About Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School is a selective girls' grammar school in Orpington, London Borough of Bromley, admitting 160 girls per year. It uses the Bromley Grammar School entrance test — GL Assessment papers covering Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Newstead Wood consistently ranks among the top girls' grammar schools nationally.
Newstead Wood School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 87.9%. A-Level A*–B: 77.3%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 160 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The Kent test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Thursday 11 September 2026 and results are released to parents on mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Newstead Wood School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (160 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School Admissions Criteria
Newstead Wood School is a selective girls' grammar school in Orpington, London Borough of Bromley, admitting 160 girls per year. It uses the Bromley Grammar School entrance test — GL Assessment papers covering Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Newstead Wood consistently ranks among the top girls' grammar schools nationally.
- ✓Register with Newstead Wood School directly (check school website for registration window — typically May).
- ✓Sit the Bromley Grammar School GL Assessment entrance test — Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning multiple-choice papers.
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standardised score.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls who achieve the qualifying score, ranked in order of score.
- ✓Distance from school as tie-breaker.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October.
Newstead Wood School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 160 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Newstead Wood School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Newstead Wood School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | early July 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | early July 2026 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils) |
| 📌 Test results released | mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Newstead Wood School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Kent) when registration opens. Closes early July 2026. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Newstead Wood School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Thursday 11 September 2026. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on mid-October 2026, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Newstead Wood School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2026. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Newstead Wood School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School selects through its own single-stage selection test (GL Assessment) — two multiple-choice reasoning papers of around 40–50 minutes, age-standardised, with a minimum qualifying score of 210.
- Verbal reasoning: word-based logic, vocabulary and comprehension.
- Non-verbal reasoning: pattern recognition and spatial problem-solving.
Note: the test is reasoning-only and is designed to measure potential rather than taught attainment.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Newstead Wood School
Newstead Wood School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Newstead Wood School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Newstead Wood School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Newstead Wood School is a super-selective girls' grammar with an Outstanding Ofsted rating and results among the best in the country. In 2025 around 88% of GCSE grades were 7–9 and roughly 50% of A-Level grades were A*–A, with 100% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths.
- GCSE: around 88% of grades at 7–9 in 2025, with 100% grade 5+ in English and maths.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form with around 50% of A-Level grades at A*–A.
- Specialism: particular strengths in maths, science and technology.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for Newstead Wood School
Admission to Year 7 is by the school's own single-stage selection test, produced by GL Assessment: two multiple-choice papers of around 40–50 minutes in verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, designed to measure potential rather than attainment. Scores are age-standardised and combined, and a child needs a minimum standardised score of 210 to be considered. Families complete both a Supplementary Information Form for the test and their Local Authority Common Application Form.
The school is highly competitive — around 2,000 girls apply for roughly 168 places (about eight per place). It uses a 9-mile radius priority area (measured in a straight line): after looked-after children, priority goes to Pupil Premium and Service Premium applicants within the radius, then other qualified girls within the radius in rank order of score; in practice almost no places go to applicants living beyond the radius. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Newstead Wood School is a super-selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form since 2012, on Avebury Road in Orpington, Bromley (BR6 9SA), with around 1,260 pupils. Founded in 1954 as Orpington Grammar School for Girls and renamed Newstead Wood in 1965, it is an academy within United Learning and carries the motto 'Fortitudine Crescamus' (May we grow in strength).
The school is known for its strengths in maths, science and technology, supported by an Engineering suite, Music and Technology blocks and a Tennis Centre, alongside a broad extracurricular programme of music, drama, sport and academic societies. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Newstead Wood School
How do I apply to Newstead Wood School for Year 7?
Applications to Newstead Wood School are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes early July 2026), then list Newstead Wood School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Newstead Wood School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Newstead Wood School uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Newstead Wood School?
Newstead Wood School sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 160 places.
How many Year 7 places does Newstead Wood School have?
Newstead Wood School admits 160 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Newstead Wood School in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Newstead Wood School's waiting list.
Is Newstead Wood School a state school or fee-paying?
Newstead Wood School is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Newstead Wood School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Newstead Wood School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Newstead Wood School 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.