A New Chapter: Reintroducing St John Fisher

When inspectors from Ofsted arrived at St John Fisher Catholic High School earlier this year, they stepped into a school in motion—not one resting on past laurels or bogged down by former challenges, but a community determined to push forward. Previously local headlines painted a far less hopeful picture. But when inspectors returned earlier this year, they walked into a school transformed—not just restructured, but reborn. Classrooms felt purposeful. Corridors calm. Staff energised. Pupils respectful, confident, and proud.

Now officially recognised as a "Good" school in 3 areas, St John Fisher is celebrating a milestone that reflects not merely a destination, but the direction of travel: upward, determined, and unstoppable. Ofsted’s verdict was clear—this is a school on a journey of "rapid improvement." That pace, that ambition, is set to restore confidence in the local community and reverse public perceptions. They have reshaped the lived experience of Pupils and staff to one which is aspirational and sets the standard for the school's glistening future.

Click here to view the latest Ofsted report

We remain focused on continuous improvement ": Headteacher’s Response

Headteacher Karl Mackey doesn’t shy away from the past. He owns it—and uses it to power what comes next:

“This Ofsted report is more than formal validation—it reflects the remarkable transformation of our school community. Over the past two years, staff and Pupils have demonstrated resilience and dedication, driving significant improvements across all areas of school life. Ofsted’s recognition that pupils feel safe, happy, and proud of their school highlights the welcoming and rapidly improving environment we have created.

Since our 'Inadequate' judgement, pupils’ behaviour has been completely transformed. Inspectors praised the polite and respectful pupils, the calm atmosphere, and the school's strengthened approach to attendance and learning. These improvements reflect the collective effort of staff and Pupils in fostering a positive and aspirational culture.

We are proud of our progress in personal development, literacy, safeguarding, and SEND provision—all essential to our commitment to educational excellence. While we celebrate our achievements, we remain focused on continuous improvement, striving to set new standards for success.

Our sixth-form provision has undergone a rewarding transformation, ensuring Pupils no longer need to travel beyond Dewsbury for exceptional post-16 education. High-quality teaching and inspiring role models now define this renewed offering.

Looking ahead, the Diocese of Leeds Catholic inspection will reaffirm our mission and ethos. Later this month, we will celebrate the Feast Day of St John Fisher with a whole-school Mass—the first since 2018—marking a profound moment for pupils and staff receiving their First Holy Communion or Confirmation.

None of this progress would be possible without the unwavering commitment of our governors, staff, Pupils, and supportive parents and carers. Together, we are not just improving—we are shaping a brighter future and setting new standards for excellence.”

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Spending time at St John Fisher, it’s hard to reconcile the calm, purposeful atmosphere with the stories or previous inspection reports that paint a glib picture of the school’s past. The positive culture now feels so embedded—so natural—that it’s almost impossible to imagine the corridors once echoed with disruption and contagious disengagement.

The transformation isn’t just visible; it’s visceral. As a visitor, you don’t just see the change—you feel it. It’s in the way Pupils greet you, the quiet confidence in classrooms, the pride in staff voices. But what exactly has changed? What has been implemented to turn things around so completely?

As Headteacher Karl Mackey puts it, “a two-day inspection is just a snapshot of everything that goes on in a large secondary school.” To understand the full picture, you have to look beyond the headline judgement and into the detail—the systems, the relationships, the relentless work behind the scenes. And that’s where the real story begins.

Rethinking Behaviour: A Collective Effort

“The culture was shifted through increasing expectations on teachers, Pupils and families, this was done through a strategy of high challenge and high support.” Mr P Rushton- Assistant Principal

 Behaviour at St John Fisher has undergone one of the most significant transformations. Two years ago, a notable number of pupils displayed open defiance. Corridors were chaotic, and social times unpredictable.  

Today, a sense of calm and mutual respect defines the school environment. Football, skipping and relaxed conversations have replaced playground tensions.

The change is visible in every interaction. This isn’t just behaviour improvement, it’s a cultural shift.

 

Gone are the days of confrontation and confusion. In their place: structure, fairness, and a firm-but-caring ethos. A new behavioural framework—Remind, Rectify, remove—gives every student clarity and every teacher confidence. Staff have trained extensively in relational approaches, and the result is clear. Same-day detention and a "fresh start" mindset allow consequences without carrying shame. Respect is the currency now, and it circulates widely.

 

A powerful example of the school’s behaviour transformation is a student who joined following a permanent exclusion for assault and a history of suspensions. Since joining St John Fisher, he has received no suspensions and earned 147 positive points. With tailored support — including careful placement in a tutor group and challenging academic sets like Triple Science — he has flourished. He now attends Xbox Club and lunchtime prayers, giving him positive outlets and space to thrive socially as well as academically.

 

A Space to Reset: The Sacred Heart Centre

For Pupils needing more bespoke support, the Sacred Heart Centre (SHC) offers a lifeline—not an exclusion, but a recalibration. Tucked away on-site, the SHC provides a nurturing, structured environment where Pupils wider needs follow a personalised curriculum aligned to the main school.

The Sacred Heart Centre (SHC) offers a highly structured, nurturing alternative provision designed to re-engage Pupils who are struggling in mainstream school due to behavioural, emotional or social challenges.

With therapeutic mentoring through partnerships like Football Beyond Borders, the SHC offers far more than academic continuity— With a clear entry and reintegration process, the SHC ensures Pupils make meaningful progress before returning to mainstream lessons. The outcomes speak volumes: rising attendance, reduced suspensions, and improved behaviour points.

Setting positive habits: The Attendance Hub

“To date, this academic year we have completed home visits to over 100 Pupils, many multiple times.”- SJF Attendance Team

Attendance at St John Fisher is not just improving—it is becoming a hallmark of the school’s wider transformation. With a near 4% rise in overall attendance and a 14% drop in persistent absence, these figures tell a deeper story. They reflect a shift in school culture—where routines are rebuilt, trust is restored, and consistency is non-negotiable. Each improvement point marks a student whose daily experience is now more stable, more supported, and shaped by a team committed to wellbeing, inclusion, and success.

One student, previously absent most Fridays, now arrives like clockwork thanks to a simple but targeted incentive. Another, who would go back to bed after their parents left for work, is now welcomed daily by the Attendance Team—routine rebuilt, confidence restored.

The strategy is proactive, personal, and persistent. The Attendance Hub coordinates home visits, fast-track pathways, and rewards that actually mean something to Pupils.

Recognition for sustained attendance plays a key role in motivating Pupils. One member of the Attendance Team explained:

“We run regular attendance challenges, where Pupils with good or improving attendance can earn rewards like cinema trips, Nando’s meals, or even an end-of-year theme park visit. Last year, we gave away an Xbox to a high-attending student—and this year alone, we’ve handed out 2,500 luxury hot chocolates to pupils who achieved a full week of 100% attendance.”

This achievement is particularly impressive given the national context, where secondary school absence rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Across the UK, persistent absence—defined as missing 10 per cent or more of school sessions—has been a growing concern, with one in five Pupils falling into this category. In Kirklees, local authorities have been working to remove barriers to attendance, making St John Fisher’s success even more remarkable.

The school’s holistic approach to attendance improvement aligns with the Department for Education’s guidance, which emphasises the importance of a calm, orderly and supportive environment where Pupils feel motivated to attend. By fostering a strong sense of community, St John Fisher has not only improved attendance rates but also reinforced its reputation as a high-achieving and nurturing educational institution.

 “I found starting high school really hard, I just didn’t want to come in but with the support from the attendance team encouraging me and helping me, my attendance has doubled!”  Pupil quote

Out with the old: A Curriculum Reimagined

“Staff have had significant training in the latest teaching and learning pedagogy through Teach like a Champion.”

St John Fisher hasn’t just tweaked its curriculum—it has completely rebuilt it through the lens of expert staff, each empowered by extensive training in modern pedagogy, including the Teach Like a Champion framework. Traditional 60-minute lessons have made way for 100-minute sessions, allowing for deeper exploration, responsive teaching, and more meaningful support. It’s a shift that gives space for mastery—not just coverage—and reflects the school’s determination to deliver high-quality learning for every student.

Every lesson opens with a Daily Review—six rapid questions designed to embed learning, draw out misconceptions and accelerate progress. The shift is backed by respected research from Rosenshine and Lemov, but its true success is felt in the day-to-day rhythm of the school—lessons that begin with certainty, classrooms filled with calm energy, and Pupils who are more confident in their learning.

Literacy, too, has taken centre stage. Form-time reading, a vibrant library, poetry workshops and reading interventions like Lexia and Reading Quest have built a culture where books are seen not as a barrier, but as a bridge. Inclusivity is key—every pupil, regardless of their starting point or challenge, is encouraged to see literacy as a channel for ambition and opportunity.

Reintroducing St John Fisher

 

“The introduction of 100-minute lessons has been transformational. It allows for deeper exploration, stronger engagement, and better progress within each lesson. CPD has been sharply focused and practical, helping staff embed high-impact strategies like Teach Like a Champion. As a result, Pupils know what’s expected and are thriving in a culture of high standards and academic rigour.” Kiran Hussain- English Teacher

 

 

Sixth Form outcomes have seen a dramatic rise over the past year, with significant improvements across both vocational and A Level subjects. More Pupils are now achieving top grades, including a notable increase in A*-B results and several Year 11 pupils securing exceptional grade 9 profiles across their subjects.

 

 

“Since joining SJF in September 2024, I’ve felt genuinely inspired by the energy and ambition across the staff team. The CPD is purposeful and impactful—it’s made a real difference to my teaching. It’s a joy to teach in an environment where both staff and pupils are so driven to succeed.” Lorna Windle (Head of Year 7 – ADT Teacher)

Proactive not reactive: Pupil Wellbeing

Though not explicitly highlighted in the recent Ofsted report, the school’s pastoral system is one of the most foundational elements of its success. It’s not an add-on; it’s a pillar. Every pupil is known, supported and challenged through a structure that wraps around them and helps them thrive.

Form tutors and Heads of Year are backed by an Inclusion Manager, mental health professionals from Catholic Care and Yorkshire Mentoring, and internal intervention staff. The support offer is deep, responsive, and shaped by meaningful, therapeutic relationships.

 "Mrs El-Zebedi and Catholic Care has helped me so much through my process of being in care, they sorted a lot of things for me when my social worker couldn’t. They have taught me how to be independent and not let anything put me down" Year 11 Pupil Quote

Safeguarding at St John Fisher is both comprehensive and deeply embedded into the daily life of the school. It goes far beyond policy—delivered consistently through assemblies, PSHE, staff briefings, and targeted student engagement.

A DSL and Deputy Headteacher Mr Fox-Rice explained “Our SEN team offer a variety of interventions such as Zones of Regulation, dealing with anxiety, SULP and improving resilience for Pupils with Social emotional and mental health difficulties.”

It was shared that a strand of the robust safeguarding and pastoral practices includes the school’s anti-bullying process which provides transparency and accountability guided by real-time pupil voice through regular surveys and feedback loops, ensuring that the approach remains responsive, inclusive and preventative.

“Bullying is not tolerated at St John Fisher. Any instances of bullying around protected characteristics are dealt with seriously through sanction and re-education. Where required, relevant agencies are informed. “

With strong pastoral care and a commitment to inclusion, St John Fisher continues to foster a welcoming and compassionate school culture.

Looking Ahead: Road to Outstanding

This Ofsted judgement is not a final word—it’s a formal recognition that St John Fisher is back on course. It validates what our current staff, pupils and families already know: that St John Fisher is back on track.

The school’s ambition is clear: to keep improving, to keep striving, and to never become complacent. With alumni thriving in professional sport, business and public service, the school’s legacy is being rewritten—and its future is undeniably bright.

Families once again have a compelling reason to plan their children’s future around St John Fisher. This time they can be assured it’s a school that doesn’t just aim to be good. It aims to stay great. It’s a new standard—set, upheld and rising.