The St. Aidan's & St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form was created in 1973 as a venture in
ecumenical
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The wo ...
education. The two schools,
St. Aidan's C of E High School
St Aidan's Church of England High School is a mixed Church of England secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It currently houses over 2500 students of both lower school and sixth f ...
and
St. John Fisher Catholic High School are based on the south side of
Harrogate
Harrogate ( ) is a spa town and the administrative centre of the Borough of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa wate ...
, North Yorkshire, England, separated by a five-minute walk.
The
Sixth Form
In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...
has increased in size since 1973 when with only 70 students, the two sixth forms were too small to run separately. Today, with over 1000 students enrolled, it is the largest associated sixth form in the United Kingdom. This allows it to offer diverse subjects. Although the majority of students come from the two stem schools, students join from other schools in the surrounding area, including those in
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and Humber Region of England. It is an inland and upland county having eastward-draining valleys while taking in the moors of the Pennines. West Yorkshire came into exis ...
, most notably,
Wetherby High School
Wetherby High School (formerly Wetherby Secondary Modern School) is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form located in the Hallfield area of Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England.
The school is run by the City of Leeds Local Education Aut ...
,
Wetherby
Wetherby () is a market town and civil parish in the City of Leeds district, West Yorkshire, England, close to West Yorkshire county's border with North Yorkshire, and lies approximately from Leeds City Centre, from York and from Harrogat ...
and
Nidderdale High School and
Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge (known locally as Pateley) is a small market town in Nidderdale in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies on the River Nidd. It is in the Yorkshire Dales ...
.
After Sixth Form study, the majority of students continue to college or university.
Curriculum
The Associated Sixth Form provides more subjects than would be possible if the two schools operated independently. Its curriculum includes
GCE Advanced (A2), GCE Advanced Supplementary (AS) and Advanced Applied and Intermediate
GNVQ
A General National Vocational Qualification, or GNVQ, was a certificate of vocational education in the United Kingdom. The last GNVQs were awarded in 2007.
The qualifications related to occupational areas in general, rather than any specific ...
levels. Students can select different specifications in the same subject, and those who are suitable study Advanced Extension Award (AEA) for one year at A2 Level. The majority of students have lessons at both schools.
Specialist College Status
The component schools each have subject areas in which they have Specialist College Status. St John Fisher School has been awarded Specialist College Status in both Arts and Humanities and St Aidan's School has Specialist College Status in Science and Modern Languages.
Notable former pupils
*
Tim Edwards – cricketer
*
Alex Lilley – Yorkshire cricketer
*
Richard Burgon
Richard Burgon (born 19 September 1980) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds East since 2015. Burgon served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in the Shadow ...
– Labour MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor.
*
Mark Sowerby
Mark Crispin Rake Sowerby (born 28 October 1963) is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2019, he has been the Principal of the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield; he was previously Bishop of Horsham, a suffragan bishop (formerly an area bisho ...
– Anglican bishop and theological college principal
See also
*
St. Aidan's C of E High School
St Aidan's Church of England High School is a mixed Church of England secondary school and sixth form with academy status, located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It currently houses over 2500 students of both lower school and sixth f ...
*
St. John Fisher Catholic High School
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Aidan's and Saint John Fisher Associated Sixth Form
Schools in Harrogate
Educational institutions established in 1973
Sixth form colleges in North Yorkshire