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St Johns School (Leatherhead)

What says..

All rate school’s ‘unique’ house system as ‘the best thing’ about St John’s. Students get assigned their houses from year 9 and almost every aspect of school life is bound up in them. ‘We’re pretty strict,’ says head who tells us he’s ‘not afraid to suspend or expel’. Pupils say the rules are clear and fair, but there are grumbles from some quarters about the recent tightening up of discipline. Whilst St John’s offers a gentler academic environment, it remains ambitious. High expectations are underpinned with calm, steady learning. A robust academic tracking system is interweaved with pastoral input resulting in…

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What the school says...

St John’s, Leatherhead is a leading independent, co-educational school for pupils aged 11 to 18, offering day, weekly and flexible boarding options. Renowned for outstanding pastoral care, the atmosphere of the School is friendly, relaxed and purposeful. The success of St John’s is underpinned by a strong sense of community, a vibrant house system and an exemplary co-curricular programme. Small class sizes with outstanding teaching leads to a positive learning environment in the classroom. St John’s offers a wide range of opportunity. Every pupil is encouraged to choose their own pathway, informed by his or her interests and ambitions. They are encouraged to perform to the best of their ability, both academically and outside the classroom. ...Read more

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What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since August 2023, Alex Tate. Came to teaching after his history degree from Oxford led to an initial career in shipping. ‘I’ve always loved the community of schools, but my father advised I get some life experience first.’ Following 11 years with placements in New York, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, where ‘any trace of a silver spooned graduate was swiftly erased’, he returned to Oxford to do his PGCE.

First headship was at Bedford Modern School for six years before returning to St John’s, where he was previously deputy head for almost four years. Still teaches history, and revels in the ‘meaningful impact’ teaching and leading a school affords. 'I just love the job,’ he says, adding, ‘I’m very lucky to land up back here at a school with...

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

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Who goes where

Special Education Needs

Learning Support is available to all pupils of the school, particularly those with a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) and the Special Needs Coordinator (SENCo) will contact their parents before the end of the summer term prior to their arrival. Pupils with SpLD will normally be placed on the School’s Special Needs Register, unless parents specifically request otherwise. The SENCo is also responsible for the supervision of literacy testing to establish whether individual support should continue. Specialist tuition, tailored to individual needs, is available to all pupils at St.John’s, on an individual basis. Sessions usually take place outside normal lesson times. An additional charge, paid termly with the school fees, is made for any tuition received. Basic skills are closely monitored throughout the first three years at St.John’s and any pupil who appears to require extra help with English, Maths, time management and organisation, or any other area of Study Skills, is referred by teachers or tutors to the Learning Support Department. As well as internal referrals, parents may request assistance, either through the Housemaster or form tutor, or by contacting the SENCo. Support will sometimes continue into the Sixth Form, where the focus is on Study Skills, including time management and essay writing. Lessons generally take place during a private study period. At this point, the objective is not to give extra lessons in the specific subjects being studied, but to facilitate learning in a more general way and to promote autonomy. 10-09

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder
HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP)
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Y
VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment
Please note: this may not provide a complete picture of all student movements, as not all schools contribute this information.

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