ARRIVING when the infant pupils were rehearsing for their spring festival, Rougemont School was filled with keen pupils all eager to show their range of talent.

Rougemont School is an independent day school that educates boys and girls from the ages of three to 18 years.

The school is situated on a spacious 55-acre site between Newport and Cwmbran.

The rehearsals for the Infant Spring Festival were in full swing when I arrived, with pupils demonstrating a range of talents from poetry, singing, dance and art.

Nearby the nursery was also getting into the Easter spirit with the three-year-olds making chocolate Easter cakes and planting spring flowers into tyres filled with soil outside.

Building on a recent visit to a pizza parlour, the four and five-year-olds in reception were busy making pizza.

Next, I was introduced to deputy head girl, Lizzie Bates, age 17, who undertakes paired reading with pupils in Year Three, and also runs a reading club. While deputy head boy, Huw Morris, hosts a tennis club for pupils.

For some pupils, the Easter period meant revision and I went to see Sixth Formers who were hard at work preparing for their A/S-level examinations.

Tom Hunter, age 16, was busy using charcoal to create a piece on the theme of stations, while Lucy McNamara, also 16, was etching to create a piece on the theme of woodlands.

A bit unique for a Gwent school subject, pupils are taught Latin from Year Seven and can choose in Year Nine if they would like to continue the subject to GCSE level.

Led by teacher, Susanna Elson, she explained that it is the eighth year that the school has taught the language and pupils choosing to continue the subject through to GCSE is growing year on year.

She said: “I try to make it enjoyable for the pupils so they do acting pieces and games.

“I’m keen to spread the message that it helps to learn other languages as many are derived from Latin.”

Next I headed over to the sports facility where I was greeted by Year Nine girls hard at work.

The class had designed their own circuit and were busy completing their exercises from running to using weights.

The school is particularly keen to enhance pupils’ learning through the use of technology, which was clear from my visit to a Year 11 geography lesson.

The pupils were busy using iPads to complete research and teacher Karen Hughes explained that for projects they have used green screen technology and even animation to make videos on topics such as Africa and volcanoes.

Next I met the head teacher, Robert Carnevale, who is a Newport native and has a long association with Rougemont, joining as head of physics in 1998, and soon taking over the pastoral role within the Sixth Form.

He then progressed to director of studies in 2002, and took up the post of deputy head (academic) in 2010.

He explained that as his three sons attended Rougemont Sixth Form, he has a thorough understanding of how important choosing the right school is for parents nowadays.

The core ethos of Rougemont is creating a happy, friendly environment and Mr Carnevale believes this happy environment makes for happy learners, who are more inclined to achieve their full potential.

Mr Carnevale added: “I’m often asked what makes Rougemont special and my answer is always the same, we are a very friendly, inclusive school where every pupil from nursery to Sixth Form matters.

“The journey of the individual is paramount here at Rougemont. We really are a school for life.”

Mr Carnevale’s long-term vision for the future of Rougemont is that it stays close to the principles upon which Rougemont was founded in 1925 – providing pupils with a first-class education and the opportunity to become the very best they can be.

Rougemont has the best results in Gwent for the last ten consecutive years.

In the GCSE examination, 93 per cent of the candidates achieved at least five A*-C grades, including maths and English. Also 52 per cent of pupils achieved A*/A grades.

In the A-level examinations, the school has a 100 per cent pass rate with 44 per cent achieving A*/A against the 26 per cent national average.

While the classroom remains central to Rougemont School life, he explained that the school also sees that co-curricular activities are vital to a rounded education.

The co-curricular programme at Rougemont School is both formal and informal, with involvement with clubs, workshops, lectures, young enterprise groups, as well as interactions with academic departments. The school has a varied co-curriculum programme that offers over 60 clubs or activities to choose from.

Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award from Year 10 onwards has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering a nationally recognised award, enabling pupils to gain vast experience in physical activity, a volunteering project while serving the community and learning new skills.

The school is particularly proud of its pupil’s sporting achievements.

The Year Nine rugby team recently reached the final of the Newport Schools’ Cup and Year Seven netball and hockey teams won the South East Wales Schools’ League Championship this year.

The cross country teams have been successful with senior pupils on the Wales squad.

The school also holds an annual swimming gala at Newport International Sports Village for its junior pupils.

l Rougemont School was founded in a house named Rougemont in Clevedon Road, Newport in the early 1920s.

Mr and Mrs Evans bought it in 1931, and expanding to the house next door, the school gained a reputation for sound teaching in the 3Rs and was directed towards grammar school entrance.

In 1946, Nant Coch House, Risca Road, was purchased for the school. The number of pupils increased to around 200 and, as the grammar schools started to close, the emphasis moved towards obtaining places in independent senior schools.

When Mr and Mrs Evans retired in 1974, a group of parents raised a loan to buy the school and a board of nine governors was elected.

The Stow Hill buildings, formerly housing the Convent of St Joseph, were purchased and provision was extended first to Common Entrance level, then to O-levels. Finally the first A-levels were taken in 1983.

When Llantarnam Hall, a large Victorian mansion set in 50 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Newport became available.

The governors immediately saw an opportunity to establish the long-term future of the school and purchased the hall and moved in the junior section in September 1992, and by 1995, all the pupils had been moved to the present site.

FACTFILE:

Rougemont School was founded in a house named Rougemont in Clevedon Road, Newport in the early 1920s.

Mr and Mrs Evans bought it in 1931 and, expanding to the house next door, the school gained a reputation for sound teaching in the 3Rs and was directed towards grammar school entrance.

In 1946 Nant Coch House, Risca Road, was purchased for the school. The number of pupils increased to around 200 and, as the grammar schools started to close, the emphasis moved towards obtaining places in independent senior schools.

When Mr and Mrs Evans retired in 1974, a group of parents raised a loan to buy the school and a board of nine governors was elected.

The Stow Hill buildings, formerly housing the Convent of St Joseph, were purchased and provision was extended first to Common Entrance level, then to O levels. Finally the first A levels were taken in 1983.

When Llantarnam Hall, a large Victorian mansion set in 50 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Newport became available. The governors immediately saw an opportunity to establish the long-term future of the school and purchased the hall and moved in the junior section in September 1992 and by 1995 all the pupils had been moved to the present site.

Head teacher: Robert Carnevale

School teaching age range: 3- 18

School roll: 580 pupils

Estyn inspection: November 2011.

The school’s current performance: Excellent

The school’s prospects for improvement: Excellent

Address: Rougemont School, Llantarnam Hall, Malpas Road, Newport, NP20 6QB