St. John Fisher School

Introduction

The school buildings were first built in 1903 to house a Catholic convent school.

History

The school was founded in 1958 on a site that was the area education office within the old Harrogate High School campus. The school outgrew its facilities and in 1973 moved to its present site on Hookstone Drive, occupying the convent buildings of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. The Associated Sixth Form was the first ecumenical sixth form of its kind in the country.

Architecture and furnishings

The original school consisted of a gym and assembly hall block, with a teaching and admin wing running at right angles. A separate single-storey practical classroom block housed Handicraft, Needlework, and Music rooms, as well as a spacious Housecraft room. A space has been created at the back of the chapel for quiet reflection, group discussions, prayers and fellowship.

Music and liturgy

The school values music highly and provides a music curriculum that goes beyond statutory requirements. The school is a premier partner of Harrogate International Festivals, giving students access to its learning experiences and free concerts.

Prayer and liturgy are central to school life, with a daily pattern of prayer reflecting the liturgical seasons. A wide range of Masses are celebrated throughout the school year. Opportunities are provided for staff and students to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Year 7 students are given the opportunity to lead and animate their own class mass.

Students in Years 10 and 12 participate in the Leeds Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, supporting sick or infirm pilgrims and attending liturgical events. Staff and students participate in the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham to honour Mary. Revelation is a monthly gathering at Hinsley Hall for young people from secondary schools across the diocese of Leeds, including prayer and liturgy.

Parish life

Each year the school runs a retreat for every year group, with Year 7 forms taking part in a day retreat on the theme 'belonging to a community'. Every school day begins with the celebration of the word during period one, and each year group gathers in the School Chapel for a weekly act of Collective Worship. Chapel acts of worship are planned and led by the Lay Chaplain, Headteacher, all Senior Leaders, Heads of Year, Head of RE and staff volunteers, with each form group also planning and leading at least one year group Chapel act during the school year.

Lower school students take part in form group retreat days at Harlow Carr and Osmotherly Priory, while upper school and sixth form students attend residential retreats at Ampleforth College and Castlerigg Manor. The school supports students in working towards the Faith in Action Award Scheme, a national award for young people aged 10–18 supported by the Catholic Youth Ministry. Students take part in fundraising events for Catholic Charities such as CAFOD, the Lourdes Pilgrimage and the Leeds Diocesan Good Shepherd Appeal, as well as for Children in Need and emergency appeals.

The school gives admission priority to baptised Catholic children but welcomes applications from people of all faiths. Each year, the Lay Chaplain and Year 11 student chaplaincy reps visit Thicket Priory and spend time with the Carmelites reflecting on their faith journey.

Congress is a group of Sixth Form students, elected by their classmates and teachers, who help lead school life, organise events, support charities, represent student views, and work closely with the Saint Aidan's Senate. All students based at St John Fisher Sixth Form work towards the Stella Maris Leadership Award, in partnership with Notre Dame Sixth Form College.

Visiting

The Year 8 retreat day includes a three-mile hike to the Lady Chapel of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace for prayer, reflection and community building. Year 7 form retreat days are held at Harlow Carr, a Royal Horticultural Society garden in Harrogate, using the Bramall Learning Centre for indoor prayer and reflection. The Year 9 residential retreat to Ampleforth includes prayer, reflection, fun activities and time outdoors.