Pupil numbers. Senior Divisions (11–16): 637. Sixth Form (16–18): 240. Preparatory Divisions (4–11): 377. Nursery (1–4): 98
Day 1,025, Boarding 327.
Location. New Hall School benefits from a magnificent campus and stunning heritage setting, with a grade I listed main building part of a former Tudor palace occupied by King Henry VIII.
We aim to educate the whole person: academically, creatively and socially, in a community which also nurtures the spiritual dimensions of human life. All benefit from the outstanding facilities on offer within our stunning 70-acre campus.
New Hall is set in an idyllic and convenient location, just 25 minutes by train from London Stratford and within easy reach of all major airports. We offer a distinctive education of real quality that is designed to give students the best start in life.
Diamond Model. At New Hall, students are educated in co-educational classes up to age 11 and again at Sixth Form, however, from 11 to 16 they are taught in single-sex lessons.
The main benefits of the ‘diamond model’ and five years of single-sex teaching derive from the ability to tailor pastoral and academic provision more sensitively and expertly to the needs of young people going through the physical, emotional and social upheaval of adolescence. Young teenagers are liberated from the negative peer pressure of having to perform in mixed classes.
Gender stereotyping of subjects is also removed. Girls and boys follow an identical curriculum and do not learn to perceive subjects as being more suited to either girls or boys.
Curriculum. New Hall Preparatory Divisions curriculum is enriched by specialist subject teachers for French, Computer Science, Latin, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Art and Dance. Their expert knowledge and passion for their subjects greatly enhance the children’s learning experience.
The extensive co-curricular activities on offer set New Hall Preparatory Divisions apart; from Philosophy and Latin, to Mandarin and Poetry, there is always something to do.
Creative subjects including Music, Drama, Dance, Art and Design Technology all form part of the mainstream academic curriculum, and also feature in activities offered outside normal lessons. We have three choirs, infant, junior and chamber, as well as a Preparatory Orchestra. Our pupils regularly perform at prestigious venues, which include the O2 Arena and the Royal Albert Hall.
The Senior Divisions curriculum is distinctive in its breadth and academic rigour. An imaginatively taught and well-balanced curriculum is appropriately tailored to the needs of the individual. The experienced and dedicated staff endeavour to bring out the best in everyone.
New Hall has its own Most Able and Talented programme, which is proven to add exceptional value at GCSE and A Level. We believe that giftedness can be created and that students’ academic skills can be developed at ever higher levels if they are given intellectual challenges.
New Hall encourages able students to apply for Oxford or Cambridge universities. The school has a good track record of students winning Oxbridge places in a wide range of subjects, including sciences, arts, humanities and languages.
We are proud that our examination results are consistently among the best of any independent school in the area.
Co-Curriculum. Our co-curricular programme is designed to add breadth to the New Hall education, which enables us to develop the well-rounded young men and women of whom we can be proud.
Our educational philosophy is reflected in the extensive array of challenging co-curricular activities. Educational visits in the Senior Divisions to countries such as India and China, alongside our societies and clubs, create a stimulating environment for your son or daughter to develop his or her passions, learning and talents.
Through activities such as debating, Model United Nations and political philosophy, students can become independent thinkers with a broad and rich experience of social and academic life.
Our Ethos. Our Catholic foundation and ethos is central to all that we do, supported by the work of our lively Chaplaincy Team. At New Hall, a special value is placed on love and forgiveness, which encourage relationships based on trust, kindness, self-respect and care for those in need.
All students participate in our award-winning New Hall Voluntary Service (NHVS), where they gain confidence, leadership and team-working skills and a desire to serve others. They will develop a sense of charity and community that will remain with them beyond their years at New Hall.
Boarding. We have a thriving full boarding community and options for full or flexible boarding. The four boarding houses offer their members a strong sense of identity and opportunities to forge new friendships. There are dedicated boarding provisions for students aged 7–16 and for Sixth Form students.
Although each of our boarding houses has its own individuality, a common theme throughout is the exceptional pastoral care and dedication of the residential team. This is a significant strength of our school.
Music and Performing Arts. Our dedicated Performing Arts Centre and theatres allow students opportunities for group or individual performances, which develop talent and encourage confidence.
Music has a long and fine tradition at New Hall. There is a host of performing groups, including choir, chapel choir, senior orchestra, strings academy and jazz band. Students can participate in the Trinity Drama programme, which develops presentation and public speaking skills. Drama performances range from Shakespeare to modern plays and musicals. Dance is a particular strength, with the annual dance show attracting a cast of more than 200 girls and boys.
Students take part in regional and national festivals and competitions and groups regularly perform in major venues across Europe.
Sport. New Hall students are able to develop their team spirit and physical development through our rich programme of sporting opportunities.
Under the guidance of expert coaches, including former international sportsmen and women, New Hall balances first-class training for those with particular sporting talents, with an inclusive ‘sport for all’ approach.
Our elite sportsmen and women compete at county, regional and national levels, at which they have enjoyed individual team success.
Our facilities set us apart and the rich variety of sports on offer include rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, swimming, athletics, golf, skiing and tennis.
Fees per term (2023–2024). Senior Divisions: Day £6,960–£7,539; Full Boarding £9,900–£11,991.
Preparatory Divisions: Day: £3,537–£4,878; Full Boarding (from age 7): £7,818.
Nursery Division: £1,710–£4,068.
Entry requirements. ISEB Common Pre-Test assessment, school report, supplementary piece of creative writing, and interview.
Scholarships and Bursaries. Scholarship candidates follow the normal entrance procedure and, dependent on the type of scholarship, a further assessment. All candidates for Year 7 entry are entered for the Academic Scholarship, which is awarded to the highest achieving student from the ISEB Common Pre-Test results. Other scholarships at Year 7 entry 2022 are available in Music, Modern Languages, All-Rounder and Sport. There are also scholarships available for Catholic students. Similar scholarships are available for Year 9 entry. For Sixth Form entry, there are scholarship awards available based on GCSE examination results as well as an All-Rounder scholarship, Modern Languages, Classical Languages, Music, Sport and STEM.
Further information on Admissions, Scholarships and Bursaries is available from the Admissions Team and on the school website.
Charitable status. New Hall School Trust is a Registered Charity, number 1110286. Its aim is the education of children within a Christian environment.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Mr Philip Wilson
Senior Leadership & Management Team:
Principal: Mrs K Jeffrey, MA Oxon, PGCE Surrey, BA Div PUM, MA Ed Mgt OU, NPQH
Deputy Principal: Mr Andrew Fardell
Head of Sixth Form DSL, Sixth Form: Mrs Natalia Andrews
Nursery Manager, DSL Nursery: Mrs Lynne Baines
Head of Digital Technology: Mr Matt Charlesworth
Head of Finance: Mr Andy Findlow
Deputy Head of Sixth Form: Dr Stephanie Foster
Director of Learning & Teaching, DDSL Prep: Mrs Alison Hilder
Vice Principal: Mr Vincent Holden
Head of HR: Ms Francesca Martin
Head of Girls’ and Boys’ Divisions, Lead DSL: Mrs Suzanna Minnis
Executive Assistant and Clerk to the Governors: Mrs Elizabeth Murphy
Vice Principal: Mrs Katherine Reading
Head of Pre-Prep Division, DSL Pre-Prep: Mrs Rachel Tagoe
Vice Principal Curriculum, Growth & Innovation: Dr Paul Tiffen
Head of Preparatory Division, DSL Prep: Mrs Samantha Twomey
Head of Theology: Miss Maria Webb