Apply to Newstead Wood School, in plain English.
Newstead Wood runs its own selective test — completely separate from both the Kent 11+ and the Bexley 11+. The test registration window is open now and closes strictly on 30 June 2026. No late registrations are accepted under any circumstances. Register at newsteadwood.co.uk before it's too late.
The three things to know first.
If you read nothing else on this page, read these.
Register by 30 June 2026. No exceptions — ever.
The test registration window opened 1 May 2026 and closes 30 June 2026 at midnight. Newstead Wood does not accept late registrations under any circumstances — not medical, not exceptional. Register now at newsteadwood.co.uk. Include evidence of PP or Service Premium eligibility if claiming criterion 2 priority.
Your daughter must score 210 or above. It is a fixed standard, not a variable pass mark.
Newstead Wood uses a fixed required standard of 210 age-standardised points from a Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning paper. Unlike a variable pass mark, this number is set in advance. Children who score below 210 are not eligible for a place regardless of how many other children apply.
PP and Service Premium evidence must be submitted at registration — not later.
If your daughter is eligible for the Pupil PremiumPupil Premium (PP)Additional funding for disadvantaged pupils. Broadly covers children who have been eligible for free school meals in the last six years, or who are currently or previously looked-after. or Service PremiumService PremiumAdditional funding for children of UK Armed Forces personnel. A child must have a parent who has served in the past five years., submit documentary evidence when you register by 30 June. Evidence cannot be added after registration closes.
Five steps — starting now.
If more children score 210+ than there are places, these 4 criteria decide.
Only children who met the required standard of 210 age-standardised points are eligible. Within that group, the following order applies. In practice, offers have historically only come from criteria 1–3. Tap any criterion to see the exact wording.
In plain English: Children currently or previously in council care who scored 210 or above get top priority, regardless of distance or score within the eligible group.
What the document says: Highest priority will be given to looked-after children and all previously looked-after children who meet the required standard and apply for a place at the school.
In plain English: Eligible children who are PP or Service Premium-eligible and live within 9 miles of the school get second priority, in score order. Important: you must provide documentary evidence of PP or Service Premium eligibility when you register for the test by 30 June 2026. Evidence cannot be added after the registration window closes.
What the document says: Children who are eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Premium funding and who live within 9 miles of the school, in order of score. Documentary evidence of eligibility must be submitted at the time of registration for the selection test.
In plain English: Any other child who scored 210+ and lives within 9 miles of the school, ranked by score (highest first). Also includes children of school staff living outside 9 miles, ranked by score alongside within-9-miles applicants. The 9-mile distance is measured in a straight line from the school. The vast majority of offers have historically come from this criterion.
What the document says: Children who meet the required standard and live within 9 miles of the school, or who are children of school staff living outside 9 miles, in order of score. Distance measured by straight line from the school.
In plain English: Children who scored 210+ but live more than 9 miles away and are not staff children. Ranked by score. Historically, no places have been offered from this criterion — demand from children within 9 miles has filled all available places before criterion 4 is reached.
What the document says: All other children who meet the required standard and are not covered by criteria 1–3, in order of score. Places have not historically been offered under this criterion.
Joining Year 12 from outside.
Newstead Wood recruits at least 40 external students into Year 12 each September.
Academic requirements
You must pass 8 GCSEs in a single examination series (all in one sitting), including English and Maths. Of those 8, you need at least 4 at grade 7 or above and at least 4 at grade 6 or above. Individual subject requirements also apply for specific A-level courses.
The requirement that all 8 GCSEs be taken in one sitting is strict — a mix of results from different exam sessions does not meet this condition.
How to apply
At least 40 external places are available for September 2027 entry. Apply directly to the school. The waiting list for sixth form entry runs from 4 March 2027 to 31 December 2027.
Visit newsteadwood.co.uk for deadlines and the application form.
Nine miles from school — as the crow flies.
For criteria 2 and 3, the 9-mile boundary is measured in a straight line from the school (not road distance). Children outside 9 miles fall into criterion 4, from which no places have historically been offered. Unlike most grammar schools, distance within the 9-mile zone is not a tiebreaker — score is used instead.
Home address is taken as the child's permanent address at registration — not at National Offer Day. You must be living at the correct address when you register in May/June 2026. Proof of residency may be required. If parents live at different addresses, the home for admissions purposes is where the child spends the majority of the school week.
See the 9-mile catchment on the GrammarBound mapTwo criterion-3 children ranked by score, not distance.
Both children scored 210+ and live within 9 miles. Child A scored 225 and lives further away; Child B scored 218 and lives closer. Child A ranks higher because Newstead Wood uses score, not distance, as the criterion-3 tiebreaker. Being closer to school does not help you here.
You have two routes, and you can use both.
Waiting list
The waiting list is maintained from 4 March 2027 to 31 December 2027 and re-ranked each time a new name is added, using the same four criteria. Only children who met the required standard can be on the waiting list.
Request via Newstead Wood School directly.
Appeal
Contact the school's Admissions Officer to request an Appeal Form. Appeals are heard by an independent School Appeals Panel.
Appealing does not affect your waiting-list position.