Cardinal Newman R.C. Comprehensive School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Cardinal Newman Catholic Comprehensive School is located in Rhondda Cynon Taf local authority.

The school is an English-medium 11-18 mixed school serving Catholic and other communities of the central valleys of south east Wales. It has a very wide catchment area that extends from Gilfach Goch in the west to Bargoed in the east and includes Rhondda, Cynon, Ely and much of the Taff and Rhymney valleys. In 2017, the school reintroduced onsite provision for the sixth form after the termination of previous partnership arrangements.

There are currently 773 pupils on roll, including 79 pupils who are in the sixth form. Around 14% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the Welsh average of 17% for secondary s...chools. Approximately 24% of pupils live in the 20% most deprived areas in Wales.

Around 19% of pupils have a special educational need, and of these around 1% have statements of special educational needs. Both are lower than the average figures for Wales, which are 21.5% and 2% respectively.

Around 85% of pupils are from a white, British background. A very few pupils speak English as an additional language and a very few pupils are fluent Welsh speakers. The headteacher has been in post since 2011.

The leadership team consists of the headteacher, one deputy headteacher, four assistant headteachers, one acting assistant headteacher and one temporary associate assistant headteacher. The school was last inspected in November 2011. The school is currently a pioneer school and is working with the Welsh Government and other schools to take forward developments relating to professional learning.