Ofsted: Serious Weaknesses trending_up Places Available emoji_events #24 in Kirklees public Top 43% UK

St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy

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

personMr Karl Mackey

corporate_fareBLESSED PETER SNOW CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

location_onDewsbury, WF13 4LL

language Visit Website phone 1924527000

verified

Ofsted

Serious Weaknesses

Inspected 2025

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Students

1,053

trending_up

Attainment 8

34.8

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GCSE Rank

#25 in Kirklees

#3,030 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Dewsbury, serving ages 11-18.

article

School Summary

St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy is an academy converter in Dewsbury, Kirklees, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BLESSED PETER SNOW CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 928 pupils on roll, of whom 43% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 34.8, placing the school #25 in Kirklees and #3,030 of 3,216 nationally. 25.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 9.1% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 10 A-level subjects. 4.3% of A-level entries were graded A*–B. A-level value added: -0.59 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Serious Weaknesses. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 6 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 64.2 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

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

25.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)9.1%

Entering EBacc16.70%

EBacc APS3.02

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.99

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

31.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29.90%

EBacc APS2.79

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.79

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS3.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.84

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.31

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.41

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS3.88

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS3.65

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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

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)74%

Apprenticeships10%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships7%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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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

-0.59

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*–B4.3%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate60.0%

A-level subjects offered10

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.3

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

D+

Students

Retention rate81.50%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.70%

2022

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate97.2%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

25 March 2025

Inspection Report

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11 June 2024

Inspection Report

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30 January 2024

Inspection Report

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15 June 2023

Inspection Report

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16 November 2022

Inspection Report

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15 March 2022

Inspection Report

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29 June 2021

Inspection Report

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10 February 2021

Inspection Report

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06 October 2020

Inspection Report

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08 May 2019

Inspection Report

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09 January 2019

Inspection Report

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06 June 2018

Inspection Report

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08 November 2017

Inspection Report

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01 October 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

7 Evaluations

2025-03-25

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection 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

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2022-11-16

Special Measures S5 ReInspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Inadequate

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Inadequate

2019-05-08

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2019-01-09

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-06-06

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-11-08

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-10-24

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

66.1%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

17.2%(160 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

3pupils

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 928 pupils. During this period, there were 613 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 66.1%, which is above 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)	928	613	66.1%	7.3%	3
2024/25 (Autumn term)	922	574	62.3%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	962	504	52.4%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	958	567	59.2%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	960	902	94.0%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,044	255	24.4%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,053	685	65.1%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,059	647	61.1%	5.9%	9
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,057	577	54.6%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,074	435	40.5%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,057	337	31.9%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,091	214	19.6%	3.6%	3
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,091	55	5.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,087	212	19.5%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,117	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,117	159	14.2%	3.2%	6
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,119	108	9.7%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,159	89	7.7%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,154	87	7.5%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,158	98	8.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,152	65	5.6%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,156	45	3.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,162	74	6.4%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,165	51	4.4%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,169	35	3.0%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,175	30	2.6%	3.1%	0

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

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psychology_alt

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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 85 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 30 pupils

Physical Disability 18 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 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.

73.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%Positive

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

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree15%

agree43%

disagree20%

strongly disagree13%

don't know10%

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

strongly agree18%

agree29%

disagree31%

strongly disagree15%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree30%

agree16%

disagree20%

strongly disagree11%

not applicable23%

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

yes19%

no81%

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

strongly agree13%

agree20%

disagree27%

strongly disagree33%

dont know7%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree24%

agree48%

disagree9%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree23%

agree45%

disagree16%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree24%

agree41%

disagree26%

strongly disagree6%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree20%

agree58%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree16%

agree43%

disagree14%

strongly disagree6%

don't know21%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree11%

agree35%

disagree26%

strongly disagree13%

don't know15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes58%

no43%

Top Secondary Schools in Kirklees

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Heckmondwike Grammar School

Good

location_on Heckmondwike, WF16 0AH

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Holmfirth High School

Outstanding

location_on Holmfirth, HD9 7SE

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Shelley College, A Share Academy

Outstanding

location_on Huddersfield, HD8 8NL

emoji_events #3 in LA

Salendine Nook High School

Good

location_on Huddersfield, HD3 4GN

emoji_events #4 in LA

Honley High School

Good

location_on Holmfirth, HD9 6QJ

emoji_events #5 in LA

King James's School

Good

location_on Huddersfield, HD4 6SG

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Kirklees arrow_forward

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.

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 Kirklees

Heckmondwike Grammar School

Holmfirth High School

Shelley College, A Share Academy

Salendine Nook High School

Honley High School

King James's School