Classpot

St John Henry Newman Catholic School

Cumberland, CA2 4NLSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2022
Progress 8
-0.69
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
112 1st-choice / 114 places
Ranking
#2,834
of 3,141 nationally

About St John Henry Newman Catholic School

Parents considering St John Henry Newman Catholic School will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 243 applications for 114 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.13, meaning more than two families applied for every spot. Of those, 112 were first-preference applications, and 112 first-preference offers were made, suggesting that almost all families who put it top got in. While the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey, the sheer level of demand is a strong signal that local families rate it highly. The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for ages 11 to 18, with 694 pupils on roll against a capacity of 700, so it is running very close to full. The headteacher is Declan McArdle, and the school sits within the Cumberland local authority in the North West.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressScalegate Road, Carlisle, Cumberland, CA2 4NL
HeadteacherDeclan McArdle
Local AuthorityCumberland
Number of Pupils694
Free School Meals (FSM)33.8%
School Capacity694 / 700 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

24 May 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 14 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
LibraryArt StudiosSwimming PoolDining HallTennis CourtsGymnasiumAstro TurfSports HallPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

Cross CountrySwimmingCricketGymnasticsRowingBasketballTennisFootballRoundersHockey

Clubs & Activities

DramaFilm ClubChoirYoung EnterpriseOrchestraDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthHearingLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:15

Source: newman.cumbria.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St John Henry Newman Catholic School

St John Henry Newman Catholic School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.