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Original poster

The John Fisher School, Purley

82 replies

marsbar22 · 04/02/2011 19:59

I wondered if any parents had experienced difficulties with the admissions process we found that the John Fisher School does not adhere to it's own admission policy. In the process of applying for a place for our son we discovered that a boy was given a place in Sept 2010 who was not baptised in the first year. By the school's policy this makes the boy a subcategory C when the school governors stated that the school was oversubscribed with subcategory A candidates. The school governors can and do make discretionary decisions based on appeals received from parents at admission rather than at the appeal process. The Governors obviously feel that their opinions matter more than the published criteria which is odd as they changed the admissions policy in an attempt to make it fairer!

OP posts:
confusedperson · 05/11/2012 15:33

Few years ago John Fisher was accused by selecting candidates by postcode and dismissing single parents - this was investigated but not confirmed by the school. Judging from their intake (low SEN, low free meals) I wouldn't be surprised that they find their ways to select students, and by the way there is no surprise that children of pushy religious parents are more focused and do better in schools.

penelopewellingtonbowes · 05/11/2012 14:52

''John Fisher was a small highly selective school from January 1992 until September 1999. John Fisher no longer selects its boys but instead takes candidates using a religious observance points system; because of this boys come from all parts of London and SE England to attend. John Fisher does not operate a catchment area.''

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_John_Fisher_School

penelopewellingtonbowes · 05/11/2012 14:30

And I say bring back the selection policy as John Fisher was a wonderful alternative to Surrey independents such as Whitgift and Epsom College.

The fact that it was so popular, oversubscribed and highly-selective; made it one of the best state schools in England.

Bring back more selective schools like The John Fisher School.

penelopewellingtonbowes · 05/11/2012 14:28

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic, it's not as bad as it used to be.

You should have tried getting your sons in during the 1990's selection policy.

Try being:
-interviewed,
-your son being interviewed,
-prepping your son through a Catholic prep school in order so he could pass the religion test, with the deputy headmaster asking the questions!!
-Not to mention the application forms, written statements (by your son, talking about his interests and motivations for wanting to join the school)

So basically what I am saying is, getting your son into John Fisher thesedays is incredibly easy in comparison. You have never had it so easy!

John Fisher's selection policy was banned in September 1999.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_John_Fisher_

Original poster
marsbar22 · 05/02/2011 21:40

I don't know the date of baptism but the Mum told me the circumstances of his application and how she managed to pull it off. I have challenged the school at appeal but they refuse to discuss another child's application and say they acted correctly in my son's case. As they set and administer their own admissions policy it is very difficult to get any clarity or honesty from the Governors, very disappointing in a Catholic school!

OP posts:
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 05/02/2011 15:03

Yes, but as it wasn't me I'm not really comfortable about giving details (sorry!) Suffice to say, what I know tallies with your conclusion and caused a good friend a great deal of problems. Personally I wouldn't have had the patience or ability to deal with them, but I'm not Catholic and would have had no pressing desire for my DCs to attend.

Apart from that it's a very good school by all accounts.

Ladymuck · 05/02/2011 14:52

Do you know for certain the date of baptism? Is it possible that the child was baptised as a result of Catechumen initiation?

To be honest if the governors have made a mistake in applying the criteria, then obviously any other candidate can make an appeal.

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