St John Henry Newman Catholic School
Carlisle, CA2 4NL · Cumberland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th of 19 secondary schools in Cumberland we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.1/10 against 626 of them, against 1.0/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 34% | 1.80 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.8 · 10 | 30% | 0.30 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.69 · 9 | 25% | 0.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.9 · 15 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John Henry Newman Catholic School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 29.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.69 in 2023/24, indicating pupils made less progress than those starting from similar points nationally. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 703 pupils against a stated capacity of 700. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are being taken to improve Progress 8 scores following the 2022 inspection? How does the school manage class sizes given it is currently over its published capacity?
What Ofsted said about St John Henry Newman Catholic School
Overview
Pupils are proud of their school and feel safe, supported by a "well-designed and ambitious curriculum" that helps them achieve well. Leaders and governors share an "ambitious vision" for the school, fostering a strong community where staff feel valued and pupils develop into articulate, responsible citizens.
Strengths
- Teachers use assessment strategies effectively to check learning and address misconceptions, ensuring pupils retain essential knowledge.
- Reading is a high priority, with structured opportunities for pupils to access high-quality texts and learn key vocabulary, leading to good progress.
- Pupils demonstrate a strong awareness of tolerance and diversity, supported by pupil-led assemblies and a school parliament that allows them to propose changes.
- Leaders provide extensive opportunities for personal development, including careers guidance, work experience, and education on healthy relationships and online risks.
- Staff are well-trained in safeguarding, using effective recording systems and a ‘welfare-check’ system to identify risks quickly.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure sufficient up-to-date information about the needs of a small minority of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is shared with teachers in a timely manner.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff trained to spot signs of risk and leaders working well with outside agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.9 |
| 2024/25 | 41.0 |
| 2025/26 | 38.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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