The School recognises students who are able, gifted and talented (MAGT): for some, this may be across the curriculum; for others, it will be in specific subject areas. The school ensures, from early on, that students know what opportunities are open to them and develop the confidence to make the most of these. We offer tutoring, guidance and encouragement, as well as a chance to meet other young people who have embraced higher education.
At The John Fisher School, MAGT extends to broader school life, from activities which range from sport and outdoor pursuits through music, art and drama to leadership and support or mentoring of others. Whether through activities in the classroom, around school or in the community, opportunities to extend learning, both academic and personal, beyond the boundaries of the curriculum is something which enables students to stand out in the increasingly competitive market of university application and graduate employment. The School’s aim is to encourage the growth of intellectual curiosity, creativity and passion for learning within a scholarly community.
Crucial to these aims is the importance placed on independent learning. Each boy is nurtured to find his own academic voice and appeal to his inherent ability in such a way as to engender academic confidence and self-esteem.
Our students achieve extraordinary success in a wide range of external competitions: whether it is in Sports, writing competitions, subject competitions, or public speaking. The John Fisher School students are regularly amongst the leading entries in Rugby and Music competitions. Within school, there is a promotion of independent learning through curricula activities as well as the completion of a personalised version of the Extended Project Qualification which encourages Sixth Form students to cultivate the types of learning which undergraduate study demands. We seek to cultivate scholastic excellence that allows our students to be successful in an increasingly competitive world. If we are to succeed as an economy and society, we have to make more of our most able young people. We stretch and challenge them to become the political, commercial and professional leaders of tomorrow.
On a wider scale, there is equal emphasis and success in areas that include high academic performance, National Choir performance, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, regional, national and international success in a diverse range of sports, and Young Enterprise. Every student at The John Fisher School can find at least one area of school life in which he will truly excel.