# Newstead Wood School
**Newstead Wood School** is a selective girls' state secondary school with a mixed sixth form in Orpington, in the [London Borough of Bromley](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-borough-of-bromley), England. It is an academy converter within the United Learning Trust, located at Avebury Road, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SA, and admits pupils from age 11 by a two-paper reasoning selection test.[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) • [2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) • [3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test) Ofsted records it as a secondary grammar (selective) school, previously named Newstead Wood School for Girls.[2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type and location | Academy converter for girls aged 11–18 with a mixed sixth form, at Avebury Road, Orpington, local authority of Bromley[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) • [2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) |
| Founded | September 1954 as Orpington Grammar School for Girls; moved to the present site on 23 September 1957[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us) |
| Trust | United Learning Trust, joined in 2017; academy conversion in February 2012[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us) • [2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) |
| Selection test | Two papers, one Verbal Reasoning and one Non-Verbal Reasoning; no other subjects tested[3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test) |
| Selectivity | 1,510 registrations for the test for September 2025 entry; cut-off score of 225 on National Offer Day 2026[3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test) |
| Size | 1,347 pupils recorded against a school capacity of 955[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) • [2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) |
| Inspection | Judged outstanding in overall effectiveness, quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision[5](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179563) |
## History
The school opened in September 1954 as Orpington Grammar School for Girls, in response to the rapid growth of Orpington and Petts Wood over the previous forty years.[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us) The first single form entry was housed temporarily at Midfield Girls' School; the present site was acquired in 1954, and the school moved in as a three form entry school on 23 September 1957.[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us)
The school later took the name Newstead Wood School for Girls. Under that name it is recorded as the predecessor establishment (URN 101671) linked to the current academy on 1 April 2011.[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) It converted to academy status in February 2012, with the academy conversion letter dated 14 February 2012 and published on 18 February 2012.[2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) In 2017 the school joined United Learning, a multi-academy trust, and the current establishment (URN 136551) is registered with the United Learning Trust as its academy trust.[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us) • [1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551)
## Admissions and selection
Entry at age 11 is by a selection test consisting of two papers: the first assesses Verbal Reasoning and the second assesses Non-Verbal Reasoning, and the school states that it does not test on any other subjects.[3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test) The Department for Education's performance service lists the school's admissions policy as "Selective Open" for a secondary and 16 to 18 phase school.[6](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136551/newstead-wood-school)
The school received 1,510 registrations to sit the test for entry in September 2025, and the cut-off score on National Offer Day 2026 was 225.[3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test)
## Academic performance and inspection
An Ofsted inspection (number 10212546) judged the school outstanding in every reported area: overall effectiveness, the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.[5](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179563) The inspection record describes the school as a secondary grammar (selective) academy convertor for girls aged 11 to 18, with a mixed sixth form.[5](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179563)
## By the numbers
The quantitative record shows a school operating well above its nominal capacity. The government schools register records 1,347 pupils against a school capacity of 955.[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) • [2](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551) The Ofsted inspection recorded 1,238 pupils on the school roll.[5](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179563) Against this roll stand the 1,510 registrations for a single year's entry test, and the 225 cut-off score on National Offer Day 2026.[3](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test)
## Campus and school life
The Orpington site includes a purpose-built Sixth Form block, a dedicated Music Block, a Technology Block and Engineering suite, a Sports Hall, and a Tennis Centre.[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us)
Co-curricular provision includes trips to Japan, New York, Borneo, and Malta, an elective program featuring film studies, stand-up comedy, and archery, and a Year 7 Foundation Studies program for new pupils.[4](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us)
## Leadership
The Get Information about Schools register lists Ms Hannah Dalton as Headteacher/Principal,[1](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551) while the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service lists Mr Paul Norman in the same role.[6](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136551/newstead-wood-school)
## References
1. [Newstead Wood School – GOV.UK Get Information about Schools](https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/136551)
2. [Newstead Wood School – Ofsted reports](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136551)
3. [About the Selection Test, Year 7 Admissions – Newstead Wood School](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/admissions/year-7-admissions/about-the-selection-test)
4. [About Us – Newstead Wood School](https://www.newsteadwood.co.uk/about-us/about-us)
5. [Inspection of Newstead Wood School – Ofsted inspection report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50179563)
6. [Newstead Wood School – Compare school and college performance data, GOV.UK](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136551/newstead-wood-school)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Education and knowledge institutions › Schools and school districts › International schools by region › United Kingdom and Ireland schools › Grammar schools in England*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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