The John Fisher School
95%
Capacity
1,134
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About The John Fisher School
The John Fisher School is a popular choice for local families, and the numbers back that up. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 464 applications for 178 places, making it significantly oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.61 applicants per place. Of those, 156 families put it as their first preference, and 132 first-preference offers were made. While the school doesn't publish a parent satisfaction survey, the high demand suggests a strong reputation among Sutton families. As a Roman Catholic boys' secondary with a mixed sixth form, it draws from a committed community. The school is led by headteacher Robert Teague and currently educates 1,134 pupils, operating just below its full capacity of 1,190. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in June 2023, confirmed the school remains Good, a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspections.
Academically, the school performs well above the national average, though it sits in a highly competitive local authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.28 is rated 'Above average', meaning pupils make stronger progress than similar students nationally. However, this is below the Sutton local authority average of 0.53, and the school ranks 11th out of 16 similar schools in the borough. At GCSE, 86.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score sits at 55. The EBacc average point score is 4.71, with 27.8% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. In the sixth form, the school's value-added score of 0.16 is also rated 'Above average', with pupils averaging a C+ grade per entry and 16.3% achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is strong, with rugby, rowing, cricket, and martial arts among the options, and there are plenty of clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, debating, and coding. The school's SEND provision covers a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech, language and communication needs. For Catholic families in Sutton and surrounding areas, this is a natural fit, but the oversubscription means early application is essential. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Wallington High School for Girls, 1.1 km away, but for boys seeking a faith-based secondary with strong sixth form outcomes, John Fisher is a solid, well-regarded option.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Peaks Hill, Purley, Sutton, CR8 3YP |
| Headteacher | Robert Teague |
| Local Authority | Sutton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,134 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,134 / 1,190 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (21 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 Nov 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
891st of 3,141
Nationally
250th of 487
In London
10th of 14
In Sutton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.0
'22/23
27.6
'23/24
31.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2365%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 128 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
25%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)65%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
464
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
156 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British32.9%
- Asian17.9%
- Mixed12.3%
- White (other)10.1%
- Black3.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About The John Fisher School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Peaks Hill, Purley
Sutton, CR8 3YP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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