The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School, Stevenage

History

Hitchin

St. Michael's College was established in Grove Road, Hitchin—next to the site of a new Catholic church—in 1903 by Fr. A. Prével of the Society of Saint Edmund. In 1925, the priests from the Order of Augustinians of the Assumption assumed control of both the church and the college. St. Michael's College was a Catholic boys' school which housed a number of boarding pupils. In 1953, following a General Inspection, the College was granted temporary recognition as a private grammar school and this status was made permanent in 1958

Stevenage

The expansion of Stevenage New Town during the 1960s led to the relocation of the school to Sandown Road, Stevenage, in 1968. It changed its name to St. Michael's RC School.

In 1985, the process of merging St. Michael's School with St. Angela's School for Girls began. The merging process was completed in 1987 under the leadership of Chair of Governors, John Alan Scouller and the site of St. Michael's was sold, while the new "John Henry Newman School" moved to the former site of St. Angela's on Hitchin Road. The name of the school commemorates Cardinal St John Henry Newman.The School then changed its name to the Saint John Henry Newman School in 2019 after the canonisation of John Henry Newman in the Vatican city

School facilities

The school's drama, music and dance facilities are in a 'pavilion' building built in 2015 that cost £3 million.

The school's sporting facilities including a hockey/football astroturf, tennis courts, sports hall and 2 full size pitches.

Notable people

Former pupils

• Lewis Hamilton (b. 1985) - racing driver. Hamilton left the school at 15, after being wrongfully expelled by the Headmaster. He was reinstated following an appeal to the school board.
• Ashley Young (b. 1985) - footballer, Watford F.C., Aston Villa F.C., Manchester United F.C., Everton F.C.
• Seb Webber, international DJ and A&R at XL Recordings (1996-2001)
• George Beck (1904-1978), Archbishop of Liverpool, (at St Michael's, Hitchin), (also Headmaster)
• Ross Kempsell (b. 1992) - political adviser and life peer

Former staff

• David Konstant, 8th Bishop of Leeds. Acting Head 1967 (at St Michael's, Stevenage)

References

References

1. "Headteacher's Welcome - The John Henry Newman Catholic School".
2. "History of the School and alumni - The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School".
3. "History of the School and alumni - The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School".
4. England. "EduBase - The John Henry Newman Catholic School". Education.gov.uk.
5. (2012-03-02). "Stevenage school first to become an academy - News". The Comet.
6. [http://www.johnhenrynewman.herts.sch.uk The John Henry Newman School official website](in biographical sketch of the late Jill Biggs). Retrieved 2011-01-29. {{Webarchive. link. (21 July 2011)
7. "Subject Information - the Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School".
8. "Life at JHN - the Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School".
9. (1985-01-07). "Southern Counties - Sport - Lewis Hamilton fact file". BBC.
10. (2021-12-16). "Streamable Interview excerpt.". Streamable.
11. Younge, Gary. (10 July 2021). "Lewis Hamilton: 'Everything I'd suppressed came up – I had to speak out'".
12. Viner, Brian. (6 October 2008). "Ashley Young ... sporting prodigy". The Independent.
13. "Beck, Most Rev. George Andrew".
14. "Rt. Reverend David Konstant".