St John Fisher Catholic High School

About St John Fisher Catholic High School

Parents considering St John Fisher Catholic High School will find a school that local families clearly rate highly. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good, and the inspectors noted that a very high proportion of parents would recommend the school to others. This strong parent endorsement is a meaningful signal, especially when set against the local context: across Peterborough, only one of the 16 secondary schools holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. St John Fisher is oversubscribed, meaning more families apply than there are places available, which often reflects a school’s reputation within its community. The school’s capacity is 815 pupils, and it serves the 11-18 age range as a mixed Roman Catholic secondary. Natasha Wilmore is the headteacher, and the school operates as a state-funded institution within the Peterborough local authority area.

Academically, St John Fisher Catholic High School performs solidly against local benchmarks. Its Progress 8 score, which measures how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and the end of secondary school compared with pupils across England, sits above the Peterborough local authority average of 0.03. This means that, on average, students here achieve slightly better GCSE results than would be expected given their starting points. The school’s Good Ofsted rating reflects a consistent standard of teaching and leadership. While the school does not have the Outstanding designation that its nearest peer, The King’s (The Cathedral) School, holds just 1.1 km away, its academic outcomes are competitive within the local area. The school also operates a Sixth Form, so students can continue their studies post-16 without needing to move to another institution.

The school offers a broad range of facilities and activities that give a sense of what daily life is like. There are science labs, art studios, music rooms, a library, and a chapel, plus a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sports hall. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, hockey, rugby, netball, and cricket, among others. Clubs range from coding and debate to choir, orchestra, and gardening. For families who value a faith-based environment, the school’s Roman Catholic character is woven into its provision, though the school is open to pupils of all faiths and none. Given its oversubscribed status, parents should be aware that admission criteria typically prioritise Catholic applicants, so it is worth checking the local authority’s admissions policy carefully. This school will particularly suit families looking for a well-regarded, community-focused secondary with strong parent satisfaction and a wide extracurricular offer.

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