Schools by area › Solihull › John Henry Newman Catholic College
John Henry Newman Catholic College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Chelmsley Road, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 5GA · johnhenrynewmancatholiccollege.org.uk · 0121 770 5331
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 43.6
- average Attainment 8 score. Solihull 47, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 3.06 mi
- 4.92 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Non Catholic in a named feeder · Solihull Council
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,273
- 73 over 1,200 places · 106%
- Local authority
- Solihull
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 44.1%
- First language not English
- 17.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Non Catholic in a named feeder” went to a home 3.06 mi (4.92 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 2.42 mi (3.89 km). Source: Solihull Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 269 families put the school first and 235 places were offered; 78% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 235 | 269 | 1.1▲ | 78% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 234 | 284 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 237 | 333 | 1.4▲ | 68% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 238 | 334 | 1.4▲ | 69% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 236 | 269 | 1.1▲ | 77% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Non Catholic in a named feeder | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 3.06 mi4.92 km | |
| September 2025 | 2.42 mi3.89 km | |
| September 2024 | 1.32 mi2.12 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 43.6, and 37.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Solihull it was 47, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (31.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼43.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼37.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼62.5% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼28.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.72 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 31.6 | −9.7 |
| Sixth form college | 8.8 | +0.6 |
| Further education | 46 | +12.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.4 | −0.5 |
| Employment | 2.3 | −1.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.9 | +0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 1.9 | −1.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 students | C+ (31.7) | Below average -0.41 | |
| 61 students | C (31.6) | Below average -0.44 | |
| 38 students | Merit+ (30) | Average +0.08 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 60 | C (29.8) | -0.44 |
| 2022/23 | 59 | C (30.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 77 | C+ (34.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 51 | C- (25.4) | -0.41 |
| 2017/18 | 45 | C- (27.4) | -0.03 |
| 2016/17 | 60 | C+ (32.3) | +0.05 |
| 2015/16 | 48 | C (28.4) | +0.18 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 52.9 | −4.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 7.1 | −3.7 |
| Employment | 16.5 | −2.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 20 | +16.1 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | −0.4 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected John Henry Newman Catholic College on 3 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 3 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective May 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding
What parents said
67% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (66 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 67%
- Positive
- 48%
- Replies
- 66
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 91% who raised concerns
based on 22 parents (33%) whose child was bullied
based on 26 parents (39%) with SEND