Insights into inspirational arts practice in schools: Dance and the arts at St John Fisher Catholic High School

St John Fisher (SJF) Catholic High School is a non-selective, voluntary-aided secondary school educating boys and girls from ages 11-18. We are in the Catholic Diocese of Leeds and the North Yorkshire local authority. At 16+ we are an associated sixth form with St Aidan’s C of E High School, meaning we share students and teach A Level subjects across both sites, resulting in our being one of the largest sixth form centres in the country. We have 1475 students on roll, and 3.6 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals. Around 15 per cent of students are from ethnic minority backgrounds. As of 2018, our school’s attainment 8 score is 58.18 and P8 score is 0.58 which is well above the national average. 86 per cent of students achieved at least a grade 4 in English and Maths. Arts provision at St John Fisher At key stage three, all students study music, dance and drama in the curriculum. Music is taught weekly in year 7 and fortnightly in year 8; drama is taught fortnig