Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School at a glance
Newstead Wood School is a girls’ grammar school in Orpington for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1350 pupils. It is part of United Learning Trust. Year 7 places are given through its 11+ entrance test, and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 190 places and was the first choice of 322 families — about 1.7 for every place. 53% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 100% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged B+ per entry, and 38% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 76% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- Separate tests at each school
- Set by
- Each school arranges its own test
- What it covers
- Newstead Wood: verbal and non-verbal reasoning. St Olave's: a first-stage test across English, maths and reasoning, then English and maths
At this school: Its own multiple-choice test in verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
How places are given
Both schools offer places largely in order of score under their published admissions policies; St Olave's also has places with Christian faith priority. Check each policy for distance or local priority.
How to register and apply
Register with each school in the summer term of Year 5, and name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.
Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.
Scores needed for a place
| Entry | Measure | Applies to | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | Lowest score offered | All applicantsThe school states: “The cut-off score on National Offer Day 2026 was 225.” | 225 |
Scale: Newstead Wood selection test score (verbal and non-verbal reasoning). Source: Newstead Wood School: about the selection test. Scores change every year and depend on how many children apply — treat them as a guide, not a target.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 190 | 322 | 1.7 | 636 |
| Sept 2025 | 177 | 296 | 1.7 | 580 |
| Sept 2024 | 178 | 338 | 1.9 | 619 |
| Sept 2023 | 178 | 300 | 1.7 | 585 |
| Sept 2022 | 168 | 337 | 2.0 | 620 |
| Sept 2021 | 176 | 358 | 2.0 | 745 |
Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.
Exam results
GCSE, 2024/25 · 156 pupils
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Grade 4 or above in English and maths
Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)
| Year | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 100.0% | 82.8 | — | 7.89 |
| 2023/24 | 98.1% | 80.2 | +1.05 | 7.36 |
| 2022/23 | 100.0% | 81.5 | +1.13 | 7.6 |
A level, 2024/25 · 217 students
- Average grade
- B+
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 38%
- England: 18%
- Value added
- 0
*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.
Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.
Where students go next
- University
- 76%
- Apprenticeship
- 2%
- Employment
- 9%
- Any sustained destination
- 94%
Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (225 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Girls
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Pupils
- 1,347 (capacity 955)
- Free school meals
- 5.6% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- United Learning Trust
- Local authority
- Bromley
- Constituency
- Orpington
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 136551), October 2026.
Thinking about Newstead Wood School?
See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.