St John Henry Newman Catholic School

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.

Academically, the picture is more mixed. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, the 2023/24 Progress 8 score was -0.69, which is well below the national average and also below the Cumberland local authority average of -0.44. The school ranks 14th out of 17 secondary schools in the area on this measure. Attainment 8 was 36.9, and 46.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the value added score was -0.84, with a progress banding of well below average, and the average points per entry was 23.58, equivalent to a D+. The school does have a sixth form, with 22 pupils in the cohort, and the average best three A-levels grade was a C.

On the practical side, the school offers a strong range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, and a chapel, plus a dedicated sixth form centre. There are plenty of clubs and sports on offer, from rowing and gymnastics to drama, choir, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 33.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake compared to the national average. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner in terms of its Ofsted rating and is popular locally, but parents should weigh that against the below-average academic outcomes when making their decision.

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