Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre Review 2026: Cyber Excellence in the Forest of Dean

Located on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean, Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre serves a wide rural catchment where the rolling Gloucestershire countryside meets the market town of Newent. While the school operates as a traditional comprehensive, it has carved out a distinctive national reputation in a surprising niche: cyber security. As one of the few schools in the country to hold the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Gold Award, it offers a specialist flavour that sets it apart from typical community schools.

The campus itself is a blend of 1960s functional architecture and modern additions, shared in part with the community leisure centre. This integration reinforces its status as a civic hub; the school does not sit apart from the town but operates as its beating heart. With around 1,100 students, including a sixth form, it is large enough to offer breadth but retains the familiarity of a rural community provider.

Leadership has recently transitioned, with Mr Ben Dumayne taking up the post of Headteacher in September 2025. His appointment follows a period of interim leadership, signaling a fresh chapter for the school. The school remains rated Good by Ofsted, though the most recent ungraded inspection in March 2024 noted that internal consistency remains a key focus area.

The atmosphere at Newent is grounded and unpretentious. At drop-off, buses deposit students from across the Forest villages, creating a busy start to the day that highlights the school's vast catchment. The site feels expansive, benefiting from the surrounding green space, though the buildings themselves are practical rather than beautiful.

Inside, the culture is driven by the HEART values: Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork. These are not merely decorative; students reference them in discussions about behaviour and expectations. The school operates a House system—Mountbatten, Nelson, and Collingwood—which injects healthy competition into the academic year. House points are fiercely contested, not just on the sports field but through merits for classwork and community contributions.

The "Cyber" identity is palpable. Unlike many schools where computing is just another subject, here it is a pillar of the institution's character. The status as a CyberGold school means students have access to opportunities and industry links that are rare in the state sector. This forward-looking specialism sits in interesting contrast to the school's rural setting, suggesting to students that geography is no barrier to entering high-tech industries.

Behaviour is generally calm. The uniform—blazers and ties—is worn with reasonable compliance. It feels like a school that understands its community; staff know the families, often across generations, which fosters a sense of continuity and shared investment in the town's young people.

Academic performance at Newent Community School presents a complex picture that parents should examine closely. The data reflects a comprehensive intake with a wide range of abilities, and while there are pockets of success, overall metrics indicate challenges in line with national trends for similar schools.

In 2024, the school ranked 3,386th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 3rd among secondary schools in the Forest of Dean. This places it in the bottom 40% of schools in England (national lower band). The Attainment 8 score of 38.1 is below the England average of 45.9, suggesting that across eight key subjects, students achieve lower grades on average than their peers nationally.

The Progress 8 score of -0.65 is a critical metric for families to understand. This figure indicates that, on average, students at Newent achieve over half a grade lower in each subject compared to pupils with similar starting points across England. While this suggests that academic value-added is an area for development, it is important to view this in the context of the school's inclusive admissions policy.

Performance in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) shows that 3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in the full suite of subjects, compared to an England average of 17% (approximate). The average EBacc point score stands at 3.26.

At A-level, the picture is stronger locally. The school ranks 2,138th in England for sixth form outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 2nd in the Forest of Dean. In 2024, 29.57% of grades were A*-B, compared to the England average of 47.2%. The proportion of top grades (A*/A) was 7.8%. Ranked 2nd for A-level outcomes in the Forest of Dean, the Sixth Form Centre remains a vital provider for students wanting to stay local for post-16 study.

The curriculum at Newent is designed to be broad rather than purely academic. Key Stage 3 covers the National Curriculum with a standard three-year approach, ensuring students have a grounding in arts, humanities, and technologies before selecting options.

Teaching quality is rated Good, though the March 2024 ungraded inspection noted that the curriculum delivery does not always support pupils to build learning securely. Inspectors highlighted that while the school has high ambitions, the quality of the curriculum at Key Stage 3 means some pupils lack depth in their subject knowledge.

A defining strength is the Computer Science and IT provision. As a CyberGold school, the teaching here goes beyond the textbook. Students engage with encryption, coding, and cyber defence strategies that are typically reserved for university courses. This department is a flagship for the school, attracting students who might otherwise look elsewhere.

Vocational provision is another significant pillar. The school recognises that a purely academic diet does not suit every student in its intake. Options such as Criminology, Health and Social Care, and Sport are taught with a focus on real-world application. The facilities for these subjects, particularly the link with the leisure centre for sport, support a practical approach to learning.

The destinations data for Newent leavers reveals a school that effectively prepares students for the workplace, even if university progression is lower than the national average. This aligns with the school's strong vocational ethos and the practical aspirations of many local families.

In the 2024 cohort, 32% of leavers progressed to university. While this is lower than some competitors, it is balanced by a striking statistic regarding apprenticeships. 11% of students secured apprenticeships, a figure nearly double the national average. This highlights the school's success in connecting students with employers, particularly in engineering, cyber, and trade sectors.

Employment rates are also high, with 39% of leavers moving directly into work. This reflects a sixth form that supports diverse pathways, not just the UCAS route. The school's careers advice is robust, with regular fairs and employer visits ensuring students are aware of local opportunities in Gloucester, Cheltenham, and the Forest.

For those heading to university, destinations are varied. Students have secured places at institutions including the University of Gloucestershire, Cardiff University, and UWE Bristol. While Oxbridge and Russell Group numbers are modest (ranking 2,415th in England for Oxbridge combined metrics), the school does support ambitious students through the application process.

Newent Community School is a non-selective state comprehensive. Admissions are coordinated by Gloucestershire County Council. For Year 7 entry, families must apply via the common application form (CAF) by the 31st of October deadline.

The school has a Published Admission Number (PAN) of roughly 240. In 2024, the school received 257 applications for 153 offers, resulting in a subscription proportion of 1.68. This indicates that the school is oversubscribed, with more applicants than places, although it is not as fiercely competitive as the grammar schools in Gloucester.

The oversubscription criteria follow standard local authority priorities: looked-after children first, followed by siblings of current students, and then distance from the school. The catchment area is wide, covering Newent itself and many surrounding villages including Tibberton, Gorsley, and Hartpury.

Families living outside the immediate Newent area should be mindful of transport routes; the school is served by several dedicated school bus services, which are essential given the rural nature of the intake.

Pastoral care is structured around the House system, which provides the primary layer of support. Each student belongs to a tutor group within their House, staying with the same tutor where possible as they move up the school. This continuity allows staff to spot changes in wellbeing early.

The school prides itself on being inclusive. Bullying is taken seriously, and the school uses online reporting tools to allow students to flag concerns discreetly. The pastoral team includes non-teaching staff, meaning they are available throughout the day to deal with issues as they arise, rather than waiting for break times.

Transition support for Year 7s is extensive. A dedicated transition week helps to bridge the gap between small rural primaries and the secondary environment. The "buddy" system pairs new entrants with older students, fostering the family feel that the House system aims to create.

Cyber and Computing

This is the jewel in the crown of Newent's extracurricular offer. As a CyberGold school, the Cyber Club is not a typical after-school coding session. Students participate in national competitions like CyberCenturion and the National Cyber Security Centre's CyberFirst Schools programme. The school has hosted cyber conferences and works with industry partners to provide students with industry-grade challenges.

Sport and Leisure

Benefiting from the on-site Newent Leisure Centre, sporting opportunities are broad. The school makes full use of the swimming pool, sports hall, and astro-turf pitches. Traditional teams in rugby, football, and netball compete locally against Forest and Gloucester schools. The holistic approach means that participation is encouraged regardless of elite ability.

The Arts and Community

The drama and music departments are active, with annual school productions being a highlight of the calendar. The Eco Club reflects the rural setting, engaging students in sustainability projects around the site, including an Eco-Lab inspired by visits to Kenya.

The school day runs from 8:40am to 3:10pm. The timing is tightly coupled with the county bus schedules, as a significant proportion of students rely on school transport.

The Sixth Form Centre has its own dedicated area within the school, providing study spaces and a common room that offers a bridge between school and adult life. Sixth formers are expected to dress in business wear, differentiating them from the main school uniform.

Academic Metrics: The Progress 8 score of -0.65 is a factor that academic-focused families must weigh. It suggests that students, on average, make less progress here than they might at schools with scores near or above zero. Families should consider if their child is self-driven or requires a high-pressure environment to maximise grades.

Inspection Context: While the school retains its Good rating from 2018, the ungraded inspection in March 2024 noted that the grade might be lower if a full inspection were carried out immediately. This signals that the school is currently in a period of necessary improvement under the new leadership.

Rural Isolation: For families considering moving to the area, the rural location is idyllic but isolating for teenagers without transport. Reliance on the school bus network or parental lifts is total. Extracurricular participation can sometimes be limited by the departure of the school buses.

Newent Community School serves its community with heart and provides a genuine, inclusive comprehensive education. Its national standing in cyber security is a unique selling point that offers tangible career advantages for tech-minded students. However, the academic data suggests that it is not an exam factory; it is a school that prioritises vocational breadth, pastoral care, and happiness alongside qualifications. Best suited to local families who value a supportive, grounded environment and are looking for a school that sees the child beyond the data. The main challenge for ambitious families is ensuring their child remains stretched academically within a mixed-ability cohort.