Schools by area › Luton › Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Warden Hill Road, Luton LU2 7AE · cardinalnewmanschool.net · 01582 597125
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 50
- average Attainment 8 score. Luton 45, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,655
- 255 over 1,400 places · 118%
- Local authority
- Luton
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 18.8%
- First language not English
- 30.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 250 families put the school first and 261 places were offered; 94% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 261 | 250 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 246 | 292 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 249 | 285 | 1.1▲ | 82% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 241 | 293 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 238 | 282 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50, and 46.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Luton it was 45, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲50 | 46 | ||
| ●46.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲69.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲82.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.68 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 50.6 | +4.2 |
| Sixth form college | 12.5 | −7.4 |
| Further education | 29.4 | +3 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.6 | +2.2 |
| Employment | 0.4 | −1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1.9 | −0.8 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | +1.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111 students | B- (36.1) | Average +0.11 | |
| 117 students | C+ (34.9) | Average +0.03 | |
| 48 students | Dist (34.1) | Average +0.21 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 108 | C+ (33.7) | +0.01 |
| 2022/23 | 118 | C (29) | — |
| 2021/22 | 141 | C+ (34) | — |
| 2018/19 | 134 | C+ (33.9) | +0.06 |
| 2017/18 | 127 | C (31.6) | -0.16 |
| 2016/17 | 125 | C (29.1) | -0.15 |
| 2015/16 | 124 | C (31.3) | +0.04 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 58.4 | +0.1 |
| Further education | 1.6 | −0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.6 | −5.5 |
| Employment | 19.2 | −1.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8 | +0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 7.2 | +6.6 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 22 May 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 21 May 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Dec 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Dec 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Mar 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
68% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (88 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 68%
- Replies
- 88
- 5% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 87% who raised concerns
based on the 53% who had a child bullied
based on 20 parents (23%) with SEND