Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School, Colne

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum is well developed and appropriately ordered."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Most pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have an informed and accurate understanding of attendance and behaviour."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders are well informed about the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors, have a precise knowledge of the school's strengths and areas where development is still required."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across all subject areas"; "Leaders should ensure that the strategies they use to raise attainment are effective at closing the gap between disadvantaged pupils' attainment and non-disadvantaged pupils' attainment nationally".

In its own words: "At Ss John Fisher & Thomas More Roman Catholic High School we aim to create transformational leaders of the twenty-first century, imbued with the spirit of Christ. We share the vision of the Catholic Education Service, which says that: “Christians are called to fulfil their potential and strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives”."

In 2026, pupils at Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.2 in Lancashire and 47 across England.

42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Lancashire and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.45: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.5, against 45.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 193 families put Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School as their first choice and 556 named it as one of their preferences, for 179 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 19 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School are Colne Primet Academy (0.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.1); Pendle Vale College (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.8); Colne Park High School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5); and Marsden Heights Community College (1.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5).

Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (94%).

Of the 155 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 80% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 76% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.

The nearest railway station is Colne Rail Station, about 1050 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fisher More RCHS (by), 220 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 212 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School issued 190 suspensions, 23.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 8 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School are Colne Primet Primary School (0.3 miles), Castercliff Primary School (0.4 miles), Great Marsden St John's Primary School A Church of England Academy (0.8 miles) and Colne Lord Street School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.