Standing, from left: Miss Broome (Young Children), Mrs Wood (Matron), Miss Fraser (Principal), Miss Hudson (Music and Modern Languages - French and German). Seated, from left: Miss Hull (m. Mr Southey-Baker; replaced by Miss Tendall), Miss Krule (English Teacher).

The first school at Newbury, near Palmerston North, was established in 1878, with a roll of 49 pupils, and enlarged in 1881. The school was originally known as Taonui School but was changed to Newbury in 1904 owing to confusion with the Feilding School of that name. The first teacher was J C Hill.