St John's
Catholic Primary School
At St John's we grow and learn in the footsteps of Jesus.
Curious
Thoughtful
Prayerful
Respectful
Creative
Independent
Caring
Responsible
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 15 May 2026Dear Families,
Over the last two weeks, it has been wonderful to see so much success in teaching and learning across the school. The children continue to demonstrate enthusiasm, resilience and pride in their learning, and we are incredibly proud of all they are achieving.
In particular, we would like to celebrate the fantastic efforts of our children with phonics and the Multiplication Tables Check. The dedication shown by both pupils and staff is having a very positive impact, and it is wonderful to see the growing confidence and progress being made. Thank you to all families for the continued support you provide at home — working together truly makes a difference to children’s success.
As part of our Year of Reading, we continue to celebrate and encourage the joy of books throughout the school. On this note, we are delighted to share the exciting news that our new Mr Smith Reading Cabin officially opened today. This wonderful space has been funded through the incredible charity work and support of Friends of St John’s, and we are extremely grateful for their dedication and generosity. In addition, parents and children have given up their time to support the gardening and wild flowers surrounding the cabin which will look beautiful – we are so grateful. We are excited to broaden opportunities for children to read in a comfortable, welcoming environment and know this space will inspire many happy reading experiences for years to come. Thank you once again for helping to make this opportunity possible.
Many of the children over the past two weeks have also engaged in a wide range of cultural capital opportunities. These experiences provide valuable learning opportunities and help children develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the world around them. These enriching experiences simply could not happen without the commitment and dedication of our school team, who continually give their time, effort and energy — often going far beyond their job roles — to ensure success for every child. We are also incredibly appreciative of the volunteers who support our school and help make these opportunities possible.
Our Year 6 children completed their SATs statutory assessments this week, and we could not be prouder of the way they approached this important milestone. Throughout the week, they demonstrated resilience, determination, maturity and positivity, showing just how ready they are for the next stage of their education.
The children have worked incredibly hard over many years, supported by our dedicated staff and families, and they should all feel very proud of their efforts and achievements. SATs are an important part of school life, but as a Catholic school, we recognise that they are only one measure of a child’s journey and success.
We firmly believe that every child is uniquely created by God, with their own individual gifts, talents and strengths. Whether through kindness, creativity, leadership, faith, sport, music, friendship or academic achievement, each child brings something special to our school community, and this is something we celebrate every day. Well done, Year 6 — you have represented yourselves and our school beautifully this week. Thank you also to the Governors of the school who supported the smooth invigilation throughout the week – you have been so supportive.
Finally, we are very much looking forward to celebrating Sports Day next week and hope that many families will be able to join us for what promises to be a fantastic occasion.
With every blessing,
Mrs O’Rourke
Headteacher
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Year 5 Enjoy PhunkyFoods Workshop
Fri 15 May 2026Year 5 Enjoy PhunkyFoods Workshop
Year 5 took part in an engaging workshop with PhunkyFoods learning about healthy lifestyles, nutrition and wellbeing through interactive activities.
The session supported pupils in developing teamwork, confidence and valuable life skills, while also enhancing their cultural capital through practical, real-world experiences. Links were also made to our Catholic values of stewardship, dignity and caring for God’s gifts.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained important knowledge to support healthy choices in everyday life.
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Year 5 Train Trip to Salisbury
Fri 15 May 2026Year 5 Train Trip to Salisbury
On Thursday 7th May, Year 5 went on the train to Sailsbury and visited the Cathedral, had lunch and played in the park! They learnt how to be safe on the train, platforms and what to do if they need any help. Thank you to the adult volunteers who supported us on the trip and to Platform for teaching the children train safety and providing such a valuable experience.
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New Absence Reporting Email Address
Fri 15 May 2026New Absence Reporting Email Address
There is a new email address for reporting your child absent from school. This email address is:
absence@st-johns-trowbridge.wilts.sch.uk
When leaving a message, please include the following information:
Child’s Name
Class
Reason for Absence
If you are unable to email, you can still leave a message on the school answerphone.
A reminder that you need to report your child’s absence every day.
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Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 01 May 2026Dear Families,
Over the past two weeks, our school community has had much to celebrate.
We were delighted to welcome a visit from Wiltshire Local Authority School Effectiveness Team to monitor the quality of teaching and learning in mathematics across the school. The feedback was extremely positive, highlighting not only the high quality of teaching but also the excellent learning behaviours demonstrated by our children. It was particularly pleasing to hear how confidently pupils could articulate their knowledge and understanding, reflecting the strong foundations being built in every classroom. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both staff and pupils.
We have also enjoyed opening our doors to families of our new Early Years Foundation Stage cohort, who will be joining us in September. It was a real pleasure to meet so many parents and carers and to begin building the strong partnerships that are so important in supporting children as they start their school journey. We look forward to welcoming our new pupils and helping them settle into school life.
Please do take the time to read the full newsletter—there is so much going on within our school and wider community, and we would love for you to stay informed and involved.
We would also like to highlight a couple of important upcoming events. Please add to your diaries the Colour Run organised by the Friends of the School. This promises to be a fantastic, fun-filled event and raises much-needed funds to support every child in our school.
In addition, we are looking forward to celebrating 150 years of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Trowbridge. A special Mass led by Bishop Bosco will be held on Wednesday 24th June at 7pm in the parish church, followed by a community celebration on Saturday 27th June. We hope many of you will be able to join us for these meaningful occasions.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Mrs O’Rourke
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Sports Day
Fri 01 May 2026Sports Day
Sports Day this year will take place on Friday 22nd May. Children are to arrive at school in their PE Kits wearing a T-Shirt representing the colour of their house:
Blue - St. Mother Teresa
Yellow - St. Don Bosco
Green - St. Francis of Assisi
Red - St. Carlo Acutis
If your child is unsure of their house, they should ask their teacher.
The timings will be as follows:
AM – KS2 (after registration – 12pm)
PM – EYFS and KS1 (1.15pm – 3pm)
Parents are warmly invited to stay for a picnic on the field. Of course, this is all weather dependent.
If you are talking any close-up photos, please ensure that they are of your own child only.
Policy on photography: you will understand the need to safeguard children by refraining from posting photographs/videos of other children on social media sites without the permission of their parents/guardians.
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Marian Procession and May Crowning Sunday 10th May
Fri 01 May 2026Marian Procession and May Crowning Sunday 10th May
The procession will begin at 9.45am outside St John's Catholic Primary School. Everyone is welcome to join the Children's Rosary as we process to the church, via St Augustine's. We will pray the 5th decade in the church before Mass and the May Crowning of Our Lady will take place at the start of the Children's Mass.
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Some parents are going to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy by the statue of Our Lady at the front of school at 3pm on Fridays. Everyone is welcome to join in or just listen - it takes about 8 minutes and is a very powerful devotion that calls down grace and mercy from Heaven upon our families and the whole world.
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Counsel Class Liturgy
Fri 01 May 2026Counsel Class Liturgy
This week, Counsel Class led a liturgy based on the Gospel from John, exploring what it means to live life to the full and to use the gifts and talents we have been given. We were delighted to welcome Fr Richard, who joined us for this special time of reflection.
All of the children contributed brilliantly, either by reading, showing or sharing an aspect of their learning or by singing with all their heart! We were so proud of every child. Counsel class showed great respect and have really engaged with the message of the Gospel and represented St John’s beautifully.
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Affordable Schools
Fri 01 May 2026Affordable Schools
We understand that the rising cost of living continues to place pressure on many families. If you have any questions or concerns about the affordability or cost of anything related to school, please know that we are here to help and support where we can. This may include costs linked to school trips, wrap-around care, after-school clubs or music lessons. Families are welcome to contact us confidentially at affordabilty@st-johns-trowbridge.wilts.sch.uk. We encourage anyone who may need support, or who wishes to ask questions, to get in touch.
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Second Session of Extended Day Cancelled on Friday 8th May 2026
Fri 01 May 2026Second Session of Extended Day Cancelled on Friday 8th May 2026
The second session of Extended Day – 4.30pm – 5.45pm is cancelled on Friday 8th May due to an event taking place.
If your child is booked in on this date, please collect your child by 4.30pm at the very latest.
Thank you.
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