Rougemont School was founded in a house named ‘Rougemont’ in Clevedon Road, Newport in 1925. 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 1948, Nant Coch House, Risca Road, was purchased for the school. The number of pupils increased to around two hundred 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 under the leadership of Mr Frank Edwards.
The strength and reputation of the school was continuing to grow with the Headmasters Mr Richard Ham (1988–1991) and Mr Graham Sims (1991–1995), when Llantarnam Hall, a large Victorian mansion set in 50 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Newport, became available. Mr Ian Burge, who was Chair of Governors at the time, saw an opportunity to establish the long-term future of the school, and together with the other governors, purchased the Hall and moved in the junior section in September 1992.
Mr Ian Brown – formerly Bursar and Development Manager – took the helm in 1995 and by the end of the same year all the pupils had been moved to the present site. Since then, we have seen non-stop development of permanent purpose-built accommodation, and the school now houses around 550 pupils, with competition for places growing all the time.
Following the retirement of Mr Brown, Dr Jonathan Tribbick was appointed Headmaster from September 2002. After 12 years’ service and outstanding achievements, Dr Tribbick retired in 2014, succeeded by Mr Robert Carnevale who retired in 2023.
Mrs Lisa Pritchard was appointed as the new overarching Head of Rougemont School in 2023.
Admission to the Preparatory and Senior Schools is by interview and assessments. Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on GCSE results.
The following paragraphs refer mainly to the Senior School although peripatetic specialists work in both and there is some interchange of teachers.
Curriculum. Pupils follow a wide syllabus to age 14. For the two years to GCSE, pupils normally study ten subjects of which English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Numeracy, a language, science and a humanities subject are normally compulsory. 18 subjects are available.
Sixth Form. 22 AS/A2 levels are available. Sixth Form pupils have their own common room and study area. Sixth Form pupils can also take part in a range of extracurricular activities and games.
Religion. Rougemont School is non-denominational.
Careers. The School belongs to the Independent Schools Careers Organisation. The Senior teachers advise on all aspects of further education and careers.
Music. In addition to specialist teachers of music, a large number of peripatetic teachers cover the range of orchestral instruments. There are choirs and instrumental ensembles for all ages.
Drama. In addition to the Infant Department’s Spring Festival and the Senior School Eisteddfod, two large-scale productions and two musical events take place each year.
Elocution and dance. Visiting staff hold weekly classes for LAMDA courses, ballet and modern dance.
Sport. The School has developed a high standard of performance in most major sports. There is a wide fixtures programme for both boys and girls.
Clubs. A wide variety of extracurricular activities and clubs are available at lunchtime and after school, as is supervised prep.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This is a very successful activity within the school and over 60 pupils have gained the Gold Award in the last 20 years.
Fees per term (2024-2025). From Nursery to Sixth Form, fees range from £3,152–£5,561.
Scholarships. Academic, Sport and Performing Arts Scholarships are available for entry into Year 7, between 5%–15%. A limited number of means-tested bursaries are offered from Year 7 upwards. The School offers Academic, Sporting and Creative Arts Scholarships to the value of 5–15% for Sixth Form entry.
Charitable status. Rougemont School is a Registered Charity, number 532341. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Chair: Mr P Harris
Vice-Chair: Mr M Cordner
Mrs F Bennett
Mr H Clark
Mr R Green
Mr I Hoppe
Dr A Kotecha
Mr D Lunt
Mr D McClelland
Mrs C McNamara
Mrs W Williams
Head of Rougemont: Mrs L Pritchard, BA, PGCE
Director of Infants: Miss L Hallas, BA, PGCE
Director of Juniors: Mr A Bevan, BA, PGCE
Director of Seniors: Mrs S Archer, BSc, PGCE (Biology)
Director of Sixth Form: Mr H Singer, MA Ed, BA, PGCE
Director of Inclusion and Assessment: Mr A Griffiths, BEng, PGCE (ALNco)
Director of Operations: Mr P Rich
Director of Business and Finance: Mr A Knight
Senior School:
Mrs L Bateman, BA, PGCE (Head of Art)
Mr K Bell, BA, PGCE (Head of Boys’ Sport)
Mrs S Boon, BA, PGCE (Art, DT)
Mr M Bowman, BSc, PGCE (Mathematics)
Mrs K Bridges, BSc, PGCE (Science, Maths, IT)
Ms C Bromley, BSc, PGCE (Mathematics)
Dr S Brown, BA, BSc, PhD, PGCE (Senior Laboratory Technician)
Mrs J Caddick, BA, PGCE (English, UCAS & HE Coordinator)
Mrs E Carnevale, BSc, PGCE (Geography)
Mr B Cheung, BA, PGCE, QTS (Physics)
Ms A Clason-Thomas, BA, MA, PGCE (Assistant Head of KS3, Pupil Coordinator KS3, French, English)
Mr R Cording, BSc, QTS (Design and Technology)
Mr P Daley, BA, PGCE (Latin)
Ms M Davies, BA, PGCE, QTS (Music)
Mrs L DeCruz, BA, PGCE (Head of Religious Studies, Curriculum Coordinator)
Mr C Dobbins, BMus, DepMus, LRSM, PGCE (Director of Music)
Miss C Dugdale, BA, PGCE (PE, Religious Studies)
Mrs K Elms, BA, PGCE (English, Film Studies, House Tutor Coordinator)
Mrs R Garrod, BA, PGCE (History, KS3 History Coordinator)
Mr M Grimes, MSc, BSc, PGCE (Head of Physics)
Mr J Hardwick, BSc, PGCE (Biology, Science, Careers)
Mr J Hawkins, BSc (Physical Education)
Miss R Hayes, BA, PGCE (Head of Design & Technology, DofE)
Mrs E Hughes, BA, PGCE (English)
Mrs K Hughes, BSc, PGCE (Head of Geography, Clubs Coordinator)
Ms L Jones, BA, PGCE (Physical Education)
Mrs A Jenkins, BSc (Assistant Head of KS5, Chemistry, Physics)
Mr M Jenkins, MA Cantab, PGCE (Head of History, Geography, House Tutor)
Mrs C Langford, BSc, PGCE (Head of Chemistry, Curriculum Administrator)
Mr S Mansfield, BSc, PGCE, (Head of Biology)
Ms K Marshall, BSc, PGCE, (Director of Sport)
Mr P McMahon, MSc, BSc, QTS (Head of Computing and IT, Google Administrator, ECDL Coordinator)
Miss A Mintowt-Czyz, BA, PGCE (Head of English)
Mrs D Morgan, BA, PGCE (French)
Mrs S Munro, DEUG, Licence, PGCE (Head of French, Year 7 Pupil Progress Coordinator)
Mrs L Nepean, BA, PGCE (Head of Drama, House Tutor, Performance Coordinator)
Miss C Owen, BA, PGCE (Assistant Head of KS4, Head of Business Studies)
Mr W Price, BA, PGCE (Head of KS4, Head of Spanish)
Mr A Richards, BSc, PGCE (Head of Mathematics)
Mr M Savery, BA, PGCE (Head of Economics, Spanish, EPQ Co-ordinator)
Mr J Steadman, BSc, PGCE (Physical Education)
Mrs T van der Linde, MA Ed, BSc, PGCE (Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, Chemistry)
Ms M Williams, BA, PGCE, QTS (Computing and IT)
Juniors:
Mr A Bevan, BA, PGCE (Director of Juniors)
Mrs A Burridge, BSc, PGCE (Junior Class Teacher, DofE)
Mr C Dobbins, BMus, DipMus, LRSM, PGCE (Director of Music, Games)
Mrs S Evans (Junior Class Teacher, Music)
Mrs A Exley (Art)
Mrs K Galloway, KS2 (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Mrs R Hale, BA, PGCE (Junior Class Teacher, Able and Talented Coordinator)
Mrs K Jones (HLTA)
Mrs L Kelley, BA, QTS (Junior Class Teacher, Coordinator of Science)
Mrs R Manley, BA, QTS (Junior Class Teacher)
Mrs R Morgan, BA, PGCE (Learning Development Centre)
Mrs R Payne, NNEB (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Mr A Pritchard, BSc, PGCE (Mathematics, PE)
Mr S Rowlands, BA, QTS (Junior Class Teacher, House Tutor)
Mrs L Singer, MA Ed, BSc, PGCE (Junior Class Teacher, PE Prep School Coordinator)
Mrs K Williams, BEd (Junior Class Teacher)
Infants:
Mrs H Ashill, NNEB (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Ms C Burdett, BA, PGCE, QTS (Infant Class Teacher, Leader of Digital Learning and Innovation)
Mrs B Cobner-Matthews, LLB (HTLA)
Mrs C Devine, BA, QTS (Infant Class Teacher)
Mr C Dobbins, BMus, DipMus, LRSM, PGCE (Director of Music)
Mrs A Exley (Art)
Mrs L Kelley, BA, QTS (Infant Class Teacher, Coordinator of Science)
Mr G Morgan BSc, PGCE (Infant Class Teacher)
Mrs T Mountford, BEd (Primary Sport)
Mrs N Noor, BA, PGCE (Infant Class Teacher)
Nursery:
Mrs E Beale (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Mrs J Forouzan, NNEB (Nursery Teacher)
Mrs E Mian, NNEB (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Miss L Wiseman (Teaching and Learning Assistant)
Registrar: Mrs N Bates