Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Oldham for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 190 of its 1,469 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 51 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,469 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Oldham.
12.9% get SEN support
190 of 1,469 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
51 of 1,469 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication64
- Social, emotional and mental health63
- Moderate learning difficulty44
- Autism29
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Visual impairment6
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
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,469 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kerry Phillips
- Part of
- Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 37.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Oldham
- School reference (URN)
- 149461
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 Oldham 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
Rated Requires improvement, May 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (January 2020)
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, January 2020).
Contact and getting there
Off Canon Dolan Way, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 9QY
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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
- Kingfisher Special School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.3 miles
- Halcyon Way School Special school · Ages 2–11 0.4 miles
- Richmond Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- North Chadderton School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 190 of the 1,469 pupils (12.9%) were getting SEN support and 51 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (64 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (63 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (44 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy?
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 Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy?
Through Oldham 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 Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy 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 Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy 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 Richmond Academy, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Saint John Henry Newman Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy?
Off Canon Dolan Way, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 9QY, in Oldham.
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.