St John Fisher Catholic High School (Harrogate)

St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, is an 11-19 Catholic comprehensive school. It has developed steadily during the past 40 years to over 1,300 pupils. It provides a Christian education in the Roman Catholic tradition. The school serves the Catholic community in the Deanery of Harrogate and takes pupils from a wide catchment area. Set in 22 acres of parkland on the south side of Harrogate and skirted by Hookstone Wood, the school’s elegant buildings are steeped in over a century of history and tradition. The newer Science, Art and Technology wings provide excellent facilities, while the school is fully networked and well equipped to meet the technological demands of the modern curriculum. The attainment of Arts College status with its associated building programme has further enhanced the resources available to the pupils and the school has also recently been awarded Humanities status and is embarking upon a programme to develop this. In 2007 the school was labelled as "outstanding" in its Ofsted report.

History

The school buildings were first built in 1903 to hold a Catholic convent school under the Order of the Holy Child Jesus which moved from a building on Clarence Drive near Valley Gardens. The school was founded in 1958 on the site that is now the Area Education Office within the Harrogate High School campus. The school rapidly outgrew its facilities and moved to its current site on Hookstone Drive - using the buildings of the convent school although many sisters remained for some time to teach. The sisters of the Order of the Holy Child no longer teach at the school but maintain a convent over the road. The science and technology building (along with the current school hall) was built not long after this (opened 1978) and the school continued to grow in size and pupil numbers into the strong community it is today.

General aims and policy of the School

The school is first and foremost a Catholic school, with a distinctive Christian ethos. The religious education and practice provided by the school conforms to the rites and doctrines of the Catholic Church. The school places great emphasis on the spiritual and moral development of its pupils. The school is committed to the pursuit of the highest standards of academic excellence, through the full development of the intellectual capabilities of each and every child. As a Specialist Arts College the school also expects each child to achieve their full potential in creative and artistic expression. The school also supports the social and cultural development of pupils as well as promoting their health, welfare and physical development.

Notable alumni

• Andy O'Brien - Republic of Ireland international footballer. Although told he wasn't good enough to make it as a Professional footballer by one of the teachers, he went to have a successful career in the English Premiership with the likes of Bradford City, Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers.

Sixth Form

Main article: St. Aidan's & St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form

The school forms part of an associated sixth form with St. Aidan's C of E High School.

See also

Other schools dedicated to John Fisher in Britain are located in Dewsbury, Purley and Wigan

External links

• School website
• Historic photos of the school