Challney High School for Boys
Academy converter · 1,197 pupils
94% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.7
Academy converter
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
- Pupils on roll
- 1,655of 1,400 places
- Free school meals
- 18.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 276
- Ofsted
- School remains Good, 22 May 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College (URN 109699, until 1 September 2015).
What the data says
Of the 269 pupils who finished Year 11 at Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College in 2023, 41% stayed on in Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College’s own sixth form (Luton average 13%), 30% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 149 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 62% went to university (Luton 52%, England 37%), and 20% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally; 12% started an apprenticeship, well above the 7% England average.
French is unusually popular at GCSE: 67% of the year group took it, against 18% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 50.0 against 46.1 across England and 45.0 in Luton, with 46% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Luton and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 269 | 3,003 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 98% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 94% | 89% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 41% | 13% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 23% | 47% | 13% |
| — further education college | 30% | 27% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 1% | 3% |
| Employment | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 1% | 6% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 149 | 1,761 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 89% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 62% | 52% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 20% | 11% | 19% |
| Further education | 0% | 1% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 12% | 6% | 7% |
| Employment | 15% | 19% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 9% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 50.0 | 45.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 70% | 63% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 82% | 49% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.68 | 4.05 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 18% | 32% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 36.5 | 38.2 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 53.0 | 48.1 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 27% | 49% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 270 | 98% | 88% | 19% | 22% | 78% |
| English Language | 269 | 97% | 89% | 24% | 20% | 74% |
| English Literature | 268 | 97% | 86% | 26% | 21% | 77% |
| Religious Studies | 266 | 96% | 31% | 38% | 32% | 76% |
| Combined Science | 266 | 96% | 65% | 21% | 9% | 66% |
| French | 186 | 67% | 18% | 13% | 29% | 52% |
| History | 129 | 47% | 41% | 23% | 26% | 58% |
| Business Studies | 127 | 46% | 18% | 17% | 20% | 66% |
| Geography | 126 | 46% | 41% | 27% | 25% | 70% |
| Computer Science | 58 | 21% | 13% | 29% | 30% | 79% |
| Polish | 46 | 17% | 1% | 93% | 84% | 100% |
| Media Studies | 41 | 15% | 4% | 27% | 20% | 88% |
| Drama | 39 | 14% | 7% | 13% | 27% | 59% |
| Physical Education | 34 | 12% | 11% | 12% | 24% | 76% |
| Graphic Communication | 32 | 12% | 1% | 41% | 23% | 100% |
| Fine Art | 29 | 11% | 9% | 17% | 28% | 90% |
| 3D Design | 25 | 9% | 2% | 4% | 16% | 44% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 15 | 5% | 8% | 0% | 21% | 47% |
| Music | 13 | 5% | 5% | 31% | 33% | 62% |
| Textiles | 9 | 3% | 2% | 44% | 27% | 100% |
| Physics | 4 | 1% | 23% | — | 46% | — |
| Chemistry | 3 | 1% | 23% | — | 47% | — |
| Biology | 3 | 1% | 23% | — | 45% | — |
| Spanish | 2 | 1% | 19% | — | 27% | — |
| Portuguese | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 50% | — |
| Italian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Russian | 1 | 0% | 0% | — | 87% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Studies | 60 | 54% | — |
| Sports Studies | 21 | 19% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 9 | 8% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 274 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 111 | 1,142 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | B- | C | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 36.06 | 30.41 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | C | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 16% | 9% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 42 | 38% | 31% |
| Sociology | 26 | 23% | 13% |
| Law | 23 | 21% | 4% |
| Psychology | 23 | 21% | 23% |
| Economics | 19 | 17% | 13% |
| Accounting/Finance | 17 | 15% | 1% |
| Biology | 15 | 14% | 20% |
| Business Studies | 15 | 14% | 13% |
| Chemistry | 15 | 14% | 17% |
| Physics | 12 | 11% | 12% |
| English Language | 12 | 11% | 4% |
| Computer Science | 11 | 10% | 5% |
| Media Studies | 10 | 9% | 4% |
| Art and Design | 8 | 7% | 1% |
| English Literature | 8 | 7% | 11% |
| History | 7 | 6% | 13% |
| Drama | 7 | 6% | 2% |
| Religious Studies | 7 | 6% | 4% |
| Further Mathematics | 6 | 5% | 5% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | 2% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 36 | 32% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 26 | 23% | — |
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 23 | 21% | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 15 | 14% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 11 | 10% | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | 8 | 7% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Luton
Challney High School for Girls
Academy converter · 1,062 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.1
Chiltern Academy
Free schools · 1,203 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.5
Denbigh High School
Academy converter · 1,130 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 52.6
Icknield High School
Academy converter · 1,452 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 49.4
Lealands High School
Foundation school · 1,025 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.3
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.