St John Fisher Catholic College

State school · Mixed · ages 11–18 · with sixth form · CatholicStaffordshire, Newcastle Under Lyme ST5school website

Two in three sixth-formers go on to university — well above the England rate.

Where this school leads
63%

of sixth-form leavers started university · Staffordshire 33% · England 37% · DfE destination measures, students who left in 2023

Knowledge sphere of St John Fisher Catholic College: fields of knowledge mapped by the subjects taken here, by ISCED levelLanguage & Communication · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Language & Communication · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 40%Language & Communication · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 43%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Natural Sciences · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 46%Natural Sciences · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 9%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 35%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Health & Safety · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 38%Health & Safety · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Business & Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 3%Business & Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 1%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 9%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 21%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Transversal Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 41%Transversal Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 48%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%LanguageMathsScienceICTEngineeringHealthBusinessLawSocialArtsTransversalGreen
Ofsted
Requires improvement
Places
—
Pupils
1,075
Free school meals
22.5%

Ofsted: Full inspection, 13 December 2023 · report. Places: the last distance at which places were offered is not on file (it comes from Staffordshire’s allocation statistics). Pupils: of 981 places, including the sixth form. Free school meals: pupils eligible, a measure of family income.

Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: St John Fisher Catholic College (URN 124461, until 1 April 2014).

After Year 11 · age 16

Where do pupils go at 16?

85%stayed in education after Year 11
This school85%
Staffordshire84%
England86%

DfE Key Stage 4 destination measures · 199 pupils who left Year 11 in 2023

Of the 199 pupils who finished Year 11 at St John Fisher Catholic College in 2023, 19% stayed on in St John Fisher Catholic College’s own sixth form (Staffordshire average 33%), 59% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.

Stayed in education — counted only if the pupil was still there for two terms of the next year; apprenticeships and jobs are counted the same way.

Full breakdown11
MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Pupils in the cohort1999,264607,348
Any sustained destination90%92%92%
Stayed in education85%84%86%
— school sixth form19%33%34%
— sixth form college5%3%13%
— further education college59%46%37%
— other education3%2%2%
Apprenticeship3%5%3%
Employment3%3%3%
No sustained destination9%6%6%
Destination unknown1%2%3%
After sixth form · age 18

Where do sixth-formers go at 18?

17%went to one of the most selective universities
This school17%
Staffordshire11%
England19%

DfE 16–18 destination measures · 73 students who left in 2023

63% went to university (England 37%). 3% started an apprenticeship (England 7%). 18% went into work and 10% had no steady place a year on (England 28% and 16%).

Most selective universities — the third of UK universities whose entrants hold the highest grades; the share is of students who completed level 3 qualifications.

Full breakdown7
MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Students in the cohort737,985541,441
Any sustained destination88%81%79%
University (higher education)63%33%37%
— most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students17%11%19%
Further education3%4%5%
Apprenticeship3%11%7%
Employment18%33%28%
No sustained destination10%14%16%
Universities · named

Which universities did they go to?

1university has told us how many applied, were offered a place and enrolled

Named universities — most schools do not publish this; the official DfE figures above only say how many went to university and how selective those universities were.

universities’ answers to sch.today’s Freedom of Information requests · request tracker

What universities’ own admissions data say3

For each entry year: how many of this school’s students applied, received an offer and enrolled. Counts under five are shown as “<5” to protect individuals. Applications exclude Clearing; enrolments are students who completed registration.

UniversityEntry yearAppliedOffersEnrolled
University of Bristol2025<5<5—
2024<5——
2023<5<5<5

A university’s enrolment count and a school’s own destinations list can differ: the school counts places accepted in the summer, the university counts students registered in the autumn.

GCSE · Year 11 · 2025

How do GCSE results compare?

41.8Attainment 8 score, out of 90
This school41.8
Staffordshire43.9
England46.1

Attainment 8 — average GCSE points across eight subjects, English and maths counted twice; grade 5 in everything scores 50.

DfE performance tables 2024/2025 · 198 pupils in Year 11

24% of pupils here are disadvantaged (England 28%). Disadvantaged pupils here scored 33.9 — below disadvantaged pupils across England (34.9).

35% got grade 5 or above in both English and maths (Staffordshire 40%, England 45%).

Grade 5 — a “strong pass”; grade 4 is a “standard pass”. Progress 8 is not published for 2025: this cohort had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020–21, so there is no baseline.

All GCSE measures10
MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Attainment 8 (average points per pupil)41.843.946.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths35%40%45%
Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%62%65%
Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects13%33%41%
EBacc average point score3.503.784.09
Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort24%23%28%
Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils33.932.934.9
Attainment 8 — other pupils44.347.150.4
Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2)———
English as an additional language23%8%19%
Subjects · 2025

What do pupils study?

40.91%of the Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level curriculum mapped by the subjects taken here

Mapped — the share of the 3,288 learning outcomes the Department for Education sets for these stages that the subjects taken here cover, weighted by how many pupils take each.

DfE subject entries 2025 · curriculum catalogue by sch.today

Religious Studies stands out at GCSE — 96% of the year group took it, against 31% across England. At A level it is Further Mathematics: 15% of students (England 5%).

Green & Sustainability48%
Natural Sciences46%
Mathematics & Statistics43%
Transversal Skills41%
Language & Communication40%

Fields of knowledge — twelve fields the curriculum catalogue sorts every learning outcome into; the bars show the GCSE and A level ring.

GCSE subjects27

Entries as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEnglandGrades 7–9EnglandGrades 4–9
English Language198100%89%12%20%59%
Mathematics198100%88%15%22%67%
English Literature19598%86%14%21%62%
Religious Studies19196%31%16%32%58%
Combined Science17086%65%4%9%51%
History9749%41%15%26%54%
Geography4824%41%8%25%48%
Computer Science4322%13%9%30%53%
Design and Technology3216%11%9%23%66%
Biology2513%23%40%45%100%
Physics2412%23%54%46%100%
Chemistry2412%23%46%47%100%
Business Studies1910%18%16%20%68%
Astronomy189%0%6%29%22%
Fine Art179%9%6%28%59%
Spanish147%19%14%27%50%
German126%5%42%33%75%
French126%18%42%29%75%
Drama105%7%0%27%90%
Physical Education84%11%25%24%63%
Music63%5%33%33%67%
Polish63%1%67%84%100%
Citizenship Studies42%3%—19%—
Russian21%0%—87%—
Arabic11%1%—47%—
Bengali11%0%—35%—
Italian11%0%—53%—
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications8
SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Computer Appreciation / Introduction52100%—
Health Studies47100%—
Hospitality / Catering Studies3793%—
Small Business Management3383%—
Childcare Skills1538%—
Speech and Drama1025%—
Dance: General820%—
Sports Studies820%—
A level subjects16

Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Biology1743%20%
Mathematics1538%31%
Chemistry1538%17%
Sociology1025%13%
Psychology923%23%
Physics615%12%
Further Mathematics615%5%
Business Studies——13%
Classical Civilisation——1%
Product Design——2%
English Language——4%
English Literature——11%
Politics——6%
History——13%
Polish——0%
Religious Studies——4%
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses13
SubjectQualificationEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Study SkillsExtended Project (Diploma)3485%—
Applied SciencesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*820%—
SociologyGCE AS level (All)———
BiologyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)———
HistoryGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)———
SociologyGCE AS level (Not continued to A2)———
Health StudiesBTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D*———
Business StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*———
Childcare SkillsBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*———
Health StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*———
Mathematical StudiesCore Maths Qualifications at Level 3———
BiologyGCE AS level (All)———
HistoryGCE AS level (All)———
A level results8
MeasureThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Students at the end of 16–18 study112——
— of whom A level students402,938261,341
Average A level gradeCC+B-
Average points per A level entry29.3433.4335.00
Average grade, best 3 A levelsCC+B-
AAB or better with two facilitating subjects13%14%18%
Average grade, applied general courses———
Average grade, T levels———
Fields of knowledge, all stages12
Green & Sustainability57%
Natural Sciences56%
Language & Communication53%
Transversal Skills50%
Mathematics & Statistics49%
Health & Safety49%
Engineering & Manufacturing40%
Arts & Humanities28%
Digital & ICT Skills23%
Social & Cultural Skills13%
Law & Public Administration8%
Business & Administration6%

Ideas pupils meet most, weighted by the share of the cohort taking the subjects that teach them:

fraction 16.0percentage 10.9ratio 10.5gradient 10.1vocabulary 8.7power 7.7root 7.5translation 7.5equation 7.4reflection 7.3particle model 7.1grammar 7.0energy transfer 6.7audience 6.7graph 6.7standard form 6.3vector 6.2area 6.1formulae 6.0impact 5.9evidence 5.9exponential function 5.9context 5.7change of state 5.4

Coverage counts a subject’s outcomes in proportion to the share of the cohort entered for it; Combined Science counts as two thirds of the three separate sciences. Levels follow ISCED 2011 as UNESCO maps it for the UK: Key Stage 3 is ISCED 2; GCSE and A level are both ISCED 3. Methodology: about the data.

Careers

Which jobs use what’s taught here?

12apprenticeship standards closely match the subjects pupils take

A match of what’s taught, not of entry requirements: the standards whose knowledge and skills share the most ideas with the GCSEs and A levels taken here, weighted by how many pupils take each subject.

Level 3 / Level 6 — England’s qualification levels: 3 is A level standard, 4–5 are higher apprenticeships, 6 is a bachelor’s degree.

Skills England apprenticeship standards (Open Government Licence v3.0) · ESCO occupations, © European Union, matched by sch.today · how the match works

Water industry asset maintenance technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, area, unit conversion from Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Biology and 11 more · jobs: consumer electronics repair technician, industrial electrician, electrician
ScientistLevel 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses conclusion, experimental design, probability from Biology, Chemistry, Further Mathematics and 9 more · jobs: physicist, analytical chemist, geneticist
Process industry manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses pressure, conservation of mass, energy change from Biology, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and 6 more · jobs: chemical engineering technician, chemical manufacturing quality technician, chemical production manager
More apprenticeships9
Science manufacturing technician 2023Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses unit conversion, graph, pressure from Biology, Biology, Chemistry and 3 more · jobs: pharmaceutical engineer, chemical manufacturing quality technician, pharmacy technician
Geoscientist (integrated degree)Level 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses climate change, data interpretation, conduct field work from Biology, Chemistry, Geography and 3 more · jobs: geologist, geological engineer, exploration geologist
Battery manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses area, unit conversion, volume from Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry and 4 more · jobs: battery test technician
Data technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · digital · uses mean, integer, outlier from Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology and 8 more · jobs: data analyst, database administrator, data scientist
Water industry network technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses standard form, unit conversion, volume from Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology and 4 more · jobs: sewerage network operative, product quality inspector, sewerage maintenance technician
Non-destructive technologies technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, si unit, data presentation from Mathematics, Biology, Design and Technology and 5 more
Aerospace engineerLevel 6 degree apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses equilibrium, friction, kinematics from Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry and 3 more · jobs: aerodynamics engineer, aerospace engineer, aircraft maintenance technician
Production assistant - screen and audioLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · creative and design · uses spelling, punctuation, grammar from English Literature, English, Modern Foreign Language · jobs: factory hand, supply chain assistant, management assistant
Keeper and aquaristLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · agriculture, environmental and animal care · uses adaptation, sampling technique, temperature from Biology, Psychology, Biology and 1 more · jobs: animal care attendant, zookeeper, zoo section leader
Admissions

How do you get a place?

The last distance at which St John Fisher Catholic College offered Year 7 places is not yet on file; it comes from Staffordshire’s allocation statistics.

  1. 31 OctApply to Staffordshire in Year 6 for a Year 7 place
  2. 1 MarNational Offer Day
  3. Dec–FebYear 11: apply directly to the sixth form; most close applications in these months
Staffordshire

Compare with nearby schools

Stayed in education at 16 · Attainment 8 · pupils

Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.