St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

About St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School sits well above the Birmingham average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 73% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the local authority average of 63%. That ten-point gap places the school comfortably in the top quarter of primary schools across the city, ranking 58th out of 254. The school’s maths scores are particularly strong: a mean scaled score of 108, with 77% of pupils hitting the expected level and a third reaching the higher standard. Reading and writing also perform solidly, with 87% and 73% at expected respectively, though the proportion reaching the higher standard in writing is lower at 17%. This is a school that delivers consistently above the local norm without being an outlier at the very top — a reliable, above-average performer rather than a headline-grabbing one.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2013, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in September 2023 confirmed that the school remains Good, meaning standards have been maintained over the long term. That’s a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2011, when it was rated Requires Improvement — so the trajectory is clearly upward. At Key Stage 2, the proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 10%, which is respectable but not exceptional. Nationally, the school sits in the 25th percentile, meaning roughly a quarter of primaries outperform it, but given the local context, it’s a strong choice for families who want a solid academic foundation without the pressure of a top-tier selective environment.

The school is at full capacity with 210 pupils and is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 100 applications for 30 places, with 28 first-preference offers made from 34 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 3.33. That tells you it’s popular locally. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area, a sensory room and a chapel, which reflects its Roman Catholic character. The school offers a range of clubs from gardening and film club to coding and chess, and sports include gymnastics, football, cricket, tennis, rounders and dance. SEND provision is well-documented, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning needs, social and emotional mental health, speech and language, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families who value a faith-based, community-focused primary with strong but not stratospheric results, and who are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process.

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