Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School
Colne, BB8 8JT · Lancashire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
58th of 82 secondary schools in Lancashire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.6/10 against 740 of them, against 3.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 19 | 35% | 0.66 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 41.6 · 41 | 30% | 1.24 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.45 · 18 | 25% | 0.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.5 · 26 | 10% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.45 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in Inter-House football, benchball, mixed netball, glow in the dark dodgeball, rounders, cricket, sports day, and a house talent contest.
Getting in
The published school roll is 812 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific steps are taken to raise Attainment 8 above the national median?
What Ofsted said about Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have made "substantial progress" in improvement over the past two years, resulting in high staff morale and a "family-like atmosphere." Pupils are "well prepared for life in modern Britain," benefiting from a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support, with most achieving results in line with national averages.
Strengths
- The personal development curriculum is "well developed," with pupils demonstrating "secure and detailed knowledge" of topics including healthy relationships and fundamental British values.
- There is a "climate of love and mutual respect," with positive relationships between staff and pupils and a culture where discrimination is not tolerated.
- Leaders provide "highly effective pastoral support," ensuring emerging needs are met and that disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs have equal access to enriching opportunities.
- Staff morale is high, with staff being "universally supportive" of leadership decisions and proud to work at the school.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure that "highly effective teaching is embedded across all subject areas," as there is currently variation in how consistently high expectations are met.
- Leaders should ensure strategies are effective at "closing the gap between disadvantaged pupils’ attainment and non-disadvantaged pupils’ attainment nationally."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing "an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 41.6 |
| 2024/25 | 44.1 |
| 2025/26 | 41.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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