The John Fisher School
The John Fisher School | |
---|---|
Address | |
Peaks Hill , , CR8 3YP | |
Information | |
Type | Comprehensive, Voluntary aided |
Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
Established | 1929[1] |
Founder | Peter Amigo |
Local authority | London Borough of Sutton |
Specialist | Sports College[2] |
Ofsted | Reports |
Headteacher | Mr Mark J. Scully |
Gender | Males |
Age | 11 to 19 |
Enrollment | 1031[3] |
Houses | Bede,Becket,Fisher,More |
Website | http://www.johnfisher.sutton.sch.uk/ |
The John Fisher School is a voluntary-aided Roman Catholic boys secondary school located in Purley, UK. It is maintained by the London Borough of Sutton, but many of its students come from the London Borough of Croydon.[4] Its current headmaster is Mark Scully, who joined the school in 2006.[1] Before him, Pat Liddiard took a cover year as acting headteacher.[1] The previous headteacher was Robin M. Gregory,[1] who oversaw a successful application for the school to become a specialist sports college.
The School has an Old Boys Association and two Old Boys sports clubs, Purley John Fisher RFC (for Rugby Union) based in Old Coulsdon and John Fisher Old Boys Sports Club ( for Football and Cricket based in Limpsfield Road, Warlingham), though both are accessible to Sixth Formers.
History
The John Fisher School was founded by Peter Emmanuel Amigo, Archbishop of Southwark, in 1929 at Duppas Hill in Croydon, and moved in 1931 to its current premises in Peaks Hill, Purley.[1] It is the only currently-open school, named after Saint John Fisher, which was founded before his canonization in 1935. This is indicated by the absence of `Saint' from the school name.
At the start of the 1970s the John Fisher School was diocesian grammar school with an intake of fee-paying and non-fee-paying children. It had a small number of boarders until 1970 when a decision was made to end this facility and in 1977 it became an all-ability school maintained by the London Borough of Sutton. In 1992, following much discussion and a vote by parents, John Fisher was incorporated as a Grant Maintained School. In 1998 the School expanded from four to five forms of entry, and in September 1999, it became a voluntary-aided school once more.
In 2003 John Fisher School became a Specialist Sports College[1] and construction began on a 1.2 million pound Sports hall which was opened by Sir Bobby Robson. Today, John Fisher is organized into 6 forms of entry in the lower school, but remains a five form entry school, admitting 150 pupils.
Based on a series of interviews conducted with former John Fisher School students in 2005, a local newspaper reported that a number of Old Boys, especially those from the time of Robin M. Gregory's leadership (1993-2005), claimed "students were often subjected to physical aggression, verbal abuse and public humiliation". Despite the School's Roman Catholic identity, it has been said that "Christian values are not always centrally employed and a nurturing environment does not always manifest itself."[5]
Admissions
The school's admissions policy gives priority to boys who are baptised and practising Roman Catholics,[6] and the school is consistently oversubscribed.[3] The proportion of pupils who are baptised Catholic is 98%.[7] Recently the School has come under fire for "its controversial points admission system which favours children from families who are the most active in the church." The John Fisher School was investigated by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) after complaints from a parent. Objections to the OSA included "governors could manipulate what was considered a bona fide parish activity to 'exclude those they do not wish to admit from the school'" and "that governors were using surnames to reject single parents". The OSA did not endorse the latter claim but made "the strongest recommendation" that the current system be scrapped. This is the second time the School's admission policy has been investigated by the OSA following complaints.[8]
Sixth form
The School also has a Sixth Form, which allows pupils to take both and A-Levels and BTEC Sport and Business Qualifications. In 2008 there were 254 pupils in the sixth form,[3] approximately one quarter of the school's enrollment. In the 2008 league tables published in the Daily Telegraph; the school was ranked, for its A Level results, 18th out of all comprehensives in England.[citation needed]
Notable alumni
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2008) |
- Patrick Canavan, Mini-Marathon Winner
- Michael Corcoran, former London Irish Rugby Union player
- Derry Coughlan, England U19, London Irish and Lansdowne Rugby Union player[9]
- Sean Crowley, record-breaking (with Mike Nestor, below) and solo trans-Atlantic rower[10]
- Sir Barney Hayhoe, Baron Hayhoe PC, former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister
- Paul Higgins, DJ and Music Promoter
- Michael Latham, influential documentary (Man Alive, Horizon etc) film-maker[11]
- Ricky Nebbett, England A, Leicester, Leinster and Harlequins Rugby Union prop forward
- Mike Nestor, record-breaking (with Sean Crowley, above) trans-Atlantic rower[10]
- Simon Hunt, England Sevens and Ebbw Vale Rugby Union player[12]
- Bill Nighy, actor[13]
- Diarmuid Byron O'Connor, sculptor
- Gilles Peterson, Acid Jazz DJ
- Mike Pointing, Harlequins Academy Rugby Union player[14]
- Tony Purnell, former principal of the Jaguar and Red Bull Formula One teams
- Martyn Rooney, Beijing Olympics Team GB 400m finalist[15]
- Paul Sackey, England and London Wasps Rugby Union player[16][17]
- George Skivington, England Saxons and London Wasps Rugby Union player[17]
- Commander Jim Suthers, World War II naval flier, involved in the capture of Enigma materials[18]
- Kyle Traynor, Edinburgh Rugby Club, Scotland U18, 19, 21 (captain)[19]
- Martin Whelton, Mayor of the London Borough of Merton 2008-09[20]
- Matthew Wright, journalist and television presenter[21]
- Tim and Chris Murtagh, Professional cricket players[22][23]
- Dominic Appleton and Gary Mundy, singer and guitarist respectively with Breathless (band)
- John Seaward (actor)
References
- ^ a b c d e f The John Fisher School - History of the school, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ a b c Ofsted Inspection Report, December 2008, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ 70% of pupils came from the London Borough of Croydon in 2004. Ofsted Inspection Report November 2004, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Barnes, Helen (2005-09-25). "Old Fisher Boys describe Years of Torment". Croydon Guardian. p. 6.
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(help) - ^ The John Fisher School Admissions Policy for admissions September 2009, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Archdiocese of Southwark Commission for Schools and Colleges, Section 48 Inspection Report December 2008, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Truman, Peter (2008-07-30). "School admissions system rapped as far too complex". Croydon Guardian. p. 2.
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(help) - ^ Telegraph, Degree of security is the goal, 23 November 2005. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ a b The Irish Post, Mike Nestor and Sean Crowley - Against All Odds. 24 May 2006. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Telegraph, Michael Latham, 4 January 2006. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ The Times, Bill Nighy talks Pirates of the Caribbean, 12 May 2007. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ The Guinness Premiership, Six join Quins as Academy Professionals, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Croydon Guardian, Rooney wants British record, 3 November 2008. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ England Rugby, Paul Sackey England Profile, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ a b Sackey and Skivington support schoolboys, 3 February 2009. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Telegraph, Commander Jim Suthers, 27 March 2007. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Scotsman, Traynor has the degree, now he's looking for more honours, 11 July 2008. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Merton Council, Profile of the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Martin Whelton, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ thisiscornwall.co.uk, College team ready for cup semi-final test, 12 March 2009. Accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Cricinfo, Player profile: Tim Murtagh, accessed 26 April 2009.
- ^ Cricinfo, Player profile: Chris Murtagh, accessed 26 April 2009.