St John Fisher Catholic School
Catholic
Updated July 2026
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a co-educational, faith-based secondary school located in Rochester, serving students from Year 7 through to the Sixth Form. It is the only secondary school in Medway offering a genuinely comprehensive, faith-based education to pupils of all abilities.
Curriculum
Term structure
Teaching approach
St John Fisher is a faith-based, comprehensive school that emphasizes academic excellence and the development of the whole person. It operates as a supportive community where staff and parents work together to ensure students succeed, guided by pastoral and spiritual support systems that encourage positive attitudes toward learning and life.
Programmes
The school offers a wide-ranging curriculum spanning Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, supported by subject specialist teachers. The academic programme includes GCSE and post-16 pathways, with specific guidance provided for Sixth Form transition and student destinations.
Outcomes
The school reports a wide range of student destinations, with graduates progressing to various pathways, including Oxbridge universities. Recent inspections have highlighted the school's broad and ambitious curriculum, as well as the mutual respect fostered between teachers and pupils.
Student support
Learning support
The school is committed to an inclusive, comprehensive education, supporting pupils of all abilities, including those with significant special educational needs. A dedicated team of staff is employed to help students overcome barriers to education, and the school maintains a designated SENCO to oversee support provision.
Tuition & fees
No published fee schedule was found for this school.
Admissions
The school manages admissions for Years 7-11 and the Sixth Form, with specific pathways including a grammar stream. Prospective families can access information regarding the application process through the school's website, which also provides details on open events and specific application requirements for students with special educational needs.
Calendar
The academic year is divided into six terms, typically running from early September to mid-July. The calendar includes scheduled breaks for autumn, Christmas, February, Easter, and spring, alongside staff development days and bank holidays.
About the campus
Located in historic Rochester, the school operates from a purpose-built building that opened in February 2023. The campus features modern IT facilities in every classroom, a school chapel for religious services, and access to nearby open parkland.
Co-curriculars
The school provides a range of extra-curricular opportunities, including eco-ambassador projects, drama trips, and music activities such as djembe drumming. Students also participate in charity events, bake sales, and community-focused initiatives, such as hosting afternoon tea for local service users.
- Dympna LennonHeadteacher