St. John Fisher Catholic School aims to provide students with a broad and balanced curriculum. Throughout their time in Key Stages 3-4, students will study the core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Citizenship, Religious Education and Physical Education. In addition to this:
- During our two-year Key Stage 3 students will also study History, Geography, French, Computing and a range of creative art subjects including Design Technology, Art and Performing Arts.
- When students move from the lower site to the upper site in Year 9 they will focus specifically on their chosen options subjects in addition to the core subjects. The subjects offered by SJF at Key Stage 4 are as follows:
- English Language GCSE (core subject)
- English Literature GCSE (core subject)
- Mathematics GCSE (core subject)
- Trilogy Science GCSE (core subject, depending on student setting)
- Triple Science GCSE (core subject, depending on student setting)
- Religious Studies GCSE (core subject)
- Art GCSE (option subject)
- Business Studies GCSE (option subject)
- Computer Science GCSE (option subject)
- Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE (option subject)
- French GCSE (option subject)
- History GCSE (option subject)
- Geography GCSE (option subject)
- Media GCSE (option subject)
- Performing Arts GCSE (option subject)
- Product Design GCSE (option subject)
- Sociology GCSE (option subject)
- Sport GCSE (option subject)
- Sport Level 2 BTEC (option subject)
- ICT/Media Level 2 OCR (option subject)
- Health and Social Care Level 2 BTEC (option subject)
- Travel and Tourism Level 2 BTEC (option subject)
- A detailed explanation of the curriculum in each subject can be found by clicking on the subject links to the right of this page. These subject based pages include an outline of the content taught across Key Stages 3-5, as well as a list of the GCSE and A Level examination boards used by each department.
Students at St. John Fisher School can expect to be developed academically by engaging experiences throughout the school day:
- The students will be given the opportunity to explore the spiritual, moral, cultural and physical aspects of learning in all lessons.
- Collective worship takes place during year group assemblies and in lessons.
- Students are given the opportunity to take part in prayers and reflections throughout the school day in lessons.
- Embedded within the curriculum is a weekly session dedicated to personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). This is designed to ensure all students acquire a sound knowledge of personal and social wellbeing.
Parents, carers and other members of the public can find out more about the curriculum that the school is offering by contacting the school office at office@stjohnfisher.school
How is the time allocated to learning?
All students in Key Stages 3-4 follow a one-week timetable with 24 lessons, each of which is 65 minutes long. There is also a morning registration which takes place for twenty minutes at the start of each school day.
Students are divided into houses for their form time, but will be in sets for their core subjects.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum 2018-19 (Years 7-8)
The table below details the subjects and the number of lessons per week, out of the total 24, dedicated to each subject.
| Name of subject | Year 7 Lessons | Year 8 Lessons |
| English | 3 | 3 |
| Maths | 3 | 3 |
| Science | 3 | 3 |
| Religious Education | 2 | 2 |
| Physical Education | 2 | 2 |
| Geography | 2 | 2 |
| History | 2 | 2 |
| Design Technology | 2 | 2 |
| French | 1 | 1 |
| Computing | 1 | 1 |
| Art | 1 | 1 |
| Performing Arts | 1 | 1 |
| Active Tutorial (PHSRE) | 1 | 1 |
During Year 8, students will choose their GCSE and vocational choices for Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11).
Key Stage 4 Curriculum 2018-19 (Years 9-11)
All students will study the core curriculum throughout Years 9-11 as follows:
| Name of subject | Year 9 Lessons | Year 10 Lessons | Year 11 Lessons |
| English | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Maths | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Science | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Religious Education | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Physical Education | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Active Tutorial (PHSRE) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
To complete their total allocation of 24 lessons per week, students will also study a selection of the subjects below, depending on the Options choices they have made at the end of Year 8:
| Name of subject | Year 9 Lessons | Year 10 Lessons | Year 11 Lessons |
| Art | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Business Studies | 3 | 3 | Not applicable |
| Computer Science | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Food Preparation & Nutrition | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| French | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Geography | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Health and Social Care | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| History | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| ICT/Media | 2 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Media | Not applicable | Not applicable | 3 |
| Performing Arts | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Physical Education (GCSE) | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Product Design | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Sport (BTEC) | Not applicable | Not applicable | 3 |
| Sociology | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Triple Science | 2 | 3 | Not applicable |
| Travel and Tourism | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Key Stage 5 Curriculum 2018-19 (Years 12-13)
Students in Key Stage 5 follow the same timings of the school day as pupils in Years 7-11 but will have some periods of private study in addition to their Level 3 courses. There is also a morning registration which takes place for twenty minutes at the start of each school day.
| Name of subject | Year 12 Lessons | Year 13 Lessons |
| Religious Studies (core subject for all students) | 1 | 1 |
| GCSE Retake English Language (compulsory for all students who have not passed at grade 4+) | 2 | 2 |
| GCSE Retake Maths (compulsory for all students who have not passed at grade 4+) | 2 | 2 |
| Students will then complete their curriculum with a selection of the subjects below, based on their Key Stage 5 Options choices: | ||
| Biology A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Business Studies BTEC | 5 | 5 |
| Chemistry A Level | 0 | 5 |
| English Language and Literature A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Ethics and Philosophy (Religious Education) A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Fine Art A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Forensic Science BTEC | 5 | 5 |
| History A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Health and Social Care BTEC | 5 | 5 |
| ICT Level 3 Technical Award | 5 | 5 |
| Maths A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Media A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Politics A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Psychology A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Sociology A Level | 5 | 5 |
| Sport BTEC | 5 | 5 |
| Travel and Tourism BTEC | 5 | 5 |
Please click the link below to view our Sixth Form section of the website.
Sixth Form