Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #12 in Medway public Top 37% UK

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Dympna Lennon

location_onRochester, ME1 2FA

language Visit Website phone 1634543123

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,024

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#12 in Medway

#2,532 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Rochester, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a voluntary aided school in Rochester, Medway, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. The school has approximately 1,105 pupils on roll, of whom 36% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40, placing the school #12 in Medway and #2,532 of 3,216 nationally. 32.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 12.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 22.1% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 9.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.05 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.1:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 6.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

32.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)12.0%

Entering EBacc7.80%

EBacc APS3.29

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8.60%

EBacc APS2.92

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS2.93

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.29

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.16

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc3%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS3.5

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.21

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS3.11

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*2.7%

Achieving A*–A9.4%

Achieving A*–B22.1%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate93.5%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate87.50%

2023

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate91.40%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

29 October 2024

Inspection Report

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21 May 2019

Inspection Report

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21 March 2017

Inspection Report

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19 March 2013

Inspection Report

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06 July 2011

Inspection Report

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17 February 2011

Inspection Report

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26 May 2010

Inspection Report

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02 December 2008

Inspection Report

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21 March 2007

Inspection Report

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07 December 2005

Inspection Report

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17 January 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-10-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-05-21

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2017-03-21

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-03-19

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.9%(54 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,105 pupils. During this period, there were 77 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,105	77	7.0%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,106	61	5.5%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,094	115	10.5%	7.4%	4
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,094	188	17.2%	7.1%	6
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,090	113	10.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,022	113	11.1%	6.6%	5
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,024	85	8.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,016	95	9.4%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	949	58	6.1%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	961	65	6.8%	4.9%	7
2021/22 (Autumn term)	956	85	8.9%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	882	89	10.1%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	890	25	2.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	894	108	12.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	833	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	833	55	6.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	816	55	6.7%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	816	37	4.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	822	44	5.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	828	54	6.5%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	818	67	8.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	825	50	6.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	830	37	4.5%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	817	32	3.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	826	36	4.4%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	814	36	4.4%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 57 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 56 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 41 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

68.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

66.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree28%

agree30%

disagree22%

strongly disagree19%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree28%

agree28%

disagree30%

strongly disagree15%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree24%

agree26%

disagree11%

strongly disagree22%

not applicable17%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes43%

no57%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree52%

agree17%

disagree9%

strongly disagree17%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree26%

disagree17%

strongly disagree9%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree28%

disagree20%

strongly disagree9%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree37%

agree26%

disagree22%

strongly disagree11%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree46%

disagree15%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree35%

agree46%

disagree4%

strongly disagree7%

don't know7%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree31%

agree31%

disagree15%

strongly disagree13%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes69%

no31%

Top Secondary Schools in Medway

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School

Outstanding

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Outstanding

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Rainham Mark Grammar School

Good

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Holcombe Grammar School

Good

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Chatham Grammar

Good

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emoji_events #6 in LA

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Medway

Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School

The Rochester Grammar School

Fort Pitt Grammar School

Rainham Mark Grammar School

Holcombe Grammar School

Chatham Grammar