SchoolScoresNewstead Wood School
Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Girls only · Sixth form
Part of UNITED LEARNING TRUST
Avebury Road, Orpington, BR6 9SA
01689 853626 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 2 February 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
156 pupils in this year group.
100% — 47 points above the Bromley average, and 55 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 100% | 54% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 82.8 | 50.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 7.9 | 4.6 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
160 pupils in this year group.
100% — 6 points above the Bromley average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 100% | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 95% | 64% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 2% | 13% |
| Further education college | 1% | 22% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 99% | 100% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
217 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | B+ | B- | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 50% | 28% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 78% | 56% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | 43.5 | 36.4 | 35 |
A level subjects, 2024/25
20 subjects, 676 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Subject | Exams | A* | A* or A | England A* or A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 153 | 20% | 56% | 40% |
| Chemistry | 91 | 3% | 29% | 30% |
| Biology | 80 | 13% | 44% | 27% |
| Physics | 59 | 3% | 31% | 31% |
| Economics | 53 | 21% | 64% | 26% |
| Mathematics (Further) | 34 | 18% | 47% | 59% |
| Classical Civilisation | 31 | 19% | 61% | 23% |
| Computer Studies / Computing | 26 | 12% | 42% | 24% |
| English Literature | 26 | 42% | 62% | 23% |
| Psychology | 25 | 32% | 64% | 19% |
| Geography | 24 | 21% | 58% | 23% |
| History | 18 | 0% | 50% | 23% |
| Government and Politics | 17 | 35% | 71% | 26% |
| Spanish | 11 | 45% | 64% | 34% |
| Art and Design (Fine Art) | 7 | 43% | 57% | 38% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 57% | 71% | 22% |
| French | 6 | 33% | 83% | 38% |
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Physical Education / Sports Studies, Design and Technology (Product Design), Chinese.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
225 students in this year group.
94% — 16 points above the Bromley average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 94% | 78% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 7% | 7% |
| Work | 9% | 26% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 94% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
206 students in this year group.
91% — 27 points above the Bromley average, and 31 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 91% | 64% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 67% | 23% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 91% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bromley. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 190 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 322 |
| Of those, offered a place | 173 (54%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 636 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.9 · 2025: 1.7 · 2026: 1.7
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bromley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.7% | 19.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 1% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.2% | 3.0%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1% | 13.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 23.5% | 13.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 3.6% | 7.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Lower than 100% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.5% | 18.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Lower than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.1 | 10.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Lower than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.1% | 4.7% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 99% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 22.9 | 17.1 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.8 | 12.8 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools in Orpington. Higher than 88% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 23.1% | 14.9%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Darrick Wood School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bishop Justus CofE School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ravens Wood School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Orpington 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bromley High School GDST 2.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 59% A*/A at A level
- Hayes School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 61% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bickley Park School 2.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Orion Coopers 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Orion Ravensbourne 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Newstead Wood School's Ofsted rating?
Newstead Wood School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2022.
How did Newstead Wood School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 100% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 55 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Newstead Wood School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 322 families put Newstead Wood School as their first choice for 190 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 173 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 136551.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.