John Henry Newman Catholic College Wins Prestigious Award for Supporting Young Carers

30th June 2025Mr B Clayton

15 May 2025 — John Henry Newman Catholic College has been awarded the Young Carers in Schools Award, recognising its outstanding work supporting students who care for family members at home.

Young carers are children and young people under the age of 18 who provide care for a family member who is ill, disabled, experiencing a mental health condition or affected by addiction. Their responsibilities can significantly impact their education and wellbeing.

The award is part of the Young Carers in Schools programme, a joint initiative by The Children’s Society and Carers Trust. The programme equips schools across England with practical tools and guidance to help identify and support effectively.

Support at JHNCC

John Henry Newman Catholic College earned the award by showcasing a strong commitment to supporting young carers. This includes:

  • Dedicated staff responsible for identifying and supporting young carers.

  • Homework clubs and drop-in sessions designed to provide a safe and supportive space for these students.

  • Awareness-raising activities for staff and peers.

The Importance of Support

Research highlights the challenges faced by young carers:

  • 40% say they don’t get enough support balancing their education and caring roles.

  • On average, young carers achieve one grade lower in GCSEs compared to their peers.

  • Many also experience lower levels of self-confidence and mental wellbeing.

National guidance encourages all school staff to be alert to the needs of young carers and to offer early help where possible. The Young Carers in Schools programme supports schools in doing just that.

In Their Words

Vicky Morgan, Head of Young Carers and Young Adult Carers at Carers Trust, said:

“We’re delighted to present the Young Carers in Schools award to John Henry Newman Catholic College. There are two young carers in every classroom, yet many struggle without support. The staff at JHNCC have shown true dedication in identifying and helping these students — their work is vital and this award is richly deserved.”

Lisa Witherden, Head of National Programmes at The Children’s Society, added:

“Nearly 80% of schools report no young carers in their census data — we know this isn’t accurate. Young carers are We’re thrilled JHNCC has achieved this award, demonstrating a real commitment to helping these children thrive.”

 Our Year 8 pupils had an incredible time at the Big Bang Fair! 

24th June 2025Mr B Clayton

From hands-on experiments to inspiring STEM talks, the day was packed with excitement, discovery, and curiosity. It was fantastic to see our students so engaged with the world of science, technology, engineering, and maths the future looks bright!

A huge thank you to the organisers for such a brilliant event. We’re already looking forward to next year!

#STEM #BigBangFair #InspiringTheFuture #ScienceEducation

Engineering in Action!

17th June 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Year 9 DT students had an incredible opportunity to take part in a JLR Powertrain workshop, diving into the world of electric motors, gearing, and vehicle design.

From building their own cars to tackle obstacle climbs and drag races, to exploring sustainability in the motor industry, it was a day packed with hands-on STEM learning.

A huge highlight – getting up close with a Land Rover and Range Rover, bringing the theory to life!

Thank you to the JLR team for inspiring the next generation of engineers and designers. ⚙

IntoUniversity Careers in Focus Programme

3rd June 2025Mr B Clayton

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the incredible volunteers and professionals who supported the IntoUniversity Careers in Focus three-day programme, held at JHNCC and Forvis Mazars.

Your time, expertise, and enthusiasm played a vital role in inspiring our Year 9 students, providing them with meaningful insight into a diverse range of career pathways and industries.

Special thanks to the organisations who made this programme possible:
IntoUniversity
Roche
Teleflex
Mills & Reeve
Forvis Mazars
Global Radio

Throughout the programme, IntoUniversity staff and volunteers led interactive workshops and engaging talks, sharing their personal career journeys and offering practical advice. Our students came away with a deeper understanding of the working world, the qualifications and skills required, and the ambition needed to succeed.

What our students said
The impact of the event was clear in the feedback from our Year 9 students:

“I met lots of new people.”
“The speakers were really informative.”
“Activities were fun and I liked how the people introduced their lifestyle before their job.”

Students also reflected on what they took away from the experience, with many feeling inspired to take positive next steps:

“I’m now thinking more seriously about going to college and exploring different career options.”
“I realised how important skills are in helping you succeed in any job, not just qualifications.”
“Teamwork is really important in the workplace, it’s something I want to improve and use more.”

Thank you again to everyone involved in making this a valuable and inspiring experience. You’re helping shape the futures of our young people.

 

Year 10 Parents Evening Wednesday 11th June 2025 3pm-6:30pm

15th May 2025Mr B Clayton

Study Kit

 New Careers Newsletter – Easter Edition Out Now! 

30th April 2025Mr B Clayton

We’re excited to share the latest edition of our Careers Newsletter, filled with opportunities, resources, and events to support our students and their families in planning for the future.

This edition features:

  • A spotlight on Unifrog, our one-stop careers platform – now available for parents too!

  • Upcoming Unifrog webinars for parents and caregivers, including:

    • Research into options after school (30 April)

    • A Day in the Life of an Apprentice (14 May)

  • A helpful guide to T Levels

  • Insights from Careermag for Parents & Guardians

  • Useful links, career quizzes, and more!

 Plus, advice on how you can support your child with key decisions like apprenticeships, university, and work experience.

Read the full newsletter here

Together, let’s help every student feel informed and empowered about their next steps.

#Careers #FutureReady #Unifrog #JHNCC

Year 11 & 13 Easter study 2025

11th April 2025Mr B Clayton

Easter study letter

11th April 2025Mr B Clayton

Inspiring Future Nurses!

11th March 2025Mr B Clayton

As part of National Careers Week and in celebration of International Women’s Day, a group of JHNCC students had the incredible opportunity to take part in a Nursing Workshop led by the amazing @Adele Clifford, @Andrea, and Alice White from @BCU.

Through hands-on activities and an engaging Q&A session, our students gained valuable insights into the world of nursing – an experience they thoroughly enjoyed and found truly inspiring!

A huge thank you to our brilliant facilitators for sharing their expertise and passion. 

#NationalCareersWeek #InternationalWomensDay #Nursing #CareersEducation #FutureNurses #EmployerEncounters #InspiringTheNextGeneration

Join Our LinkedIn Network!

11th March 2025Mr B Clayton

We’re excited to invite you to follow our official John Henry Newman Catholic College LinkedIn page. By joining our network, you’ll get updates on key events, achievements, and opportunities within our college community.

Whether you’re a current student, alumnus, staff member, or part of our wider community, LinkedIn is the perfect place to stay informed and celebrate our collective successes. Help us build stronger connections and continue fostering a vibrant, engaged network!

Scan the QR code on the poster or click the link above to follow us.

Thank you for your support – we look forward to connecting with you!

#JHNCC #LinkedIn #Community #Networking #Alumni #StayConnected

Inspiring the Next Generation at JLR’s International Women’s Day Conference!

10th March 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Year 9 girls had an unforgettable experience at the JLR International Women’s Day Conference at the British Motor Museum!

They had the chance to hear from inspirational women at JLR, learning about their career journeys—from GCSE and A-Level choices to further education, passion, and perseverance.

 A walk through history: The girls explored the incredible world of automotive innovation on a museum tour.
Hands-on challenge: They put their creativity and teamwork to the test, designing and building a protective egg housing—judged by JLR engineers!

A huge thank you to JLR for hosting such an inspiring event. We hope it has ignited a passion for STEM, design, and engineering in our students, showing them that the future of innovation is in their hands!

#STEM #WomenInEngineering #JLR #InternationalWomensDay #InspiringFutures #CareersInSTEM

JHNCC Hosts Repair Lab with BCU – Hands-On Tech Learning in Action!

7th March 2025Mr B Clayton

We recently had the pleasure of hosting a Repair Lab at JHNCC, in collaboration with expert technicians from Birmingham City University (BCU). This hands-on workshop gave students a unique opportunity to fix and maintain everyday tech, developing valuable problem-solving, teamwork, and technical skills along the way.

Students and staff brought in broken devices from home, including game controllers, keyboards, and other electronics, to diagnose issues and attempt repairs. Beyond the technical learning, this initiative played a vital role in promoting sustainability by helping to reduce landfill waste – reinforcing the importance of repair over replace.

A huge thank you to BCU and everyone who contributed broken devices for repair. Your participation made this event a success and helped inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators!

Check out the highlights in the photos!

#RepairLab #STEM #Sustainability #CareersInTech #HandsOnLearning

Sixth Form Students Explore Careers at KPMG!

3rd March 2025Mr B Clayton

Our Sixth Form students recently had an incredible opportunity to visit KPMG’s Birmingham offices as part of the Opening Doors to Opportunities programme. Designed to equip students with the insight, skills, and confidence needed to thrive in the world of work, the visit provided a hands-on experience of life at KPMG.

During the workshop, students:

  • Developed essential workplace skills, including communication, problem-solving, creativity, confidence, and leadership
  • Engaged with KPMG professionals from different areas of the business
  • Explored emerging and innovative technologies shaping the industry
  • Enjoyed a guided office tour, gaining a first-hand look at the professional environment

A fantastic experience, inspiring our students and broadening their horizons for future careers!

#CareersEducation #KPMG #SkillsForSuccess #OpeningDoors #FutureReady

Spring Careers Newsletter – National Careers Week Special!

26th February 2025Mr B Clayton

National Careers Week (NCW) is just around the corner, running from 3rd to 8th March! At John Henry Newman Catholic College, we’re celebrating with a range of exciting events and activities designed to inspire students about their future pathways.

What’s happening during NCW?

  • Interactive career workshops including a Repair Lab and Nursing Q&A.
  • Employer-led sessions from Jaguar Land Rover and other industry leaders.
  • Apprenticeship Fair & Virtual Careers Fair to explore post-school options.
  • Year 11 Parents’ Evening & Options Guidance to support subject choices.

Plus, student highlights! Our recent Midwifery Experience Day and JLR Vehicle Design Workshop have given students incredible insights into different career paths.

Read the full newsletter here

Encourage your child to get involved and explore their future!

#NCW2025 #CareersWeek #FutureReady