic and sensory needs of our young people. These include:

• Visual signage around the school
• Adapting the school environment for those with visual impairments
• Dedicated well-equipped sensory rooms
• Use of specialist seating so that students’ occupational therapy needs can be met across the curriculum
• Access to a fully-equipped DT workshop
• A specially-equipped teaching kitchen
• Music and art room

Outdoor learning

Our idyllic setting in the Somerset countryside means young people at Newbury Manor School have access to a wide range of educational activities and experiences outside of the classroom. In particular, students love our on-site:

• Extensive grounds
• Sand pits
• Mud kitchens
• Bark area
• Outdoor fitness equipment
• Outside learning garden
• Swings
• On-site forest school

These facilities allow our young people to develop a variety of skills, including:

• Horticulture
• Animal care
• Forest school activities

Some recent activities

As a school, we have a range of partnerships in the community which allow our students to access activities such as:

• Badminton
• Basketball
• Camping
• Climbing
• Cooking for others
• Dog agility
• Football
• Horse riding
• Independent skill projects
• Orienteering
• Outdoor pursuits
• Swimming
• Tag rugby
• Tennis
• Using the gym
• Work experience

Listening to students

The activities we offer at Newbury Manor School are largely determined by the students themselves. We have a well-established school council, which holds weekly meetings and feeds back students’ views and ideas, as well as regular house meetings where pupils can contribute ideas for activities.