News list
Form 4 have embarked on a new art project studying the abstract expressionist painter, Sir Frank Bowling OBE RA. The artist uses a variety of bright acrylic paint colours and embedded objects that create an unusual mesmerising composition. Some of his most famous paintings include 'Spreadout Ron Kitaj' and 'Sasha Jason Guyana Dreams'. The children have created their own artwork using the freedom of powder paints, combined with PVA glue and cut out materials to form maps in order to make their own splashes of bold colours and unique arrangement.
As part of Form 4’s Geography curriculum, each class took part in an ‘International trading Game’ to experience the challenges and excitement of international trade. The aim was to get the best price for the goods they sold and the biggest bargains for the goods each team bought. The children had to be mindful of how the global economy was doing as the prices they were able to get and the deals they made depended on how healthy the global economy was. Before the game began, the children believed that their only limit was their imagination, their negotiating skills and their bank
Each year at St John’s children in each of the Form 3 classes are encouraged to think about which child-led art topic they would like to pursue. After research and discussions, they vote on their favourite topic and this year Form 3M opted for ‘wildlife’ as their choice. Near the start of their topic they visited the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve and England’s most famous fen, Wicken Fen, to provide inspiration for their artwork. Here, the children had the chance to experience drawing 'en plein air' and, due to the inclement weather conditions, do
Form 3 visited Shimpling Park Farm in Suffolk to get an invaluable insight into the countryside, the business of organic farming and the fun of learning outside the classroom. Time on the farm reinforced aspects of the children’s curriculum from maths to science to PHSEE. Head of Geography Miss Grant, described the trip as, “An excellent way of linking food to farming and for the children to learn specifically about wheat as a case study. It also enabled them to get a sense of place and to explore a working farm and link to the work in Geography lessons.”
In lockdown, all children at Senior House took part in the Spirited Arts competition as part of a specific Religious Studies unit of work. This competition gives children the chance to be creative and imaginative in this subject and is linked to the children's spiritual ideas and skills. Last year over 50,000 pieces of art and poetry were created for the competition and some of these are displayed online. After much careful deliberation, ten pieces were selected to be sent to represent St John's with the winners being announced after the end of the academic year.
Director of Music, Mr Andrew Nethsingha, and The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, release Magnificat 2, the second volume in their highly-praised Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis series. The album, which was released on Signum Records on 16 April, features nine settings of the Evening Canticles. This album continues to explore the breadth of imagination with which composers have approached the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis texts, having been utilised in Christian worship for over 1,000 years. This repertoire is the
One of the aims of the Sports Department is for each child at the school to find a sport they will enjoy pursuing at their senior school. The School strives for excellence in attitude and caters for everyone, regardless of ability, by providing a high standard of opportunities to train and compete with high level coaching for each sport. St John's nurtures the sporting values of good conduct, respect for players, discipline, excellent sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork, learning the merits of winning and losing and, most importantly, having fun. Head of Sport, Mr Gareth McComb,
Every year children throughout the school are given a chance to design and create a Christmas themed card in their art lessons. These are then printed and sold to St John's families with money going towards the Parents' Association's chosen charity at that time. It is a fun way to raise funds for good causes whilst also being able to purchase high quality personalised cards made by the children. Due to the pandemic this was not able to happen this year so Head of Art, Mrs Sam Downer, offered the children at Senior House the chance to create Spring or Easter cards to take home at
Our Form 2 classes benefit from a Wednesday afternoon of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) every week throughout each of the three terms. During non-Covid circumstances, the children are able to use the extensive facilities on offer at Senior House in our two Science labs and computing suite. Since returning to school they have continued with the STEM project they began during remote learning on plants and plant growth. This has been combined with two other projects, one centred around coding with micro:bit mini computers and
Every year the ‘Passion Play’ is performed by the whole Sixth Form year group at the end of the Lent Term. This important milestone for children who are midway through their final year before leaving for their senior schools, is not only a retelling of the Easter story itself, but also a significant step in their development as communicators, learning to engage with serious subject matter in a thoughtful and sensitive way. Undaunted by the restrictions of the pandemic and the national lockdown which closed schools across the country for over two months, the children and staff instead