St John Fisher Catholic School

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
Address
Map
City Way

Rochester
,
Kent
,
ME1 2FA

England
Coordinates51°22′43″N 0°30′43″E / 51.378616°N 0.511857°E / 51.378616; 0.511857
Information
Other nameSJF
TypeVoluntary aided school
MottoLatin: Deo Reddite Dei
(Give back to God what belongs to God)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)John Fisher
Established1964 (1964)
Local authorityMedway Council
OversightRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark
Department for Education URN118908 Tables
OfstedReports
GenderMixed
Age range11–18
Enrolment833 (2020)[1]
Capacity1,185[1]
Websitestjohnfisher.school

St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School (simply referred to as SJF) is an 11–18 mixed, Roman Catholic, voluntary aided secondary school and sixth form in Chatham, Kent, England. It was established in 1964 and is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark.

It is one of two genuine comprehensive schools in Medway, an authority that retains selection. Pupils also travel in from Sittingbourne and Sheppey in Kent.[2] It is the only Catholic secondary school within the local authority and the only secondary school with two campuses. The main campus at Ordnance Street is for year 9 to 13, while years 7 and 8 are on a campus known as the Lower School, at 79 Maidstone Road.[3]

Planning permission was given in March 2021, for the school to consolidate on a single site on City Way on existing playing fields.[4]

Motto

The school's motto, Latin: Deo Reddite Dei means 'give back to God what belongs to God'.(Mark 12:17) This is a biblical reference referring to when Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees on the subject of taxation; Jesus was asked whether the Jews should pay taxes to the Romans or not.[5]

History

St John Fisher Catholic School was established in 1964 and is named after John Fisher, the Catholic bishop, Cardinal and martyr.[6]

Academics

The school operates a two-year Key Stage 3 which is provided on the Maidstone Road site. This is designed to build on the 'good work' of teachers in the principal feeder schools.[7]

Students transfer to the Ordnance Street site for the three year Key Stage 4.[7]

Sixth Form Centre

Until the summer of 2010, the school's sixth form site was located at a separate building further up the road. It is now located at the main school site. Students are offered 21 A Levels and BTEC Level 3 courses.[8]

Partner primary schools

In case of oversubscription, priority goes to Catholic children and then to non-Catholics who have attended the following schools:[2]

  • English Martyrs’, Strood
  • St Augustine of Canterbury, Rainham
  • St Benedict’s, Lordswood
  • St Edward’s, Sheppey
  • St Mary’s, Gillingham
  • St Michael’s, Chatham
  • St Peter’s, Sittingbourne
  • St Thomas More, Walderslade
  • St Thomas of Canterbury, Rainham
  • St William of Perth, Rochester

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b "St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Admissions". St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  3. ^ "St John Fisher Catholic School". Medway Council. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ "School move to be debated this week". Kent Online. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Mark 12:17". Bible Hub. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. ^ "St John Fisher". St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Prospectus" (PDF). St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Sixth Form Prospectus" (PDF). St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School. Retrieved 2 March 2020.