John Henry Newman Catholic College is a mainstream secondary school in Birmingham, Solihull, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 271 of its 1,273 pupils (21.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,273 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Solihull.
21.3% get SEN support
271 of 1,273 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
33 of 1,273 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health95
- Autism88
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia39
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Speech, language and communication22
- Hearing impairment7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,273 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Katherine Clarke (Principal)
- Part of
- Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Multi Academy Company
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 44.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Solihull
- School reference (URN)
- 136347
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Solihull council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, March 2026: Expected standard in 6 of 7 areas
Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Needs attention
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Chelmsley Road, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, B37 5GA
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Leycroft Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.9 miles
- Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Windy Arbor Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
- Forest Oak School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Fordbridge Community Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 22.6%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.2 miles
- Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 22.1%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.3 miles
- St Anne's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19.2%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.4 miles
Questions about John Henry Newman Catholic College
How many pupils at John Henry Newman Catholic College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 271 of the 1,273 pupils (21.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at John Henry Newman Catholic College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (95 pupils), autism (88 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (39 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at John Henry Newman Catholic College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at John Henry Newman Catholic College?
Through Solihull council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to John Henry Newman Catholic College?
You can ask for John Henry Newman Catholic College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does John Henry Newman Catholic College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Bishop Wilson Church of England Primary School, about 1.0 mile away.
Where is John Henry Newman Catholic College?
Chelmsley Road, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, B37 5GA, in Solihull.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.