Newton British School Lagoon

In Brief

Quick note on the name — this campus trades as Newton International School (Lagoon), part of the Newton Group. Worth flagging in case you see it written different ways.

The short version: Lagoon is the most settled campus in the Newton group. The primary school is where it's strongest. Secondary is more uneven and that's where most of the noise is.

What people actually say:

Primary and EYFS get warm reviews. Friendly staff, kids happy, parents feel the teaching is solid for the fees. According to one parent, the school has "really turned around" under newer leadership and is "most definitely on the up."

Secondary is the part to look at carefully. Recurring themes from parents and students: high teacher turnover, behaviour management that some find weak, and a sense that classroom disruption eats into lesson time. One student said teachers can spend "15 to 30 minutes" trying to settle a class before teaching starts. IGCSE preparation has been criticised by sixth-formers more than once.

Bullying response is mixed in the commentary. The recent BSO inspection rates behaviour positively and credits restorative work; some parents and students disagree and say complaints don't always land.

Demographic note worth knowing: heavily Arabic-speaking student body, more so in secondary than primary. Useful or not depending on what your friend wants.

Teachers on Glassdoor sit around 3/5 — facilities good, management run "like a business," is the recurring critique.

Bottom line for your friend: a reasonable choice for primary, especially for a family that wants a British curriculum without top-tier fees. For secondary, visit before committing. Ask specifically about teacher retention in the year group their child is entering, IGCSE results in the subjects that matter to them, and how the school handles behaviour in lessons. Talk to current parents at the gate, not just the admissions team.