Article from Tatler Schools Guide 2025

Acquired by Henry VIII in 1517 and Mary Tudor’s home for many years, New Hall is approached by a long avenue of trees that opens majestically onto the site of one of the oldest Catholic schools in the country. Founded in Belgium in 1642, before moving to its current site in 1799, it is now a thriving establishment catering to more than 1,000 pupils.

Students can sometimes be seen scurrying around the Tudor grounds on history-themed scavenger hunts, seeking hidden crests, statues, and curiosities. The school is known for its diamond teaching model, where co-educational and same-sex learning are woven together from nursery through to Sixth Form.

New Hall is pushing to ensure its educational offering is as innovative and dynamic as possible. The Sixth Form Centre has been refurbished and will soon be joined by a business centre for the study of economics. Meanwhile, an examination hall is under construction, along with state-of-the-art studios for the school’s many dancers.

For those interested in equestrian activities, the recent opening of the Learn to Ride Centre is home to three horses (Winnie, Lilly, and Kevin) as well as two equestrian simulators. A three-acre on-site farm houses a variety of rescue animals—from ferrets and rabbits to sheep – and is used creatively to enhance the curriculum. The farm supplies data for biology projects and provides an apt location for readings from Charlotte’s Web.