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Together we achieve, learn and grow in a caring, Christian environment

Welcome

Welcome to St John's Church School, I hope that our website gives you a glimpse into the exciting journey of learning that we all undertake each and every day.

We are a place of distinctive excellence, where we value all in our community as individuals and God’s children.

St John's Church School formed a federation with Winyates over 12 years ago, Barnack Primary school 5 year ago and Paston Ridings Primary school just a year ago - this federation has grown from strength to strength. The impact can be seen in the outstanding KS2 academic results putting us in the top 1% of schools nationally and our excellence in personal development where children have so many exciting and developmental opportunities to grow as people.

Together we are called Spirit, this name inspires us to have fortitude and tenacity.

Mrs C Firth
Executive Head

Term Dates

School Calendar

Menus

Uniform

The everyday Remarkable

6 days ago

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Year 4's Adventure with Author Chris Smith!

Feb 12

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL

Year 4's Adventure with Author Chris Smith!

Year 4 had an amazing time at the New Theatre yesterday, attending a special author event hosted by the National Literacy Trust! 📖✨ They...

Feb 7

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join Our Team

We are looking for a Midday Supervisor to join our team! If you're hardworking, reliable and passionate about supporting children, we'd...

Jan 30

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wraparound Care

Jan 21

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join our team!

👉 Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to work in an established nursery setting in one of the top 1% of schools nationally! We’re...

Jan 13

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join our Winter Reading Challenge

We’re excited to invite you to take part in our Winter Reading Challenge alongside the Reading Agency's Winter Mini Challenge! It’s a...

A Magical Christmas Storytelling Event 🎄

Jan 6

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL

A Magical Christmas Storytelling Event 🎄

Just before Christmas, we were thrilled to host a magical storytelling event with the incredibly talented Rose Croft. The event was a...

Dec 19, 2024

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christmas Newsletter

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year! ..

Dec 19, 2024

ST JOHN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

HR Manager Vacancy

We're looking for an experienced Human Resources Manager to provide comprehensive support across our Federation. You will lead on...

Top Tips for Safety Over the Festive Season

Dec 11, 2024

E-SAFETY

Top Tips for Safety Over the Festive Season

🏀📖 Reading vs. Basketball Challenge Champions!

Last week, 3LT celebrated their victory in the Reading vs. Basketball Challenge, run in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust, with an unforgettable basketball session! 🏆✨

As their first-place prize, the class hit the court with basketball player Chris Tawiah, who shared his skills, energy, and love for the game. It was an inspiring session that showed the power of both reading and sport!

A huge well done to 3LT for their dedication both in books and on the court! Who’s ready to take on the challenge next? 🏀📖
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#ReadingVsBasketball #Winners #NationalLiteracyTrust #Basketball #ReadingChampions #InspiringYoungMinds #peterboroughschools #christawiah

What an incredible half-term! 🎉

Throughout the school, our children have shown deep thinking and engagement in our Big Question: How Can Adversity Inspire Courage and Creative Possibilities? From Reception exploring the challenges of Shackleton’s expedition to the South Pole, to Year 5 discovering how the Ancient Greeks shaped history through creativity and innovation, each year group has unpicked how challenges can often lead to opportunities for growth.

Children have also flourished in developing their unique talents too!

🏅 Sporting success – We secured 1st place in athletics, 2nd place in the Panathlon and continue to make great strides in the netball league.

📖 Inspiring a love of reading – Children were captivated by a special visit from basketball player Chris Tawiah, who shared his journey and love of books.

🎭 Performing arts – Our talented dancers are preparing for an upcoming competition at The Cresset.

🏛️ Leadership in action – Our Young Leaders had the incredible opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament to explore democracy in action.

A huge thank you to our incredible school community for making this half-term so awe-inspiring. Wishing you all a restful and joyful break and we look forward to welcoming you back in school on Monday 24th February 🌟💙
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#ProudSchool #HalfTermHighlights #CuriosityCourageCreativity #schoolcommunity #flourish #growth #peterboroughschools

💖 Spreading Love and Gratitude This Valentine’s Day!

This morning, our wonderful Wellbeing Champion has filled the staffroom with love, warmth, and a beautifully decorated Valentine’s Breakfast for our dedicated team 💕✨

This heartfelt token is one of many ways in which we support one another at St John's to create a place of belonging. 🌟

(And those zippy ginger and lemon shots? The perfect little boost to keep us energised! 🍋🔥)

#ValentinesDay #StaffWellbeing #ThankYou #Appreciation #placetobelong #schoolcommunity

In our Big Question this week, we explored the Bible story of The Prodigal Son to discuss the values of morality and forgiveness.

"I think the story shows us that even when we make mistakes, we can always come back and be forgiven," said one Year 2 child.

"It teaches us to always be kind and not judge others, because everyone deserves a second chance," shared a Year 5 child.

We talked about the father’s unconditional love and how the son, after making poor choices, was welcomed back with open arms. It's a beautiful reminder of forgiveness and the power of love.

We reflected on how these values shape our everyday lives and the importance of making good choices 💛
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#BigQuestion #philosophyforchildren #forgiveness #Morality #ProdigalSon #schoolcommunity

Coming up on 6th March - World Book Day! 📚

#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #thankyouforyoursupport #schoolcommunity

🏐 St John's Netball Team Shine in League Fixtures! 🏐

Our incredible netball team has been showcasing their teamwork, courage, and determination in recent league matches, with fantastic results!

✨ St John's vs Orton Wistow – The team’s hard work in training paid off as they delivered a dominant 18-0 victory, demonstrating outstanding skill and cohesion on the court.

✨ St John's vs Winyates – A tough start didn’t shake their confidence! After regaining focus, they took control of the game, finishing the 2nd quarter in the lead and pushing on to secure an 8-5 win with resilience and determination.

A huge well done to all our players—your dedication and teamwork are truly inspiring! 👏💙💛
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#StJohnsNetball #Teamwork #Determination #Inspiring #sportineducation

🌟 An Unforgettable Experience for Our Young Leaders! 🌟

Our incredible Year 5 school councillors and sports ambassadors had the amazing opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament in London! 🇬🇧✨

From walking in the footsteps of history through the House of Commons and House of Lords to exploring the iconic Westminster Hall, the children were in awe of the grandeur and importance of democracy in action. They even got to stand where great leaders have debated for centuries!

One of the highlights was a Q&A session with MP Sam Carling, where the children asked insightful questions about leadership, democracy and how they can make a difference in their own school community.

They also enjoyed learning about how laws are made, the role of MPs and Lords, and the importance of having their voices heard. The visit truly inspired them to think about leadership beyond the school gates!

A huge thank you to everyone who made this experience possible—our young leaders have returned motivated, empowered and ready to make a change! 💬🏛️
@ukparliament

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#FutureLeaders #DemocracyInAction #InspiringTheNextGeneration #learningbeyondtheclassroom

🌟 Congratulations, Miss Moles! 🎉📚

We are incredibly proud of Miss Moles, who has just passed her Leading Literacy NPQ with @teachfirstuk! 👏✨

Miss Moles has been a dedicated teacher at St John's for 7 years, inspiring children with her passion for reading and writing. Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a teacher—her own love for learning began in primary school, and now she shares that same joy with our children every day. Aren't we lucky to have her in our school community? 💛📖✏️

Well done, Miss Moles! This achievement is so well deserved. 🎊👏
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#ProudMoment #LeadingLiteracy #TeachFirst #InspiringTeachers #LoveLearning #LifelongLearning #CommunityofChangemakers

🏆 Victory for St John's at Indoor Athletics! 🏆

On Tuesday 4th February, 12 of our talented Year 4 athletes took on an exciting Indoor Athletics event at Nene Park—and they absolutely smashed it! 💪

The competition tested their skills in jumping, throwing and running across various events, and our children shone through with their determination, resilience and teamwork. Their incredible effort led to a 1st place overall victory 🥇, with extra bonus points earned thanks to standout performances—including 2 children who secured multiple 1st place finishes in their events! 👏👏

A huge WELL DONE to everyone who took part—we are so proud of you! 🌟🏅
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#TeamStJohns #AthleticsChampions #Proud #sportineducation #peterboroughuk

🏆 Shiny Sharks Triumph at First Lego League Competition! 🦈

On Saturday, 1st February 2025, the Shiny Sharks competed in the First Lego League competition at Perkins after 14 weeks of dedication—building, coding, and perfecting their missions. In addition to this, they created a PowerPoint presentation based on their research into marine biologists and submersible pilots, exploring innovative ways to enhance underwater safety.

Their hard work paid off as they won first place in the robot coding and mission completion category, securing one of the day's major prizes! With an incredible 185 points in a single run, they showcased outstanding teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.

Beyond their achievements, the team represented our school with pride, demonstrating the values of our amazing school community. Well done, Shiny Sharks! 🏅🎉
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#FirstLegoLeague #ShinySharks #Teamwork #Innovation #ProudMoment #peterboroughuk

📢 Reassurance for Parents

We are aware of the hoax email that has been circulated to some schools, some of which are in Cambridgeshire. Peterborough Police have confirmed that similar emails have been reported across the country and that there is no specific threat to schools in our area.

Please be assured that the safety of children and staff remains the top priority.

For more details, you can refer to the official statement from Policing Peterborough Facebook page.

We’re proud to support #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek with @_place2be! 💙 This year’s theme, ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,’ encourages self-expression.

To celebrate, we’re hosting a non-uniform day on Friday, 7th February. Children (and staff!) are invited to wear something that expresses who they are for a £1 donation.

All funds raised will go to our "THRIVE" department to help provide resources that support children in exploring self-awareness and embracing their unique selves.

Let’s come together to raise awareness and funds for children’s mental health. Join us in making a difference!🌟
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#CMHW2025 #childrenmentalhealth #thrive

This week, we had an interesting discussion about what it truly means to have the courage to care for others—even when it feels difficult. We thought about moments when it might be challenging to help, such as:

🤔 When you don’t know the person who needs help
🤔 When others tell you not to step in, even though you know it’s the right thing to do

Through the story of The Good Samaritan, we reflected on how they overcame hesitation and chose compassion over judgment—and how we can do the same in our own lives.

One child beautifully summed up this lesson:
💬 “We should not judge others. Every person deserves love, kindness, and for others to care about them.” 💙

A powerful reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference! 🌍✨
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#CourageToCare #KindnessMatters #Compassion #TheGoodSamaritan #LoveAndRespect #MakingADifference #BigQuestion #philosophyforchildren

📚✨ We’re thrilled to support National Storytelling Week with @literacy_trust! This fantastic annual event is a joyful celebration of the power of sharing stories.

Here’s how we’re bringing the magic of storytelling to life next week:

📖 Virtual Author Visits
🎨 Storytelling-themed class activities
📚 Staff Book Swap
🏡 Home storytelling fun—create a story in a shoebox!

To wrap up, we’ll host a Virtual Assembly to showcase all our achievements from across the week. Let’s ignite creativity and bring stories to life! ✨
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#NationalStorytellingWeek #readingforpleasure #literacytrustinpeterborough

🚨 We're Hiring: Human Resources Manager 🚨

Are you an experienced HR professional looking for your next challenge? This is an exciting opportunity to join our Federation as a Human Resources Manager and play a key role in shaping our workforce.

✅ Lead on workforce planning, recruitment, employee relations, and absence management
✅ Work closely with school leadership teams to create a positive and supportive work environment
✅ Bring your strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills to a dynamic and rewarding role

🔹 What We Offer:
✨ An incredible opportunity to shape HR strategy across multiple schools
✨ A supportive, collaborative and forward-thinking working environment
✨ A strong commitment to your professional growth

📍 We’d love to meet you! Visits to our schools are warmly welcomed.

📝 Apply by: Friday 21st February
🔗 For full details & to apply, visit our recruitment page (link in bio).
📢 Know someone perfect for this role? Tag them!

#HRJobs #Hiring #EducationCareers #HumanResources #JobVacancy #careergrowth #recruitment #HRmanager #jobsineducation #schoolhr #hrprofessionals #careerdevelopment #jobsinpeterborough

🌟 Huge congratulations to our amazing Panathlon team! 🌟

Yesterday, they competed at Jack Hunt School and showed incredible skill, teamwork and determination, finishing an amazing 2nd place overall! 🏅🎉

We are so proud of every single team member for their courage, perseverance and brilliant sportsmanship. You’ve truly represented St John’s Church School with excellence and made us all proud! 💙💛

A big thank you to everyone who supported our team and to @jackhuntschool for hosting such an inspiring event. 👏

Let’s keep celebrating our achievements and aiming high— together, we can achieve amazing things! 💪✨

#teamstjohns #panathlonchampions #proudmoment #TogetherWeAchieve #couragetothrive #peterboroughschools

🌟 Learning and Growing Together! 🌟

This week, our amazing Early Years teachers had the privilege of visiting Grazebrook Primary School as part of our work with the New Wave English Hub. 🌱📚 We relish every opportunity to learn through our strong partnerships with incredible professionals!

One of the key takeaways from this inspiring visit was the power of High-Quality Interactions and the transformative impact they have on young learners, backed by solid research evidence. This valuable insight will certainly enhance the amazing work happening in our own classrooms. 💬✨

As if that wasn’t enough, our teachers also had the honour of hearing from the inspirational @onjalirauf who shared her journey as a writer and her passion for human rights, which is reflected in her heartfelt stories. The teachers were thrilled to receive signed copies of her beautiful new picture book for school, The Girl at the Front of the Class! 📖💖

Thank you to Grazebrook Primary and the New Wave English Hub for this learning experience. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of young learners! 🌟
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#collaboration #earlyyearseducation #highqualityinteractions #lifelonglearning #onjaliqrauf #inspiration #englishhub

👉 Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to work in an established nursery setting in one of the top 1% of schools nationally!
We’re looking for someone who:

✨ Has a strong knowledge of the EYFS or is eager to develop expertise.
✨ Brings recent hands-on experience in early years settings.
✨ Is highly organised and skilled at managing time and responsibilities.
✨ Radiates enthusiasm, adaptability, and a love for working with children indoors and outdoors.
✨ Is warm, approachable, and professional in building relationships.
✨ Holds a full and relevant Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification.

What We Offer:

✅ A supportive, collaborative, and welcoming team.
✅ A well-resourced nursery with lunch, fruit, and drinks provided.
✅ A vibrant, passionate, and caring school community that values fun and excellence.

📢 Ready to make an impact?

Help us build excellence so all can flourish! Apply now via the recruitment page on our school website (link in bio).
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#earlyyearspractioner #workinginschools #EducationVacancy #jobsinchildcare #earlyyearsvacancy #jobsinpeterborough

💡 In our Big Question this week, we explored the theme of hope. Our children thought:

💫 "Believing in yourself is key to showing hope!" 💫
"Friends and family help us stay hopeful and never give up!"

Together, we learned that hope isn't just something we feel—it's something we can create and share with each other. 💛

What are some of the ways you spread hope?
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#philosophyforchildren #BigQuestion #SpreadHope #thinkingskills

We’re thrilled to launch our Basketball vs Reading with the @literacy_trust and Chris Tawiah, a former professional basketball player inspiring children to love reading! 📚🏀

Today, Chris and the National Literacy Trust visited our school to kick off the challenge.

✨ The Challenge:
Classes in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 will compete to achieve the most improved word count on RENLearn over the next month.

🎉 Prizes:
Winning class: A basketball session with Chris Tawiah!
Runners-up: Book bundles for their reading corners.

💡 How You Can Help:
Support your child by encouraging them to log their reading on Learning With Parents and cheer them on in this friendly competition!
Let’s combine books and basketball to inspire a lifelong love of reading!
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#readingchallenge #lovereading #NationalLiteracyTrust #booksandbasketball

It has been wonderful to see so many of our children and families engaging with the Learning With Parents reading platform this year. Your enthusiasm and dedication to reading together have been truly inspiring!

We want to take a moment to celebrate all the incredible reading that has been happening so far. Keep up the fantastic work, and let’s continue to make reading an exciting and joyful part of every day. 🌟
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#ReadingJourney #learningwithparents #CelebratingSuccess #loveofreading

��📚✨ Breaking News!

Children in Year 6 have just launched the first edition of our school magazine, created in collaboration with Post16 students from OBA! 📝🎉

From writing to editing and publishing, this project shows the power of teamwork and creativity. Huge congratulations to all involved – we’re so proud of your hard work 🙌

Stay tuned to our school website to read the magazine online this week!
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#ormistonbushfieldacademy #schoolmagazine #collaboration #futurejournalists #aspiration #writingforpurpose #publishingskills

📚 Join Our Winter Reading Challenge! ❄️

Keep your child’s love for reading alive this winter! They can earn certificates and prizes as they complete each challenge 🌍✨

�👉 Head to our school website (link in bio) for all the details and get started today!
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#readingchallenge #lovereading #peterboroughschools

🌟 As we begin a new year, hope is at the forefront of our minds. We're setting new goals in the belief that we can achieve them with hard work and a positive approach. We are excited for the year ahead!
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#schoolvalues #hope #newgoals #LearningJourney #educationinpeterborough

Happy New Year from St John's! 🎉

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas break and is feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead. 🌟

Just a reminder that school will reopen on Monday, 6th January – we can’t wait to continue our exciting learning journey 📚✨

See you all on Monday – here’s to a fantastic 2025! 🎉
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#happynewyear2025 #backtoschool #letthelearningbegin

🌟 Meet the St John's Admin Team! 🌟

Behind every smoothly-run school is a team of dedicated individuals who keep everything on track, and at St John’s, we’re lucky to have an incredible team at the heart of our community. Let’s meet the friendly faces who embody our school values every single day:

✨ Mrs Markham – School Business Manager
Mrs Markham oversees the financial side of St John’s, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. With years of experience and a passion for education, she’s the backbone of our school. She loves the variety each day brings and cherishes the staff and children who make St John’s such a special place to work.

✨ Mrs Sutton – Admissions and Attendance
Mrs Sutton manages everything related to admissions and attendance, ensuring our school is a welcoming place for all families. Her years of experience and dedication to our community are invaluable. She particularly loves seeing former pupils return with their own children—a true testament to the St John’s family spirit!

✨ Mrs Barnes – School Office Assistant
Mrs Barnes is the glue that holds us together. From managing parent queries to supporting staff and coordinating events, she’s a vital part of the team who goes above and beyond to make sure our school feels like home. She makes a difference each day and loves being part of such a supportive and welcoming team.

✨ Miss Tomkins – School Office Assistant
Miss Tomkins is one of the friendly voices you’ll hear when you call or visit St John’s. She’s always ready to lend a helping hand to make sure every day runs effortlessly. As Clerk to the Governors, she plays a vital role in maintaining exceptional organisation. She’s a shining example of the values we hold dear at St John’s.

These remarkable people are the heartbeat of our school, always going the extra mile for our children, staff and families. Next time you see them, don’t forget to say hello—they’re always here with a smile and a helping hand! 💙
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#meettheteam #SchoolCommunity #schooladministration #peterboroughschools

🌐 Visit our website (link in bio) to read all about our action-packed term! 📰
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#schoolnewsletter #schoolnews

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@stjohnschurchschool

St John' s Church School VA

Together we achieve, learn and grow in a caring, Christian environment

Welcome

The everyday Remarkable

SPRING NEWSLETTER

Year 4's Adventure with Author Chris Smith!

Join Our Team

Wraparound Care

Join our team!

Join our Winter Reading Challenge

A Magical Christmas Storytelling Event 🎄

Christmas Newsletter

HR Manager Vacancy

Top Tips for Safety Over the Festive Season

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Follow us on Instagram