Cardinal Newman Catholic School
101%
Capacity
2,625
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Cardinal Newman Catholic School
Cardinal Newman Catholic School’s Progress 8 score of 0.56 is a standout figure when set against the Brighton and Hove local authority average of 0.05 for secondary schools. That’s a full half a grade per subject higher than the typical pupil in the area, placing the school second out of ten schools in the LA and in the top 25% nationally. It’s a significant gap, and it suggests that pupils here make considerably more academic progress than their peers in other local schools. The school is also the only one in the authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it earned in its most recent inspection in 2024, with Outstanding marks across the board for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That’s a jump from its previous Good rating in 2018, so the trajectory is clearly upward.
Looking at the detail behind that Progress 8 score, the school performs particularly strongly in the EBacc subjects, with a Progress 8 score of 0.69, and in open subjects at 0.66. Maths progress is also well above average at 0.48, while English progress is more modest at 0.24. Attainment 8 sits at 54.4, and 80.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At sixth form, the picture is similarly strong: the school’s value added score of 0.2 is rated above average, and pupils achieved an average of a B- per entry, with 24.3% of entries graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged a B grade. With 247 pupils in the sixth form, it’s a substantial provision, and the school ranks second in the LA overall.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 346 places in the 2025/26 academic year, there were 1,056 applications, a ratio of over three to one, and 509 of those were first preferences. That tells you how sought-after it is locally. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, a chapel, and a sixth form centre, and the extracurricular offering is broad, with clubs ranging from chess and debating to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and a gardening club. The school reports provisions for a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 95% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. This is a school that delivers strong academic outcomes in a faith-based setting, and it clearly appeals to a wide range of families across Brighton and Hove.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | The Upper Drive, Hove, Brighton and Hove, BN3 6ND |
| Headteacher | Claire Jarman |
| Local Authority | Brighton and Hove |
| Number of Pupils | 2,625 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.3% |
| School Capacity | 2,625 / 2,600 (101% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 11 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.56)
418th of 3,141
Nationally
72nd of 461
In South East
2nd of 10
In Brighton and Hove
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.7
'22/23
36.6
'23/24
37.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2348%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 293 pupils).
- University (HE)48%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained8%
- Other education5%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
Ofsted Parent View
366 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed346
1,056
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
509 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British53.6%
- White (other)14.2%
- Mixed13.9%
- Asian6.5%
- Black1.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinal Newman Catholic School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
The Upper Drive, Hove
Brighton and Hove, BN3 6ND
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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