Welcome to Castle Newnham All-Through School – proudly part of the Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST).
I am very proud to be the Principal of this lovely school at the heart of Bedford, offering high-quality and ambitious education and care for pupils from Reception up to age 16. Our CORE values of Community, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence underpin our work across our whole school and help guide us in serving our children and families.
Mrs Donna Neely-Hayes - Principal

The Castle Newnham Connect - Spring Term 2026 is now available to view.
Our Vision: Becoming an All-Through School Formal Consultation on the Proposal to Become an All-Through School and Changes to Admission Arrangements
In accordance with the statutory requirements set out in the School Admissions Code, the Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST) is required to undertake a six-week consultation on proposed changes to...
Join us for the Secondary Open Evening on Tuesday 8th October at 6pm - 8pm.
Please visit our Box Office to book your ticket for the Primary Open Events in advance
We are absolutely thrilled to announce an expansion of our multi-award-winning Performing Arts provision at Castle Newnham All-Through School! Celebrated throughout the local community for our rich creative history, professional-standard productions, and for offering a full, wide range of performing arts subjects across our entire school, we are officially growing our current spaces to give our students even more room to shine. Please join us in welcoming Studio 4 to the Castle Newnham family! Here is a look at how our spaces are evolving across the school: Studio 1: Our incredible Performance Theatre that pulls double-duty as a vibrant Drama & Dance studio during the school day. Studio 2: Our dedicated Music Teaching Space. Studio 3: Our cutting-edge Music Technology iMac Suite. Practice Rooms: Our specialised, dedicated spaces for musical instrument rehearsal and practice. On North Site (Studio 4): A brand-new, second drama and performance studio, fully kitted out with the latest, state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment. A Massive Thank You! None of this would be possible without the incredible support our 4SIXTEEN productions. Because of your community support and attendance, we have been able to direct ticket profits and funds straight into this exciting building project - and there is more to come - stay tuned! Thank you for helping us invest in the future of our talented pupils and the arts.
EXCITING SITE UPGRADES COMING TO NORTH SITE! We are pleased to announce that our North Site outdoor areas are officially getting an upgrade! As part of our ongoing commitment to creating the best possible environment for our pupils, we are investing in fresh, vibrant external spaces designed to improve daily school life. What's Coming to North Site? - New Pedestrianised Entrance: We will be installing a brand-new pedestrianised entrance to the Year 7 to Year 11 reception, ensuring a safer, welcoming, and more streamlined arrival for our older pupils. This will also feature a new location to store bicycles. - Outdoor Dining Area: A new outdoor dining space is on the way! Complete with seating, this area will give pupils an additional brilliant space to socialise, relax and enjoy their breaks in the fresh air. -Looking to the Future: Sports Facilities! We have also recently had some really positive and exciting conversations about the future of our Sporting facilities. While we can't share all the secrets just yet, we are working hard behind the scenes to elevate our sports provisions. Stay tuned for some very exciting announcements coming your way soon! *Photo is an illustrative impression of the new space* #CastleNewnham #SchoolUpgrades #NorthSite #CampusImprovements #SchoolSports #AllThroughSchool #CommunityProud
Today our Year 10 pupils had the opportunity to talk to some local further education suppliers in our Next Steps fair. They got to talk to the different providers about the courses and qualifications on offer to them and what to look out for when deciding on where to go after Year 11. Pupils had an excellent time with many feeling far more confident on where their next steps will take them when they finish at Castle Newnham. Thank you to providers including @biddenhaminternationalschool, @ssg_training , @anncollinscoaching, Mark Rutherford Upper School, @risespaceofficial, @easyjet, Samuel Whitbread Academy, @bedfordsixthform and @bedfordcollege for taking the time to talk to our pupils.
Mrs Neely-Hayes, Mrs Harwood and other staff across the school providing additional hydration stations for pupils to fill up their water bottles at break and lunch this week.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE DIVORCED, BEHEADED, LIVE! The Next Generation of Castle Newnham have arrived! To launch 4SIXTEEN Theatre Company's 10th anniversary year, Castle Newnham School's award-winning company is proud to present their production of SIX: TEEN EDITION. This production is suitable for all ages. The production is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. SIX: TEEN EDITION is a full-length adaptation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss' international phenomenon SIX, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences. www.castlenewnham.school/box-office
South Site - Reception to Year 4
Goldington Road
Bedford
MK40 3EP
North Site - Year 5 to Year 11
Polhill Avenue
Bedford
MK41 9DT
01234 303403cnprimary@bestacademies.org.ukcnsecondary@bestacademies.org.uk