St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
Rochester, ME1 2FA · Medway · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 19 secondary schools in Medway we can score, 20 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.4/10 against 603 of them, against 1.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.4 · 19 | 46% | 0.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.55 · 14 | 38% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.4 · 22 | 15% | 0.33 |
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 Comprehensive School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 32.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.55 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 (2.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Eco Ambassadors, play djembe drums, and attend an after-school club. Trips include visits to Fenn Bell Conservation Zoo and Starlight Express.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,084 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,185. 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 close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students who are falling behind in Progress 8? How does the after-school club integrate with the academic curriculum?
What Ofsted said about St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
Overview
This is a “warm and friendly school” where pupils typically feel “happy and safe” and attend regularly. However, the quality of education, behaviour, and leadership “requires improvement” because the school’s ambition is “not being achieved,” with variable pupil attitudes and low examination outcomes.
Strengths
- The school offers a “broad and ambitious curriculum” that meets national expectations, including universal Latin study and strong sixth-form provision.
- Personal development is “Good,” with pupils well-prepared for life in modern Britain through structured citizenship and effective careers guidance.
- Staff identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities “quickly and effectively,” adapting resources well.
- Pupils benefit from a “wide range of extra-curricular opportunities,” such as educational visits and leadership roles.
Areas to improve
- Ensure consistent curriculum delivery in Years 7 to 11 so pupils develop secure knowledge and improve published outcomes.
- Implement strategies for teachers to check pupil understanding and address knowledge gaps to prevent misconceptions persisting.
- Apply robust procedures consistently to tackle lateness, internal truancy, and poor behaviour, ensuring staff enforce the behaviour policy routinely.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36.7 |
| 2024/25 | 40.0 |
| 2025/26 | 40.4 |
| 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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