John Henry Newman Catholic College, Birmingham

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades John Henry Newman Catholic College on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well at John Henry Newman Catholic College."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders carefully analyse patterns of pupils' absence."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have worked extensively to refine the curriculum and how it is taught."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have placed inclusion at the heart of their vision for the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a detailed understanding of the school and the community it serves."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have recently reviewed the curriculum for pupils' personal development."

Post 16 provision - Needs attention. "There are inconsistencies in the sixth form, including in the effectiveness of some teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that students in the sixth form follow suitable courses and that effective teaching in the sixth form is embedded so that students complete their courses, achieve well and make secure progress from their starting points"; "Leaders should continue to work with parents and carers and further refine their approaches to improve pupils' attendance"; "Leaders should continue to embed their work to ensure teaching is highly effective and consistent across the school"; "Leaders should continue to embed their high expectations with respect to pupils' self-regulation at transition points and social times in the school day".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At the heart of our College community is our faith. We draw inspiration from the life and teachings of both Jesus Christ and our patron St John Henry Newman, guiding us to nurture your talents in ways that give glory to God."

In 2026, pupils at John Henry Newman Catholic College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.4 in Solihull and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Solihull and 47% in England.

That is down from 43.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.25: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 35.7, against 47.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 269 families put John Henry Newman Catholic College as their first choice and 758 named it as one of their preferences, for 235 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 58 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to John Henry Newman Catholic College are Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst (0.2 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 33.4); WMG Academy for Young Engineers (Solihull) (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.5); Grace Academy Solihull (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43); and Centre for Accelerated Learning (0.7 miles).

John Henry Newman Catholic College's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

John Henry Newman Catholic College is one of 14 schools run by Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Multi Academy Company, an academy trust.

66 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about John Henry Newman Catholic College (as of April 2026): 67% would recommend the school, 64% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (67%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).

Of the 215 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 46% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 85 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 271 pupils (21.3%) received SEN support and 33 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Marston Green Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hillside Drive (adjacent), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood John Henry Newman Catholic College stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 478 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Solihull (226), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, John Henry Newman Catholic College issued 288 suspensions, 22.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to John Henry Newman Catholic College are Fordbridge Community Primary School (0.2 miles), St Anne's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles), St Anthony's Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles) and Yorkswood Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.