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The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

Stevenage, SG1 4AESecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jul 2024
Progress 8
+0.72
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
245 1st-choice / 208 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#270 of 3,141 nationally

About The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School is a large, mixed secondary in Stevenage, part of Hertfordshire Local Authority. It ranks 1st out of 6 schools in Stevenage by Progress 8 score, placing it comfortably ahead of local peers. Across the wider Hertfordshire area, it sits 11th among 86 same-type state schools, a strong showing that puts it in the top tier locally. The top-performing schools in the county by the same metric are Sandringham School, Yavneh College, and Dame Alice Owen's School, all of which post higher Progress 8 scores. Still, within its immediate town, Saint John Henry Newman is the standout choice for families prioritising academic progress. The school is Roman Catholic in character and has a headteacher, David Carrasco-Morley, leading a roll of 1,605 pupils — well above its stated capacity of 1,405, which hints at its popularity. It also operates a formal sixth form, making it a through-school option for students from age 11 to 18.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressHitchin Road, Stevenage, Stevenage, SG1 4AE
HeadteacherDavid Carrasco-Morley
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils1,605
Free School Meals (FSM)10.0%
School Capacity1,605 / 1,405 (114% 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

17 Jul 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (17 Jul 2024): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

Source: Ofsted, 23 Feb 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Swimming PoolSports HallPlaying FieldsICT SuiteMusic RoomsTennis CourtsAstro TurfLibraryDining HallGymnasiumChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

21

Sports

Cross CountryDanceHockeyFootballGymnasticsAthleticsRoundersBasketballCricketRowing

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirYoung EnterpriseDebateGardeningScience ClubModel United NationsArt ClubFilm ClubChessDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

The Saint 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.