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.
-
Parent/Teacher Meetings
Fri 26 Sep 2025Parent/Teacher Meetings
We will be holding our autumn parent teacher meetings on Tuesday 7th October and Thursday 16th October between 3.30pm and 6.00pm. Booking are made using the Parents Booking system and will open at 6.00pm on Friday 26th September and will close at 9.00am on 3rd October. Instructions on how to access the system can be found in the attached letter. Appointments are limited to one per child. Should you require an additional appointment, please telephone the school office and we will arrange a telephone appointment with the class teacher. There will also be the opportunity to arrange a meeting with Mrs O’Mahony our Inclusion Lead by contacting the school office.
-
Mission Review Evening
Fri 26 Sep 2025Mission Review Evening
On Tuesday 18th November I would like to warmly invite all parents and grandparents to join school representatives and governors to a Mission Review Evening. The event will be held in the school hall with cheese and wine refreshments. The evening will allow all adult stakeholders to reflect and review our school mission statement and consider options for the school mission going forward into our centenary year in 2026-2027. The evening will commence at 6.15pm with a key note speech from Mrs O’Rourke at 6.30pm and then time for adults to discuss and review our school mission, the evening will close before 7.45pm.
We have gathered pupil voice regarding the mission statement, logo and ethos, please note this event is aimed at adults only. We look forwarding to welcoming you all in order that we can work together to make our Catholic school the finest place it can be.
-
First Holy Communion Mass in school
Fri 26 Sep 2025First Holy Communion Mass in school
We were delighted to come together as a school community to celebrate Mass in thanksgiving for the children who made their First Holy Communion last academic year. We are very grateful to Father Richard for celebrating Mass with us and to Joel for leading the music so beautifully. The children were reverent, prayerful and looked wonderful in their special outfits. Our readers read with confidence and the singing was particularly special – it was a truly joyful occasion for all. We also thank the parents and families who joined us and helped make the celebration even more special.
-
School Photos
Fri 26 Sep 2025School Photos
David Wiltshire Photography will be in school on Tuesday 30th September to take pupil’s individual photos. Pupils with siblings in our school will also have a photograph taken together during the school day. Unfortunately, we are not able to take photos with children who are not currently at St. John’s or any other family relationships other than siblings.
All pupils should come into school in their Winter uniform on this day.
-
Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 12 Sep 2025Dear Families,
Welcome to the New School Year!
I hope this newsletter finds you and your families well and rested after the summer break. It is a pleasure to welcome you all back to St John’s Catholic Primary School for the start of a new academic year, and to extend a particularly warm welcome to the new families who are joining our school community for the first time.
As a Catholic school, we are proud to place Christ at the centre of all that we do. Our mission is to nurture the spiritual, academic, emotional, and social development of every child in our care. We are looking forward to another year of learning, growth, and faith, where together — school, home, and parish — we support one another in helping our children flourish.
Until we get to Advent of this year, our school theme continues to be celebrating the Year of Jubilee – challenging us to be pilgrims of hope. Through our collective efforts in prayer, service, and learning, we will help our children understand how they can live out Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching themes each day.
Our dedicated staff have worked hard over the summer to prepare a welcoming and stimulating environment, and we are excited to begin the year with enthusiasm and hope. We are committed to delivering a high-quality education rooted in faith, and to supporting every child in reaching their unique God-given potential.
There will be many opportunities for you to engage with the life of the school in the coming months — from curriculum evenings to school Masses, parent meetings, and celebrations of learning. We deeply value your partnership and support, and we look forward to walking alongside you this year in faith and friendship.
I encourage you to take note of the dates for the diary which are included on the school website and within this newsletter.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions as the year progresses. Let us keep each other in prayer as we begin this new chapter together.
With every blessing for the year ahead,
Yours sincerely,
Mrs O’Rourke
Headteacher
-
Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 18 Jul 2025“We are many parts, we are all one body…” – 1 Corinthians 12:12
Dear Families,
As we come to the close of another academic year, I find myself filled with both gratitude and pride. This has been a year of many milestones — not least of all, it marks my first year in headship here at St John’s Catholic Primary School. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead such a vibrant, compassionate, and faith-filled school community.
I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of you — our families — for your support, encouragement, and prayers throughout this year. Your kindness and partnership have helped guide me through this first chapter of leadership, and I feel truly blessed to walk this journey alongside you.
One of the highlights of this term was undoubtedly our fantastic ‘Farm Fest’ school fayre. Organised by the tireless efforts of the Friends of St John’s, it was a beautiful celebration of everything we value — community, joy, and togetherness. The afternoon was filled with laughter, music, and children enjoying simple pleasures which will remain as precious memories. Thank you to every volunteer, every stallholder, and every family who attended — you made it a day to remember.
This year has also brought us moments of deep sadness. In November, we lost our dear colleague and friend, Mr Adrian Smith. His passing touched every corner of our school family. Adrian served St John’s with incredible dedication and care, and his absence is still keenly felt by us all. Yet, in our grief, I have witnessed the most powerful signs of love and resilience — in the quiet strength of our children, in the unwavering compassion of our staff, and in the prayers and support from you, our parents.
Together, we have carried one another through the hardest days. That, in itself, is the truest expression of our Catholic faith — to be community, even in sorrow. To lift each other up in love.
As we move into the summer break, I pray that you all find rest, renewal, and precious time with loved ones. Let us take forward the hope and unity we’ve built this jubilee year, and return ready to grow in faith, learning, and joy once more.
Thank you for making my first year as headteacher a truly memorable and meaningful one.
With every blessing,
Mrs O'Rourke
Headteacher
-
Whole School Pilgrimage on Friday 11th July 2025
Fri 18 Jul 2025Whole School Pilgrimage on Friday 11th July 2025
Last Friday, the whole school took part in a special pilgrimage to St Thomas More Church in Bradford on Avon to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope. Throughout the day, the children showed great reverence and took time for thoughtful reflection along the way. A highlight of the journey was Mr Brown leading groups in song as we walked along the river, filling the air with joyful voices. Once at the church, the children took part in a series of reflections and prayers, deepening their understanding of hope and faith. It was a beautiful day of unity, reverence, and spiritual growth, and we are proud of the respect and participation shown by all the children. A huge thank you to all the parents and volunteers who helped make the day so special.
-
Letter from Mrs O'Rourke
Tue 01 Jul 2025Dear Families,
As we reach the midpoint of our final half-term, we have much to celebrate and look forward to.
First Holy Communion Celebrations
Last Sunday, a group of our Year 3 pupils received their First Holy Communion at St John the Baptist Catholic Church—a truly special and sacred moment in their journey of faith. We were so proud of their prayerful participation and the way they approached the Sacrament with such reverence and joy. Congratulations to all the children and their families on this blessed occasion.
We now look ahead to this coming Sunday, when another group of children will receive the Sacrament for the first time. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to welcome Jesus in the Eucharist. May this be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Christ for each of them.
A heartfelt thank you to Fr. Richard, our parish catechists, and all parents and carers who have supported the children so beautifully throughout their preparation.
Transition Morning – Tuesday
Next Tuesday morning will be our Transition Morning, when all children will spend two hours in their new classrooms with their new teacher for September. This is an exciting and important part of helping the children feel confident and prepared for the next stage in their school journey. We know they will benefit from this opportunity to begin forming relationships and getting to know the learning environment they’ll step into in September.
Year 6 children moving onto St Augustine’s Catholic College in September will be attending the College for the full day.
Thank You for Your Feedback
We would also like to thank all of you who responded to our parent questionnaire regarding the organisation of classes in the next academic year. Your thoughtful and supportive feedback has been invaluable.
After carefully considering your views and working closely with the teaching team, we are pleased to share that next year, the children will be learning in split year group classes. For Maths and Phonics, however, they will be taught in dedicated year groups, to ensure targeted teaching and progression at the appropriate pace for each child.
This will look like the following:
Early Years Foundation Stage: Two classes
Years 1/2: Three split classes with Year 1 and Year 2 taught separately for Maths and Phonics
Years 3/4: Three split classes with Year 3 and Year 4 taught separately for Maths
Years 5/6: Split classes with focused teaching by year group where appropriate, including Maths
We are confident that this structure will continue to support high-quality teaching and learning, and provide a nurturing and effective environment for every child.
In addition, we listened to the voice of the children, staff team and parents and in September will be changing Class Numbers to Class Names based on the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit – linked to our school logo.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership as we continue to grow and develop as a school community rooted in faith, learning, and love.
Please note the final newsletter for this academic year will be Friday 18th July.
With every blessing,
Mrs O’Rourke
-
EYFS Trip to Longleat
Tue 01 Jul 2025EYFS Trip to Longleat
Foundation Stage had a fantastic trip to Longleat at the start of Term 6! The fun began when we boarded our lovely coach and started our journey to Longleat.
The coach was full of excitement and anticipation! When we arrived we went straight to our “Amazing Animals” workshop with two of Longleat’s keepers. The children had the opportunity to touch, hold and observe cockroaches, snakes, guineapigs and Miss O’Mahony was nominated to hold the tarantula!
After that we took shelter from the rain and enjoyed a delicious picnic. Once refuelled we boarded the Longleat express to take us on a train journey around the park and then hopped on the boat to see the sealions.
We finished the day with a drive through the safari park looking out for many different animals. It was a wonderful day!
-
Letter From Mrs O'Rourke
Fri 13 Jun 2025Dear Families,
As we come to the end of a very busy and uplifting fortnight here at St John’s Catholic Primary School, I want to take a moment to give thanks for all that we have experienced and achieved together.
A heartfelt well done to our wonderful children who have completed their statutory assessments over the past two weeks. Our Year 4 pupils approached the Multiplication Tables Check with great focus and resilience, and our Year 1 children tackled their Phonics Screening Check with enthusiasm and growing confidence. We are so proud of their hard work – it is a real testament to their commitment to learning and to the support you provide at home.
We have also been truly blessed with the richness of community spirit that has filled our school. Sports Day today was a stunning success, and I would like to say a sincere thank you to all the families who came to support. The sunshine was matched only by the smiles on the children’s faces as they gave their all. Your cheering, encouragement and presence brought such joy and truly allowed our school’s Gospel values and Catholic ethos to shine brightly throughout the day.
It has also been wonderful to see such strong parental engagement in other areas of school life. Our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) afternoon was a joyful and memorable event – thank you for joining us and embracing the spirit of play and exploration that is so important for our children’s development.
Thank you, too, for taking the time to complete our parent surveys. Your thoughtful responses are currently being carefully analysed and will play a key role in helping us shape the ongoing growth and improvement of St John’s.
These past two weeks have truly shown what we can achieve when we work in partnership – with faith, with love, and with a shared sense of purpose. Thank you for walking this journey with us.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend and continued blessings in the weeks ahead.
Warm regards and God bless,
Mrs O'Rourke
