News list
Forms 4 and 5 were captivated by a dynamic visit from The Young Shakespeare Company, who brought ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to life through an interactive, immersive performance that sparked imagination and deepened understanding.
St John's was honoured to welcome rugby legend Ben Youngs, England’s most capped player, and the Head of Performance Sport at Gresham’s School for a dynamic afternoon of inspiration, insight, and sport.
From grinding grain on quern stones to weaving yarn on ancient looms, Form 1 immersed themselves in the sights, sounds, and skills of Iron Age Britain during a hands-on Prehistory Experience at Celtic Harmony Camp. Nestled among native woodland and thatched roundhouses, Celtic Harmony offered a living history experience like no other to rediscover the traditions of ancient Britain through practical activities that sparked imagination and fostered wellbeing.
A group of our Form 6 children joined forces with pupils from Castle School for the Powerhouse Games, a spirited showcase of inclusive sport led by the charity Power2Inspire. The event was a masterclass in teamwork and togetherness, uniting children of all abilities in a day filled with energy, laughter, and shared success.
This year’s Harvest Festival at St John’s was a vibrant expression of generosity, creativity, and shared purpose. As part of our annual appeal, families were once again invited to donate non-perishable items to support the Cambridge Foodbank and the response was extraordinary. Crates overflowed with contributions, lovingly packed by both our Byron House and Senior House Charities Committee, who worked tirelessly to sort and stack the donations ready for distribution across East Anglia.
A huge thank you to our brilliant Parents’ Association for hosting a fantastic Macmillan Coffee Morning in the Boarding House. With delicious bakes, a buzzing raffle, and wonderful community spirit, we’ve raised £663+ so far and the total’s still rising!
Eight years ago, a school productinat Gislingham Primary ignited a journey to Hollywood. At its heart was Mr Tim Clarke, Head of Drama at St John’s, whose outreach work has inspired young performers across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. His first production there, Macbeth for the Shakespeare Schools Festival, cast a young Isla Johnston in the lead role, a decision that would change her life.
We were thrilled to welcome celebrated poet and National Poetry Day Ambassador Matt Goodfellow to St John’s, where he led lively sessions with Forms 1 to 6. A former primary teacher turned full-time poet, Matt is the author of several CLiPPA-shortlisted collections and co-author of Being Me, an anthology exploring children’s emotional wellbeing. With warmth and humour, he championed poetry as a tool for self-expression, encouraging pupils to embrace ‘rebel writing’, playful, purposeful, and personal and shared practical tips on using rhythm, pattern and voice to bring their ideas to life. His
Mr Lepage Dean, SJCS alumnus and Deputy Head of Boarding, completed the Snowdonia Sea2Sky Ultra Marathon in an inspiring 7 hours and 45 minutes, raising funds for Young Lives Vs Cancer. His remarkable achievement reflects not only endurance and generosity, but also the values he champions—resilience, compassion, and commitment—offering a powerful example to our pupils of what it means to go the distance
Our T1 children embraced the beauty of autumn with a joyful walk across the playing fields, gathering conkers and soaking up the seasonal magic. Their adventure led them to the Bridge of Sighs at St John’s College, where they waved to passing punts and learned about the rich history of the college — a remarkable opportunity made even more special by having such heritage right on our doorstep. Back in the classroom, conkers became tools for learning, used in Discovery Time for sorting and pattern-making, and in Maths for counting and simple calculations. It was a day full of curiosity,