Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #2 in Luton public Top 13% UK

Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHead not listed

corporate_fareST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onLuton, LU2 7AE

language Visit Website phone 1582597125

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

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Students

1,649

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Luton

#934 of 3,216 nationally

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Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College is a Academy converter secondary school in Luton, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College is an academy converter in Luton, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,641 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50, placing the school #3 in Luton and #934 of 3,216 nationally. 46.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 24.3% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 55.2% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 24.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.11 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

46.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)24.3%

Entering EBacc82.20%

EBacc APS4.68

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc92.50%

EBacc APS4.6

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc88%

EBacc APS4.66

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc71%

EBacc APS4.73

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15%

EBacc APS3.96

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS4.05

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

ApprenticeshipsSP%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

99%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)SP%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.11

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.7%

Achieving A*–A24.4%

Achieving A*–B55.2%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate94.7%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.01

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.70%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate96.90%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

120

Retention rate99.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 May 2024

Inspection Report

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05 June 2018

Inspection Report

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31 August 2015

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-06-05

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-12-10

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-03-22

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.0%(66 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,641 pupils. During this period, there were 117 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.1%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,641	117	7.1%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,642	63	3.8%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,627	35	2.2%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,623	47	2.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,621	86	5.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,646	80	4.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,649	64	3.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,654	56	3.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,705	29	1.7%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,696	47	2.8%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,701	37	2.2%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,682	35	2.1%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,692	3	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,688	32	1.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,601	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,601	34	2.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,612	23	1.4%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,613	22	1.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,612	37	2.3%	3.8%	4
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,623	44	2.7%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,608	25	1.6%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,620	41	2.5%	3.0%	6
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,623	34	2.1%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,565	32	2.0%	3.0%	4
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,558	52	3.3%	3.3%	4
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,566	38	2.4%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 75 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 50 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 42 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 38 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Visual Impairment 8 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 8 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

72.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

78.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree30%

agree45%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree18%

agree41%

disagree25%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree22%

agree28%

disagree13%

strongly disagree22%

don't know3%

not applicable13%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree25%

agree15%

disagree25%

strongly disagree30%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree39%

disagree13%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree26%

agree47%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree14%

agree50%

disagree20%

strongly disagree14%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree51%

disagree11%

strongly disagree10%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree45%

disagree13%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree19%

agree38%

disagree23%

strongly disagree14%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes68%

no32%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Luton

Denbigh High School

Chiltern Academy

Icknield High School

Putteridge High School

Challney High School for Girls

Challney High School for Boys