Welcome to our Open Evening

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3 Welcome to our Open Evening We hope you enjoy looking round our school and talking to the staff and students. This leaflet gives you some information that you may find useful when deciding to apply for a place here for September. Cardinal Newman Catholic School is an Academy and is a member of the St Alban s Catholic Academies Trust. The other members of the trust are St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Primary School and St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School. You can find more information about the St Alban s Academies Trust on our website. Our school was opened in 1968 and was founded to serve the Catholic population of Luton and Dunstable. Many past pupils have chosen to send their children here and a good number of past pupils have joined the staff of the school helping to forge strong links with families and parishes over the years. We hope you will consider sending your child here too and that together we can continue to provide an excellent education in a faith-filled, caring and compassionate environment. You can find the full version of our Prospectus on our website by clicking on the Welcome tab and scrolling down the menu on the left hand side of the page. If you wish to look at any of our policies you will find these under the Parents and Carers tab. Joe Richardson Headteacher Cardinal Newman Catholic

4 A God-given talent in every child At Cardinal Newman we believe that every child has God-given talents to develop and share. To ensure that each student discovers these talents we offer a broad and balanced curriculum ensuring an academic, creative and sporting provision that is appropriate for every child. It is not just what students learn, but how they learn that makes a difference. As a Thinking School, accredited by Exeter University, lessons are underpinned by a strong focus on developing students thinking capacities. This is fostered in every lesson as well as through specific lessons in Thinking Skills in Year 7. We have specific GCSE pathways to suit every student and offer a wide range of courses in the Sixth Form. By thinking carefully about the needs of each student we create the maximum opportunity for the success of all.

5 Value & Respect We place an emphasis on good discipline in lessons and on high standards of behaviour in and around the school. We have a zero tolerance for any form of bullying or anti-social behaviour. Any incidents that do occur are dealt with firmly and fairly. We expect everyone at the school to be well-mannered and able to work in an environment of mutual respect. Visitors to the school often comment on the warm and friendly atmosphere that exists between staff and students. The safety and well-being of all our students is a priority. Our Special Needs Department provides exceptional care for all students who need additional support. A group of dedicated teaching assistants works with students throughout the school, individually and in small groups, to ensure that all students gain success at GCSE in a safe and nurturing environment. Bi-lingual teaching assistants liaise with families new to the country, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for students and parents who might be feeling nervous or uncertain.

6 Enrichment Academic, pastoral, sporting and social enrichment activities are highly valued and are an integral part of the students learning experience. Examples of enrichment at Cardinal Newman: The Chaplaincy The School Council Sports, both local and county wide Students as Learning Partners Learning in Depth Project Talent Shows Black History Month Specialist Music Groups (wind, string, ensemble and choir) Whole School Musicals Drama Productions Drama Club Shakespeare Drama Festival Media Studies trip to Los Angeles Specialist Science Activities Annual trip to Rome Mission to Mars Maths Puzzle Days Maths Challenge Duke of Edinburgh Award Sixth Form Volunteering Abroad Ski Trip Cranfield Business Challenge University Visits for Years Master Classes Student Enterprise Art Club Debating Club Creative Writing Club

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8 Transport to and from school Arriva run nine buses to and from Cardinal Newman School from different parts of Luton. Students who catch these buses can buy a weekly ticket from the bus driver. Monthly, termly and yearly tickets are available online and from the Arriva Travel Shop, Luton Interchange, Station Road, Luton LU1 2LT. If you are on low income and your child is entitled to free school meals then you may also be entitled to a free bus pass. If you are a Catholic then you must live at least two miles from the school. If you are not a Catholic then Cardinal Newman must be one of the three schools nearest to your home. To find out if you are eligible, please contact Luton Passenger Transport Unit, Central Depot, Kingsway, Luton, Beds, LU4 8AU. Tel: or ptu@luton.gov.uk

9 If you are not a Catholic We do not expect everyone to share our faith but we do expect everyone to respect it and to learn about it while they are here. Before you choose Cardinal Newman for your child please consider the following: We have prayers at the start of every day. These are usually lead by the Form Tutor. All Students study a Catholic Religious Education curriculum from Year 7-9. In Year 8 this includes a unit on Judaism and in Year 9 this includes a unit on Islam. All students take the GCSE in Religious Education. We follow the national curriculum which says that students should undertake a study of two different faiths. Our students study Catholic Christianity and Judaism. We study Judaism because the Old Testament scriptures are directly connected to the New Testament. Our exam results in Religious Education are excellent and many students go on to study this at A Level. We do not have a separate room for Muslim students to pray in but we do set aside a classroom that can be used for this purpose at lunchtime. Our school meals service does not serve Halal food but students can bring a packed lunch. All students must do PE and girls can wear joggers instead of shorts. Our school uniform is strict but Muslim girls can wear the hijab providing it is plain navy blue in colour. All students have a 15 minute Year Assembly once a fortnight which finishes with a prayer. These are very important times when the whole Year Group comes together. It helps to foster a real sense of belonging to the school. In addition to prayer and reflection, assemblies are times for awards to be announced and important notices given to the students. The Catholic life of the school is celebrated throughout the year with Mass and other liturgical celebrations that mark our faith in Christ as expressed through the teachings and sacraments of the Catholic Church. All students attend these events. We hope you will want your child to attend our school and be happy here. We want everyone to share that sense of belonging to the Newman family that comes from taking a full part in school life.

10 If you want to make an application Please make sure you have looked at the Admissions Criteria and the Admissions Information so that you are quite clear about how to make your application and how your application will be processed. Make your application online at by 31st October. If you want to do this tonight then there is someone here to help you. Please ask a Prefect or member of staff to take you to the room set aside for this purpose. You must also complete a supplementary form for Cardinal Newman Catholic School. There is a blue copy of this form with this booklet but you can also download this form from the Luton Borough Council School Admissions website. If your child attends one of the Catholic Primary Schools you should hand the Supplementary Form in to the primary school office along with your Baptism Certificate (the school office will make a copy and return the original to you) by 31st October. If you do not attend a Catholic primary school in Luton or Dunstable then please post your supplementary form to us at Cardinal Newman School or deliver it personally to our Reception staff. If you are not a Catholic but you attend another Christian Church then make sure you have completed the section of the supplementary form that asks for the name, address and telephone number of your minister. We will contact your minister and ask him/her to support your child s application to Cardinal Newman. Please make sure you have told your minister to expect our letter and check that he/she has received it and replied by the middle of December. If you are of another faith then please complete the section of the supplementary form that asks for the name, address and telephone number of a minister of religion whom we can contact to vouch for your child s application to this school. If you do not complete a supplementary form your application will automatically be assigned Criteria 11 (the last criteria in the Admissions Criteria). If you have any questions about applying to Cardinal Newman Catholic School please contact Mrs Jane Price on or her at jprice@cardinalnewmanschool.net

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12 Cardinal Newman Catholic School Warden Hill Road Luton LU2 7AE t: e: Cardinal Newman Catholic