Head Teacher Mrs Castledine

 

As head teacher, my aim is to provide a school where everyone feels welcome and children enjoy coming.

I am passionate about providing a wide range of learning experiences and opportunities which will develop the whole child. I aim for every child to leave with high standards of English and Maths, but just as important to me is the focus on character education. I strive to understand every child and develop their confidence, communication skills and resilience which they will need throughout their lives. I am proud of every pupil attending Newlands and also want to feel this pride for children when they are out of school and are responsible for their own actions. 

As a child my favourite subject was English and I always led this subject as a teacher. I am a total workaholic and very competitive, which means I always want myself, my staff, pupils and the community to be the very best. I love reading, which I do every day, walking my dog Scout and spending time with my family who mean the world to me. I enjoy going on holiday. My favourite place is Thailand, where I was able to care for elephants in a sanctuary for the day. I am a happy, positive person and if you asked anyone about me, I can guarantee they will all say I love chocolate and chocolate cake.

Year 3

Class 1 Mrs Matthews Assistant Head 

I have been at Newlands for the last nine years – which is amazing as I was originally only meant to be here for five months supporting Y6 through SATs!  I loved it so much, I just had to stay! 

I have been teaching for 32 years – in my time as a teacher, I have taught from Y2 to Y6.  I have loved teaching all of those different ages – they have so much character and humour!  I am lucky enough to teach one of the Y3 classes now.  This is a fabulous year group to teach as they mature nicely as the year goes on.  I love seeing children develop into young adults.

In my role as Assistant Head, I am responsible for teaching and learning across the school, behaviour, assessment and data analysis, reading and anything else that comes my way.  I love variety, so my job suits me very well.  I am also quite bossy and VERY organised and this definitely suits the many roles I have within school!

I am a really positive, supportive and encouraging person.  I try to encourage all children to believe in themselves.  No-one is allowed to be negative around me.  I firmly believe that we should all strive to be ‘The best Me that I can be’ and we certainly can’t be this when we are being negative and grumpy!  I also firmly believe that everyone can achieve, and we should all have big aims to aspire to too.  I want the very best for all the children in our care and believe that the world is their oyster – they can be whatever they want to be!  Just aim high and achieve lots!

Away from school, I have three grown-up children and a Beagle called Brian (who is totally daft and so suits our family down to the ground).  When we are not at home, my husband and I like to travel to as many places as we can.  Our favourite place to visit is Hawaii as it is just so relaxing and fantastic all at the same time!

Year 3

Class 1 (job share) Mrs Green

I have been teaching in schools for over 20 years and I have taught in every age group from FS2 to year 6 apart from year 5. I have worked in three schools before Newlands and one was so small it only had 70 children. I love working with children in year three as they make such a lot of progress as they move through the year, and they grow up so much. As a child I wanted to be a teacher and I used to play school with my teddy bears. I coordinate music and I love going to concerts and listening to live music. Music is so important because it brings people together, teaches us new skills and, most importantly lets us have fun. My other love in life is reading- I try to read at least one new book a week. 

When I am not teaching children I love football and I have been a season ticket holder at Mansfield town for 15 years and I have been going to watch the Stags for 23 years. I also love going to the gym where my favourite class is yoga - I try to go at least three times a week. I am also a mum to my own children who are seven and three years old and we have annual passes for the Yorkshire Wildlife park- my favourite animal there is the lions. We also have a foster boy who lives with us who is 16 and he has been living with us for the last 6 years. My big passion in life is travel and I have visited loads of different countries, with the strangest one being Uzbekistan. 

Year 3

Class 2 Miss McKay

I am passionate about Science and Maths, which is why I lead these subjects in school. Science is all around us and I truly believe it is up to us to develop children’s natural curiosity about the world which surrounds them. We have an aim for all children to achieve high standards in Maths when they leave Newlands. Maths allows growth within the school, enhancing and nurturing our core values and supporting character education. 
Outside of school I love spending time with my cat Snowy, reading, seeing my family and friends and watching football whenever I can! 
I am a very happy, positive person who has lots of creative ideas and the sorting hat places me in Gryffindor! 

T.A. Mrs Davies

I love working with children and watching them progress in both their work and seeing their confidence blossom. This helps them to really enjoy their learning and develops enthusiasm. Phonics and reading are my favourite subjects to teach. I love sharing the joy of reading with the children and helping them read new words to enhance their vocabulary.

Outside of school, I spend lots of time in the outdoors – walking. I have recently completed a 26-mile hike for McMillan cancer support.

T.A. Miss Walters

I love working as a TA at Newlands.

I am currently in year 3, but I have previously worked in all year groups. I am passionate about helping our students reach their full potential. My favourite subject to teach is English, especially reading, as I love reading and believe in encouraging all children to appreciate a good book.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends and attending live music events, which is why I encourage a love of music amongst our students.

T.A. Mrs Brewer

Hi, I have previously worked from Foundation Stage to Year 2, so working with junior children was a new challenge when I joined Newlands.

I am a positive person who loves having a laugh, but I take my job very seriously. I feel I am there to support the children in their learning and am never happier than when a child finally gets that 'YES' moment with something they have been struggling with.

My job is great working with the fantastic teams. The children are super too, so well-behaved, hard-working and polite.

I'm a very sociable person and spending time with friends is very important to me. 

At home with my family, I enjoy cooking, reading and watching TV, but my favourite thing to do is be out walking with our super cute little dog.

Our favourite family holidays have been spent in Majorca, enjoying sunshine, beaches and tapas. What more do you need?

Year 4

Class 3 Mrs Martin

I have been teaching at Newlands for over 30 years in both full-time and part-time capacities. I have been fortunate to teach every year group, which has enabled me to see the development and progression of the children over the four years; something that I have really enjoyed. As the PE co-ordinator, I promote physical activity, competition and fitness whenever I can, whether it be in PE lessons, active minutes or when competing against other schools. In my spare time, I enjoy being active by playing badminton, doing gardening and spending time with my family. Cake is another of my passions – both making it and eating it – so it is just as well that I lead an active life!

Year 4

Class 4 Mrs Boulton

I have been teaching at Newlands for over 20 years and I have loved every minute. I have been fortunate to work with wonderful staff, children and families. Every day is a new adventure and our children never cease to make me smile. 
For many years, I have been subject lead for Citizenship and Religious Education. Citizenship is really important at Newlands. We are very proud of our values and aspirations, and we encourage our children to always be the very best they can be. 
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, meeting up with friends and going out for food. I love to spend time at home reading and going on long walks with my very naughty husky, Bear.

T.A. Miss Wild

I have been a TA at Newlands for over 20 years. Year 4 is where you will find me. I am passionate about my role and aim to help every child develop academically, socially and to gain confidence in themselves. I also want every child to always feel included.

My favourite subject is maths but I enjoy everything!

Outside of school, I enjoy walking, reading, going out for meals, seeing family and friends and spending as much time as I can with my gorgeous grandsons. (I'm biased, of course) My motto in life is 'smile' and my favourite poem goes like this: "smiling is infectious, you can catch it like the flu....."

 

T.A. Mrs Furmage

 I’m a caring and positive person who likes to see the best in people and make them smile as well as feel valued.

I want to ensure that children are happy and feel safe when at school. I believe every child is an individual who learns and develops at different stages and I will do all I can to support them.

My favourite subjects are Art and Maths and my motto is every day is a school day and even as adults we are still learning.

Spending time with my family and my dog is very important to me.

I feel very lucky to now be working in the community I live in. I’m looking forward to being part of your children’s journey and watching them blossom.

 

Year 5

Class 5 Mr Robinson

Around 9 years ago, I was fortunate enough to have realised and achieved my dream of becoming a Primary School Teacher, which to this day is still my most proud moment. I love being in the classroom, surrounded by my wonderful class and having the most fun we can possibly have!

‘We Are Proud’ is our school’s motto and I most definitely am, each and every day, from the moment I see those little, cheeky smiling faces in the morning, to the time I say goodbye to the more tired and worn-out looking little, cheeky smiling faces in the afternoon. I love to promote an incredibly competitive classroom, as I am often found challenging my children to a gung-ho game of dodgeball as well as testing our multiplication knowledge in a thrilling times table shoot out (most of the time I don’t win). I am very honoured to call myself a teacher at Newlands, a feeling which helps the early mornings feel less early, and even more honoured to share a learning environment with such witty, well-humoured and unquestionably magnificent little learners.

Outside of school, I enjoy many different sports, including football (unfortunately, I’m an Arsenal fan) and boxing, whilst looking after the world’s most affectionate dog also takes up most of my time. 

Year 5

 Class 6 Ms Elliott, Assistant Head, SENDCo, Well-being and Pupil Premium lead

I am lucky enough to have been at Newlands for many wonderful years!

During this time, I have taught every year group in school. This has given me an in-depth understanding of the journey our children undertake, from the day they join us in Y3, to the day we say a tearful goodbye in Y6.

I asked the children to describe me, and they said I am always smiling, funny, friendly, caring, strict when I need to be and a little bit nutty!

They also said that I love cake (which I do!)!

In my role as Assistant Head, I am responsible for Pupil Premium Funding, Wellbeing (for children and staff) and SEN. I work closely with Mrs Matthews to monitor data across the school for SEN and PP children, as well as any other jobs that come my way (of which there are many!).

I am extremely organised and like everything around me to be orderly, (You can often find me measuring displays in my classroom to make sure the work I have put up is straight!). I can sometimes be a little bossy and am known around school for being very honest with everyone (sometimes too honest!). I like to nurture those around me and people find me very approachable and easy to talk to – it is my firm belief that a problem shared is a problem halved.

I absolutely love teaching and made the decision four years ago to become SENDCo – a role that numerous colleagues have told me I was born to do! I am passionate about ensuring that every child in our school, irrespective of their individual challenges, has the opportunities to access and engage in a full, exciting curriculum, which will develop them into responsible citizens in future years. I constantly instil in the children their right to be whomever they choose to be and to be proud of themselves – they are unique!

Away from school, I am a mum to 2 wonderful children (not so little any more!) and a granny to 6 amazing little people, who are my world. I love walking in the Peak District, meeting friends for meals out, as well as reading and gardening.

Year 5

Class 6 (job share) Miss Redman

 I have been working in KS2 for 19 years and have taught in all year groups. I really enjoy how imaginative the children are and their thirst to learn and understand the world around them. Everything is magical at this age!

I am a very caring and positive person and genuinely believe that children can be whoever they strive to be, and I am committed to helping young people achieve their goals.

I really enjoy art and geography and love learning about different cultures around the world. Outside of school, I love spending time with my amazing family and our peculiar cat, Norman. I enjoy photography and being in the countryside – I am always dragging my two children to the Peak District, which they moan about a lot, but I think secretly enjoy! Some of my family are Spanish, so I am lucky to spend a lot of time in Mallorca during the holidays, where I also like to take lots of photographs!

T.A. and Play Leader Miss Thornton

Hi, I love working at Newlands Junior school. I have worked here for 5 years and I want to make a difference to help children get the best out of their education.

My hobbies are baking, reading and crocheting.

T.A. Mrs Sizer

I have been working as a SEN T.A. for 16 years. I am currently working in Year 5 and I have a passion for supporting pupils to achieve the best version of themselves they can be.

In my free time, I love spending time with my family, walking my dog and watching football, particularly Stags! 

Year 6

Class 7 Miss Wells

I am very excited to be teaching in Year 6! I have worked in a number of different educational settings, but Junior school is my favourite. I enjoy being in the classroom, finding new ways to learn while having fun.

I love learning about the world we live in, new places and what has happened in the past. That is why I will be leading History and Geography in school.

Outside of school, I am always reading. I love books! You will also find me on long walks with my two cocker spaniels, Todd and Rory.

Year 6 

Class 8 (job share) Miss Coupe 

  

I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I watched Matilda as a child! I try to be like Miss Honey☺️ 
My favourite subjects are English and computing, which is why I lead these subjects within school. Technology is everywhere in our lives, and we use it daily, so we have a responsibility to teach children how to use it safely and responsibly, ensuring they become mature, digital citizens. 

We aim to have pupils using IT in all areas of the curriculum to showcase their learning, to apply their skills and to be creators with technology rather than just consumers!

Outside of school, I enjoy keeping fit by running and walking my dog, seeing my family and friends and eating out at restaurants. 

My favourite day of the school year is sports day as I am very competitive and look forward to the teachers' v children's relay race! I also look forward to our year 6 residential each year when the children and staff get to dive into lots of outdoor, adventurous activities that challenge us and give us new, exciting experiences.

Class 8 (job share) Miss Peck

Hi everyone!  I always wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and I absolutely love my job! I’m passionate about engaging children in learning and provoking their sense of curiosity. I’m very positive and like to have fun with the children (although I’m sure they would say I can be strict when I need to be!). My favourite subjects to teach are maths, P.E. and history. I also love doing anything hands-on and practical, such as investigations in Science.

I have a little boy called Jonah and a toddler called Lilah. In my spare time I’m usually at the farm, out on walks or somewhere fun with them. They keep me very busy and definitely keep me on my toes. I also enjoy travelling and anything outdoors and active – I like an adventure.                                             

T.A. and breakfast club leader Mrs Gibbs

 I’ve lived in the area most of my life and attended this school when I was younger (much younger!) Being a teaching assistant is not a job, it’s a passion.

I love seeing the children blossom and I love being a part of that happening. My aim is to help our young people become confident and help them achieve their potential, through learning and having fun while learning!

I try my hardest to make sure learning is achieved, and enjoy supporting them and the teachers. My favourite subjects are maths and geography. Every day, I learn something new along with our children! Outside of school, I love spending time with my family and doing garden projects, as well as the odd series binge on Netflix ! I’m a big fan of darts and snooker and will watch it whenever I can! I’m a happy and outgoing person and will do anything to try to make other people smile. My favourite food is cheesecake! Diet or no diet, I will eat it!

T.A. Mrs O'Gorman

I am lucky enough to be part of the lovely Newlands Year 6 team.

Maths is my favourite subject. The best part of my job is when a pupil has a 'lightbulb' moment and suddenly 'gets it.'

I enjoy Spanish too – we have great fun trying to pronounce the vocabulary properly.

Primary school was one of the happiest times of my life, so I will do everything I can to ensure our pupils have a wonderful experience at Newlands. I like to treat everybody with kindness and respect. It is a privilege to work with the wonderfully resilient children and caring staff.

When I'm not at work, I love to read, knit and try out different crafts. Last year I started Spanish lessons and hope to improve sometime soon!

Cover teacher Mr Emmerson 

Hi everyone! 

I started at Newlands as a TA about 12 years ago and am now a cover teacher, which means I get to work with all of our wonderful children in all classes. I am really passionate about music, history and science and love teaching these subjects the most. As a former engineer, I love making and building things, so I get to lead the DT after-school club where we get to make all sorts of things which I think makes me the luckiest TA in the school.

Sports Coach/ Play Leader Mr Freeman

I’m so proud to work at Newlands! You could find me absolutely anywhere within the school premises (I’m the one that can wear PE kit all week!) 
I have many roles around the school. Some of my main roles include PE, active minutes, lunchtime activities, after-school clubs and supporting children. 
My favourite subjects are PE and geography. I feel physical activity is more than just games. It is so important in our lives, it keeps us healthy, and it also develops life skills (such as winning/losing, teamwork, confidence and resilience) which we all need! 
Outside of school, sport is my passion, whether that’s playing, watching or coaching, it’s just fantastic to be part of it. I’m currently learning how to speak Spanish, as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I also love travelling. I’ve been to some amazing places around Europe, and if I can sneak in a stadium tour and a game in, that’s even better.

Mrs Walters – Pupil Well Being and Family Support Lead

I'm so excited to be joining the Newlands community! My journey in education began as a Teaching Assistant and ELSA before I went on to specialise in supporting children, families and professionals in understanding and championing Autism and ADHD.

Through both my personal experience raising my own family and my professional journey, my passion for mental health, well-being and neurodiversity has continued to grow. Over the years, I've developed a deep understanding of the challenges that children and families may face, especially around Autism and ADHD. I'm dedicated to offering support, encouragement and a listening ear to help every child and family feel understood and valued.

Outside of school, you'll usually find me spending time with family and friends, cooking up something delicious, getting lost in a good book, or singing (badly!) along to my favourite music. I am so excited to be working alongside all the wonderful pupils and families here at Newlands!

Mrs Haywood – Pupil Well Being and Mental Health

I have worked in primary schools for over 15 years. I began my journey as a teacher in Lincolnshire and have had the pleasure of teaching all year groups within Key Stage Two. Since moving to Nottinghamshire, I continued teaching for a couple of years before working for a children’s mental health charity. Within this role, I worked with primary aged children, delivering PSHE and RSE workshops within schools, as well as running sessions for parents and carers. I have a true passion for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing and feel privileged to now be working with all the amazing children and staff at Newlands Junior School.

In my spare time, I love to enjoy days out with my partner and young daughter. You can often find us at playgrounds, soft play centres and cafés which serve delicious cakes!

SEN, Pastoral Support and Lunchtime Play Leader Mrs Jackson

I started my time at Newlands School as a Dinner Lady. My love for sports and the connection I built with the children then led me onto my play leader position, which I still do now, alongside being a Teaching Assistant and SEN support. This part of my role involves me working one-to-one with certain children who may need extra support, whether that be emotionally or academically. Many of the children feel like they can come to me and talk to me about their feelings, which makes my position so special and rewarding.

My position as a play leader is so much fun! I go out every dinnertime and play different games with the children. From football and tennis to skipping. I help them keep moving and make their play times as interactive as possible, improving skills such as teamwork and leadership and igniting their competitive side in a positive way. I love the work I do in this position, as when I was younger, I played County Badminton for Notts and had the pleasure of competing in so many amazing places. Sports is a big passion of mine.

Being a florist by trade and having a love for colour, one of my most treasured jobs in Newlands is helping make our exciting wall displays and working creatively with the children. Engaging creativity and creating a happy, fun and safe school life for the children is something that is of the upmost importance to me.

Having many roles and responsibilities at Newlands can be hard work, but it all feels worth it when I walk in and the children come up to me with their big smiles and say, "When will you be coming for me today, Mrs Jackson?

School Business Manager

Pauline Underwood

Hi, I am Mrs Underwood and you can find me in the school office. I have been a Business Manager for over 17 years and love my job.

My role is varied, and I help Mrs Castledine look after the whole business side of the school.

I enjoy walking, meeting friends and family and visiting different parts of the country and world.

Office Administrator

Kelly Vardy

Hello, I am Mrs Vardy and you will probably see me in the school office at the front of the reception area. My role here at the school is to ensure attendance and dinners are recorded and processed promptly. But I also support Mrs Underwood and the rest of the amazing school team with any administrative duties required. 

You will probably speak with me on the phone or face to face in the busy school office, as I love greeting and helping our pupils, parents, and carers with anything they may need. I will always aim to be friendly, helpful, and professional at every touchpoint. 

In my spare time, I have a young family, and I love spending quality time with them and our doggies. We love to go on holiday and enjoy experiencing new adventures together. 

Site Manager

Dan Wheatley

Hi , my name is Dan. I open and close the building every day and keep it safe for all the children and staff. You will always find me with tools in my hands, ready to fix things for everyone. I am always happy to help out if anyone needs it. 

Outside school I like to spend time with my family.

Midday Supervisor

Jill Salmon

I have worked at Newlands since 2004 and originally joined the governing body as a parent governor. I have been part of many committees and held a variety of roles as a governor throughout my time here at Newlands. Before being a governor at Newlands, I was also a parent governor at John T. Rice.

I have the perspective of working at the school as well as having children previously attend. My grandchildren also currently attend the school.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family and being creative.

During my time as a governor, I have seen the school go from strength to strength and how positively the school impacts its pupils both past and present.

Midday Supervisor

Mrs Smith

I used to work at Newlands quite a few years ago when my children were small and now that my grandchildren have all started school, I have got my days back, so when I heard that there was a vacancy at the school, I jumped at the chance to come back and hopefully make a difference to the children's dinner time. 

In my spare time I like to spend time with my family, going for walks with my dog, Millie, socialising and going to watch Mansfield town.

 

Cleaner

Ms Leach

Hi,  my name is Dominique, you will find me with a bucket and a mop in my hands. I keep the school nice and clean and smelling fresh.

In my free time I like to spend time with my family.

Cleaner

Mrs Sprigg

Hi,  I have been a cleaner at Newlands for nearly 9 years. My job is to keep the school nice and clean for everyone. I attended Newlands as a child myself (many moons ago), as did my children and my grandchildren, who are still coming through. 

Outside of school I like to spend time with my family and friends.