From Building Site to Outstanding School

In just under three years, St John Henry Newman Catholic Primary School in Peterborough has undergone a transformation few could have imagined — from a building site to a thriving, growing primary school rated Outstanding in its very first Ofsted inspection.

Opened in September 2022 with only 37 pupils spread across two Reception classes and a mixed Year 1/2 class, the school has grown at an extraordinary pace. Within a month of opening, the local authority approached the school to take in additional pupils without school places — an early recognition of both the community’s need and the confidence placed in the school’s leadership. Today, the school has 380 pupils across all primary year groups and continues to grow.

Headteacher Mark Cooper has been at the heart of this journey from the very beginning. Nearly seven years ago, he was part of the diocesan working group that began planning the school’s educational vision. Appointed Head in January 2022, Mark started the job that April and opened the doors that September — just months after overseeing the final phase of construction.

“I spent ten very happy years at Sacred Heart School, and I always said it would take something truly special to tempt me away. St John Henry Newman has been exactly that. It’s been a privilege to be part of the journey from the very beginning — from a construction site to an Outstanding school.

One of our mottos here is ‘keeping what is important, important’, and as we grow, that principle guides everything we do. In July 2029, our very first Reception pupils will finish their time with us. By then, they may be graduating from a school 15 times the size of the one they joined — but it will still have the same outstanding staff, strong support network, and vibrant school community.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far and genuinely excited for what lies ahead for St John Henry Newman Catholic Primary School.”

The pace of growth has brought challenges as well as blessings. At one point, the school interviewed 27 candidates in a single month to ensure staffing kept pace with pupil numbers. Despite the pressure, Mark and his team have built a school community marked by warmth, mutual respect, and shared values.

The school’s Catholic identity remains central to its ethos. A third of the children are Catholic, a third Muslim, and the rest from other Christian denominations or of no faith. The families share an appreciation for the school’s Catholic values, which are lived out daily in teaching, assemblies, and relationships. The recent Outstanding Ofsted report praised the school’s Catholic culture in particular — an aspect not often highlighted in inspection reports — noting the strength of Catholic social teaching and the impact it has on the school environment.

Children, too, benefit from the rapid growth in unique ways. With so many joining at different points, pupils quickly learn empathy, inclusion, and how to welcome others — creating a community that is both dynamic and deeply caring.

The parish’s involvement is also a source of pride for the school, and the close relationship with families is a key element of its success. Mark personally gives every prospective family a tour — a gesture that exemplifies the school’s commitment to personal connection and pastoral care.

Though still young, St John Henry Newman is already shaping up to be one of the most significant Catholic primary schools in the Diocese of East Anglia. With the capacity to become a three-form entry school in the future, that potential is likely to be realised sooner rather than later.

Andy Stone, Director of Schools’ Service for the Diocese, said:
“We are delighted by the flourishing of St John Henry Newman School. The Ofsted result is a wonderful affirmation of the hard work and commitment that has gone into building a caring, faith-filled, and high-achieving school community. We give thanks to God for the many blessings this school has brought and continues to bring.”

As the school looks ahead, its focus remains clear: nurturing a generation of children who are not only well-educated but compassionate, resilient, and rooted in faith. St John Henry Newman Catholic Primary School has already achieved a great deal — and its journey is only just beginning.

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