Luton
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
GCSE results 2026: every Luton school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 49.8 is close to the national average of around 46.
- 49.8
- Attainment 8
- 43%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +0.38
- Progress 8
- [0.20, 0.55]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Roman Catholic religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Roman Catholic). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 261 | 250 | 235 (94%) | 410 |
| September 2025 | 246 | 292 | 232 (79%) | 455 |
| September 2024 | 249 | 285 | 234 (82%) | 439 |
| September 2023 | 241 | 293 | 232 (79%) | 471 |
| September 2022 | 238 | 282 | 222 (79%) | 441 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Luton’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
University destinations
Share of this school's sixth-form leavers who went on to Oxford or Cambridge, a Russell Group university, or a university in the top third by entry grades. Department for Education data for state-funded schools and colleges.
| Left sixth form | Students | Oxford or Cambridge | Russell Group | Top-third universities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 2024-2025 tables | 178 | Not published | Not published | 20% England 19% |
| 2020/21 2023-2024 tables | 126 | Not published | Not published | 18% England 24% |
| 2019/20 2022-2023 tables | 123 | 2% England 1% | 25% England 18% | 28% England 20% |
| 2018/19 2021-2022 tables | 142 | 1% England 1% | 18% England 15% | 23% England 17% |
| 2017/18 2020-2021 tables | 132 | 1% England 1% | 14% England 16% | 14% England 18% |
| 2015/16 2018-2019 tables | 113 | 1% England 1% | 17% England 14% | 26% England 19% |
- The DfE stopped publishing Oxbridge and Russell Group shares for individual schools after the 2022-23 performance tables (students who left in 2019/20). Top-third figures continue.
- Figures are percentages of all students who finished 16 to 18 study at the school, counting those who sustained a university place in the two years after leaving.
- Rankings use the average across years weighted by the number of students; a school needs at least 2 years and 50 students to be ranked. The top-third ranking uses the latest 3 years. Ranks are among state-funded schools and colleges.
- '<0.5%' means above zero but under half a percent. 'Suppressed' means 5 or fewer students.
- Source: Department for Education, 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training (Compare school and college performance, Explore education statistics).
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 286 | 49.8 | — | 43.4% | 14.0% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 276 | 50.0 | — | 46.4% | — | 82.2% | 4.7 |
| 2023/2024 | 265 | 48.5 | +0.38 | 47.2% | — | 92.5% | 4.6 |
| 2022/2023 | 269 | 49.5 | +0.29 | 48.0% | — | 88.5% | 4.7 |
| 2021/2022 | 261 | 51.2 | +0.19 | — | — | 71.0% | 4.7 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Luton for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 142310 |
| Local authority | Luton |
| Region | East of England |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy converter |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-18 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher Helen Fay |
| Trust | ST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Roman Catholic |
| Postcode | LU2 7AE |
| Pupils | 1,641 |
| FSM eligible | 18.2% |
Contact and identifiers
Warden Hill Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7AE
http://www.cardinalnewmanschool.net/1582597125| DfE number | 4606 |
| UKPRN | 10053912 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2015 |
| GIAS updated | 2 Oct 2025 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 2 Oct 2025 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | — |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | — |
| Behaviour and attitudes | — |
| Personal development | — |
| Leadership and management | — |
| Safeguarding | — |
| Inspection type | — |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | — |
| Publication date | — |