St John Fisher Catholic College
Newcastle Under Lyme, ST5 2SJ · Staffordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
47th of 56 secondary schools in Staffordshire we can score, 70 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 908 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.6/10 among them, against 2.9/10 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 | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.4 · 36 | 30% | 1.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.4 · 21 | 25% | 0.52 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.7 · 27 | 10% | 0.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John Fisher Catholic College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 34.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.8, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.4 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in March 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0 out of 10 among them, against 2.5 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Art Club, Lego League Robot Challenge, FTC Robotics, Warhammer Club, History Club, 6th Form Debate Club, KS3 Science Club, and Minecraft club. Sports include Athletics, Dance, Cricket, Racket Sports, Rounders, and Football. Arts and music offer Choir, Band, Show Rehearsals, and Origami. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,075 pupils against a stated capacity of 981. 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 leadership team plan to address
What Ofsted said about St John Fisher Catholic College
Overview
The report states that while many pupils are happy, their educational experience is "variable" and often "frustrating" due to inconsistencies in teaching quality and behaviour. The sixth form is highlighted as a strength with a "consistently high standard" of curriculum delivery, whereas the main school requires improvement in education, behaviour, and leadership.
Strengths
- The sixth form provides a "much more effectively designed and delivered" curriculum with strong advice and guidance.
- Personal development is a strength, featuring a "comprehensive and well resourced" PSHE curriculum and mature discussions on protected characteristics.
- Pupils value a "wide range of opportunities," including extra-curricular groups, residential trips, and work experience.
- Attendance is generally high, supported by "positive relationships with families."
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," and pupils feel safe with access to trusted adults.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must use assessment "effectively to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge" and adapt the curriculum to ensure learning builds successfully.
- The school needs to "accelerate its programme of support for reading" to help all pupils who struggle develop fluency.
- Leaders and governors must ensure consistent monitoring and accountability so that "improvements in education... lead to better pupil outcomes."
- Staff must apply the behaviour policy consistently to ensure "behaviour across the school is of a consistently high standard."
Safeguarding
The report confirms that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.5 |
| 2024/25 | 41.8 |
| 2025/26 | 41.7 |
| 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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