Cardinal Newman Catholic High School

Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Bridgewater Avenue, Latchford, Warrington, WA4 1RX

01925 635556 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 15 November 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%England 45% · 2024/25
13th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 6% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils808Room for 825 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 809 in 2019, 795 in 2021, 811 in 2022, 819 in 2023, 846 in 2024, 855 in 2025, 808 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7104 for 142 places, September 2026
14th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 19% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 November 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

164 pupils in this year group.

23% — 25 points below the Warrington average, and 23 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWarringtonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 23% 48% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 41.9 48.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 4.3 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 29%This school 2023/24: 42%This school 2024/25: 23% This school England 45% 2022/23 29% 2023/24 42% 2024/25 23%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

162 pupils in this year group.

90% — 3 points below the Warrington average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 43%38%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolWarringtonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 93% 92%
School sixth form 1% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 43% 42% 13%
Further education college 38% 32% 37%
Apprenticeship 6% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%90%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Warrington. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered142
Families who put it first104
Of those, offered a place104 (100%)
Families who listed it at all274

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.7

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Warrington

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWarringtonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 58% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
30.5% 23.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.9% 4.0%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.7% 14.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.0% 14.4%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Lower than 33% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.4% 7.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
12th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Lower than 30% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
27.4% 20.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Lower than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
26.2 11.5 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
11th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Lower than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
7.4% 4.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.12% 0.13% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 15% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.9 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.3 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Warrington.
Higher than 46% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.6% 10.9%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Cardinal Newman Catholic High School's Ofsted rating?

Cardinal Newman Catholic High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 November 2022.

How did Cardinal Newman Catholic High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 23% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 23 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Cardinal Newman Catholic High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 104 families put Cardinal Newman Catholic High School as their first choice for 142 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 104 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.