Cardinal Newman Catholic School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school School leaders and governors have thoroughly addressed the concerns raised at the last inspection and improvement is evident in all aspects of the school's work. Pupils make good progress across a wide range of subjects and reach standards that are above national averages.

Almost all teachers plan for and deliver effective learning that supports pupils in developing a secure understanding of subjects. Pupils who have special educational needs or disability are well supported to make good progress as a result of well-targeted support plans and good additional support in the classroom. The sixth form is good.

Learners have access to a suita...ble range of courses and make good progress in them. Staff and pupils share a strong culture of respect for each other. As a result, the great majority of pupils behave well both in lessons and around the school site.

Pupils are well cared for. Each pupil is valued as an individual and disadvantaged pupils are provided with the support they need to ensure that they succeed. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do less well in science, where difficulties in recruitment have meant that some pupils have had a number of different teachers and are making slower progress.

Some teachers do not ensure that the work in lessons is hard enough to make sure that pupils, particularly the most able, are stretched.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized secondary school. The proportion of pupils who receive support for special educational needs or disability is average.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is average. The pupil premium is additional funding provided by the government to support pupils known to be eligible for free school meals or who are in the care of the local authority. The school meets the government's current floor standards in 2015, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics.

Twenty-two pupils in Years 10 and 11 attend alternative provision at 10 different providers: Brakes Training Ltd, City College, Coombe Country Park, Coventry Building Workshop, CWT, Heart of England Hair/Beauty, Henley College, LearnFit Academy, Moor Farm Stables and Positive Youth Foundation. In the sixth form, eight learners attend courses at Barr's Hill School and Community College, Finham Park School, Coundon Court and Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College. The school has received additional support from Prince Henry's High School and from Caludon Castle School, where the headteacher is a national leader of education.