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Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College

Warden Hill Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7AE ·

Ofsted:Good· 2024Roman Catholic
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At a glance

A state Roman Catholic secondary academy for ages 11–18 in Luton. Confirmed as Good at an ungraded Ofsted inspection (May 2024). GCSE results are above the England average (Attainment 8: 50.0 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 250 families put it first for 261 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages
11–18
Pupils
1,655
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Local authority
Luton
Academy trust
ST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST
Headteacher
Helen Fay
Opened
Sept 2015
School website 01582597125 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

Read reports
Latest ungraded inspection (22 May 2024): School remains Good

The school's last graded inspection took place before 2019.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 276 pupils

Attainment 8
50.0
England 46.1
Grade 5+ Eng & maths
46.4%
England 45.4%
Grade 4+ Eng & maths
69.9%
England 64.8%
Progress 8
+0.38
2023/24 · CI 0.2 to 0.55
This school
50
Luton
45
England
46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made
261
1st preferences
250
All applications
410
1st prefs per place
0.96
Fewer first choices than places

235 of 250 first-preference applicants were offered a place (94%). 19 offers went to families living in another council area.

Earlier years include data recorded for this school's predecessor.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils
1,641
Capacity
1,400
118% full
Girls / boys
47/53
Mixed
  • Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)18.8%
  • English as an additional language30.5%
  • SEN support11.2%
  • Education, Health and Care plan4.4%
  • The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College, Luton · SchoolPatch