Newstead Wood School, Bromley

I went on Saturday. I thought the head's speech was technically very impressive, great statistics etc but I agree, t was dry and unfriendly. Absolutely no warmth to her whatsover. The school buildings looked good, the pupils I spoke to were friendly and polite. I liked that it didn't seem too big. I spoke to several teachers, all of whom were lovely (bar one who was slightly snotty when questioned about pastoral care). Overall I liked the school but the head, no. Having said that, a fluffy, funny head is not what you need at the helm of a super academic school of intelligent/hormonal teenage girls!
We will be putting dd in for the exam (we bought one of the exhorbitantly priced test papers, wow, it was hard!) but although she is bright I think it is unlikely she will get a place as competition is so fierce.

Hi,
I was wondering if there are any mums out there who went to the open day at Newstead Woods on 22nd September 2012. I really wanted to hear the head teacher's speech/talk and I wanted to get a feel for the place. Unfortunately I missed it. Last year one of the mums went and she said that she didn't like the atmosphere- it was unfriendly I believe. Would be useful to know what other mums' first impressions are.

Thank you!

Interesting this thread has been pulled up again. Concur with v. good pastoral i Yr 7 and 8 - as far as we have got. DD loves it.

Look my daughter goes to Newstead Wood, she is in Year 8 now and loves it very much. There have been no problems of favouritism or bullying at all and even if there was, there is a great Yr7 and 8 Head. I was worried it would be too competitive but it wasn't at all. I seriously recommend Newstead, it has good grades and if your daughter is clever, go for it! Hope I helped.

Good to hear good things - like to hear more of this. I think because it is quite a challenge to get in , it suffers bad press. One former parent said, a sort of envy from without. Not sure. Know I was worried about pressure and actually school suits DD well and they have been supportive about not to much hwk - just right actually. Seems a nice school. My DD loves all the clubs and day trips

I have a friend who has a faughter at newstead woods. She is a "strange" girl, (her mum's description) verypassionate and intense, very much a loner. She was worried her daughter would be isolated and picked on, but she is happy and settled, and just accepted as herself. The staff are in regular contact with the mother, and discuss her behaviour and problems in an open and supportive manner. She mentioned to the head that she feels her daughter is rather unusual in a number of ways, and the head laughed and said "unusual girls welcome here!"

absolutely right Juliesmum, I don't like being in the position of only having hearsay and rumour on which to base an opinion...

I'm pleased with NW. Have A Year 7 Daughter. Like all the activity days arranged extra to the curriculum - lively and stimulating. Lovely girls. Not all super bright just passed the exam.

ok, understand HMT, it sounds as though you have done a great job for both your daughters...hopefully we will do the same for ours!

Mumeuro, we might have been lucky enough to squeeze into the catchment this year!

But, what I mean is, I didn't really have to decide whether to sit her for bexley and Kent grammars, or perhaps to look at moving closer to Bullers, or something. There are good state schools nearby, but we didn't have to go down that route, so chose not to.

1Dad thanks so much for that, just what I was looking for and good luck to your daughter!

My daughter is in her first year at Newsteads. I can see how it is not everyone's cup of tea. Your daughter must be quite well stuck together and self confident (I dont mean an extrovert - quietly self confident is fine) and well organised. They are intolerant of bullying in any form however relatively minor. Discipline is strict.

The school is very professionally run and many parents voluntarily contribute a monthly sum to the school to support funding - although this is in no way expected if you cant afford to.

Be warned they work them very hard indeed and there is lots of prep so its not for the faint hearted even in the first year.

Your daughter will in all likelihood be the only one from her junior school going to Newstead and will be at the top of her class. So you dont have any cliques at least to begin with and do need to be a bit brave making new friends.

Teaching staff are mixed as ever and often down to personality fit as to whether she likes them but most appear young and enthusiastic and relish, and are proud, to be teaching the brightest.

We investigated the Tonbridge Grammar school which has not quite as good exam results and entry is based on the 11 plus if you dont know is heavily geared toward mathematicians whereas Newstead has verbal reasoning (IQ) and English tests so you will get fewer maths 'geeks' and more language and humanities students in Orpington.

My daughter is doing very well indeed and loves it. Dont be put off by the buildings or the long queues on entrance examination day - just some of the hurdles you have to get passed. A demanding school but for all the right reasons I suggest.

I'm really surprised at all these negative messages. My friend's daughter was at Newstead and was the happiest girl ever. She went there from Bromley High and had experienced bullying there. Come 6th form time, my friend asked her daughter if she would like to go back to Bromley High. She said she would rather go to Priory then Bromley High! My own daughter is there and both of us couldn't be happier. There was a case of mild bullying in her class which I reported. It was dealt with immediately and now my daughter and that girl are friends!

Tks HMT.
That would be my choice if I could afford it also.

@ HMT - there is always Bullers Wood, or don't you live near enough?

Sorry, that's to Claudia.

My second DD will stay at Bromley High. If we hadn't been able to send her privately, I'm not sure what we would have done!

Hi HMT, would you mind telling which school you second girls goes to? It was great to learn about your experience to Newstead. I now know this is not a school for my girl who is not confident. TKS!

glad to hear that, HMT! It sounds as though it's great for the right type of girl, as you say, which I suppose is fair enough! No school can suit everyone can it?

Wow, I'm amazed at the negative reports!

My DD is in yr 8, and we are very happy with it. It is a school which suits confident girls who are willing to get involved in school life, so its not for everyone. (I did not even enter my second DD for the test, for example.) We have been delighted with the school, so far, although I realise we have no experience of GCSEs or the 6th form.

...and thanks for your positive feedback!

yes manic, top 5%, so tough, but hopefully not impossible!

I don't know it personally but two of my best friends at university were there. They would have left in 2001 so I don't know how much it has changed but they both loved it and were two of the nicest 18 year olds you could ever hope to meet. Both had straight As at A Level, had grade 8 on at least one instrument and, though they weren't sporty, had had plenty of opportunities there. And, more importantly, they weren't snobby or superior, just confident and happy.

Isn't it one of these super selective grammars though - top 5% not top 20% of something.?

thanks maddie, funnily enough I met a girl recently who chose Tonbridge Girls over Newstead as she really didn't get a good feel for the place. It's a bit far out for us though...maybe we will go for the Bexley Grammars instead...