The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School
Hitchin Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4AE
Summary
- School name
- The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School
- Address
- Hitchin Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4AE
- School type
- Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Size
- 1605 pupils enrolled
- Email address
- hr@jhn.herts.sch.uk
- Website address
- http://www.jhn.herts.sch.uk (opens in new tab)
About The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School

The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School serves the North Hertfordshire Catholic community, with a wider catchment extending into Bedfordshire, East Hertfordshire and parts of Cambridgeshire. Originally a six-form entry school, it expanded to eight forms of entry in 2015 and has grown from 830 pupils in 1993 to approximately 1,600 students in 2023, including a thriving Sixth Form of around 400 students, with strong retention and external applications.
The School became part of the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust in 2012 and has since benefitted from substantial investment in its facilities. This includes the £3.5 million Sports and Performing Arts Pavilion and a major refurbishment programme, with two new teaching blocks now fully operational, providing modern classrooms, a dedicated Sixth Form suite, enhanced IT provision, and improved Library, Dining and Hall facilities. The final phase will include landscaping and the creation of a prayer garden.
Our Mission Statement underpins all aspects of school life, emphasising the practical expression of our Catholic ethos. We are a welcoming, inclusive community where each student is valued as an individual and encouraged to achieve their full potential. While the Chapel is central to school life, our values are lived daily through strong relationships, high expectations and a culture of care, kindness and responsibility.
The School is heavily oversubscribed and has an excellent academic reputation. Students follow a broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4, with a wide range of GCSE, vocational and creative options. The Sixth Form offers an extensive range of A-level and advanced vocational courses. Outcomes are consistently strong, with high pass rates across GCSE, A-level and vocational qualifications.
We place great importance on enrichment, wellbeing and personal development, supported by a comprehensive careers programme. The School has been awarded the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Kitemark and attendance is above the national average. A Section 48 inspection judged the School to be “Outstanding”, and a recent Ofsted Section 8 inspection confirmed that the School remains “Good”, with inspectors indicating it may now be “Outstanding”.
Inspectors praised our students’ exemplary behaviour, confidence and pride in their school, as well as the calm, purposeful learning environment and the culture of kindness and acceptance fostered by staff. As one Sixth Form student commented, “Whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever you believe, you are given a warm welcome here.”
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Commitment to safeguarding
Safeguarding
Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Therefore, the position is subject to safeguarding checks that will include the receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.
Following the shortlisting stage, and prior to making a final decision, the School will collect and process information publicly available about you by conducting a brief online search using an internet search engine. We do this to ensure that the school acts in accordance with its obligations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Location and map
Hitchin Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4AE
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