A New Chapter: St John Fisher Joins The Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust

We are delighted to announce that, as of 1 April 2025, St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Dewsbury, has officially joined The Bishop Konstant Catholic Academy Trust (BKCAT); a moment we believe marks a positive step forward, bringing new opportunities for pupils, families and staff within the St John Fisher and BKCAT communities alike.

St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy: A Summary

St John Fisher  is a well-established Catholic secondary school. It serves the communities of Dewsbury and the surrounding areas. Headteacher Mr Karl Mackey leads the school. It is known for its commitment to pastoral care, faith development, and creating a positive environment. Students are encouraged to reach their full potential. As a Catholic school, St John Fisher focuses on the holistic development of each pupil, balancing academic progress with personal growth.

Supporting Growth

The Diocese of Leeds directed this transfer to support the vision for Catholic education. It aims to strengthen education across all schools in the Diocese. This will increase capacity and expertise. The goal is to support ongoing improvement whilst keeping the schools’ role within their communities.

Kieron Flood, Director of Education at the Diocese of Leeds, said: “This is an important first step on our journey to realise our Diocesan Vision for Education. It will strengthen Catholic Education for all our schools. This will bring greater capacity and expertise to ensure all schools are supported to be the best that they can be. It also preserves their important role for the children, young people, and the communities they serve.”

Enhanced Secondary Collaboration

Our Trust has the largest number of secondary schools amongst the other CMATs (Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts) within the Diocese of Leeds, making it well-placed to provide targeted secondary support. The addition of St John Fisher opens up new opportunities including collaboration, development and access to secondary expertise. Our Trust’s secondary leaders, Dr Philip Dore (St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School & Sixth Form) and Dr Patrick Caldwell (St Thomas à Becket Secondary School) have a proven track record in driving school improvement.

Moving forward

We look forward to welcoming the students, staff, and families of St John Fisher into our Trust community. As we grow, we are confident that the collaboration will strengthen our commitment to delivering high-quality Catholic education.

To all at St John Fisher—welcome to BKCAT! We are excited about the opportunities ahead. Let’s build a successful future together.