Another Record-Breaking Year for Cardinal Newman

It has been another outstanding year for results at Cardinal Newman College, with students achieving exceptional grades in their A-Level and vocational qualifications.

The results have been amazing across the board, with two-thirds of students achieving an A*-B grade, and an impressive 34% of students achieving an A grade or higher, while more than 10% secured an A* — which is the second year in a row that Cardinal Newman has broken its own outstanding record!

These remarkable results have once again placed Cardinal Newman College among the top 10% of colleges nationally for student progress, while also ranking the College as number one locally. They are a testament to the ambition, determination and hard work of Newman students, not to mention the consistently high standards of teaching, support and guidance provided by staff across the College.

Particular subject highlights include A-Level Maths, where more than 400 students studied the subject, and well over half of these students achieved a grade A or above. This was accompanied by an outstanding performance in Further Maths, with one third of students achieving the very highest A* grade.

The College’s three English A-Levels also delivered an impressive set of results, with almost three quarters of students achieving a grade B or above. There was particular success in A-Level English Language and Literature, where nearly half of our students achieved an A or A*.

The performance of BTEC students was equally impressive, with more than 80% achieving at least a Distinction grade and nearly a quarter achieving the highest grade of a Distinction*. 

In reality, what this means is that if you choose Cardinal Newman for your post 16 education, you will be studying at the only Ofsted Outstanding Sixth Form College in Central Lancashire, and your chances of success are fantastic. It’s important to us that our students feel happy, supported and are enjoying their studies. We firmly believe that students who feel happy and supported will achieve much better grades as a result.

Alongside high-quality teaching, students benefit from a comprehensive pastoral programme delivered by dedicated Achievement Tutors, ensuring they have access to guidance and individual support throughout their time at Newman.

Students are also encouraged to challenge themselves and pursue their ambitions beyond the classroom. The College's Newman Honours Programme provides additional stretch and challenge for high-achieving students, supporting them as they work towards some of the most competitive university courses and future destinations.

An extensive enrichment programme gives students opportunities to develop their interests and broaden their experiences through activities, trips and visits in the UK and overseas. This is complemented by a wide range of specialist support, including the College's Counselling, Equality and Diversity, and Health and Wellbeing teams, helping students develop the confidence, resilience and skills they need to thrive both academically and personally.

Speaking about the latest results, Principal Nick Burnham said:

“I am incredibly proud of our students and everything they have achieved. To see a record number of A*s, alongside such strong results in our A-Levels and vocational courses, is a fantastic achievement and a fitting reward for the enormous amount of hard work our students have put into their studies.

“What makes these results particularly special is that they reflect what we want Cardinal Newman to be: a College where students are ambitious and achieve exceptional academic outcomes, but where they also feel happy, supported and valued. We firmly believe those things go hand in hand.

“Our students are now progressing to some truly inspirational destinations, and they should be immensely proud of themselves. These outstanding results are also a testament to our unbelievably talented and dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to give every student the opportunity to fulfil their potential.”

Above all, this year's results belong to the students. Their hard work, resilience and ambition have produced an exceptional set of achievements, and the entire Cardinal Newman College community is immensely proud to celebrate their success with them.