ST John's School Leatherhead - Recent Experience ??

[ameliethree]

Hi, we're considering St John's as an option following on from small prep school. DS is bright, sensitive, good all rounder and better as a big fish in a small pond we think. Know very little about St John's and what we have seen is quite dated. Anyone with any experience of this school recently?
Any advice would be much appreciated - choosing schools is such a minefield and am reaching the end of my tether!!

Have you been to one their open days, there are a couple coming up in the next two weeks. We went to look at it for our son, and really liked it. Much more compact then Epsom College, but with good facilities.
Our son is finishing year 5 and has his name down for both. He will sit the pre-test in January for common entrance in year 8.

It's not a small pond amelie - although smaller than Epsom. Also not dated - what makes you say that? Lots of new building going on, and no school with similar heritage will look 21st Century spanky! You should go to an Open Day and you will make up your mind based on the character of the boys (and girls of course!) that take you round. You will find it hard to meet a group of sparkier chatty kids who all do well in a wide variety of aspects - the extra curricular options are staggering! You should note that it is wildly over subscribed - lists for the next few years are already full and they have had to re-introduce pre tests in year 6 to whittle the numbers down. They have also increased the required mark at CE for similar reasons. Does your prep school have a relationship with St Johns - what is the prep school saying about suitability - really they should be guiding you as to which school they think will be best for your DS

Can you tell I am a proud St Johns Mum!?

Sorry homebythesea, I meant the only info I could find on mumsnet was dated, not the school! Should have explained myself better - we visited the school a few weeks ago but as it wasn't an open day, we weren't able to go into any of the classrooms or chat to any of the teachers - however the year 9 pupil that showed us around was a delight and I had a really good feeling about the school when I left. We have been offered a place based on an assessment that my son sat, but it's such a big decision and we know so little about the school that I was looking for some re-assurance really! Your message has gone a long way to do that, so thank you!

That makes more sense! So your D'S has done the pre test and has an offer conditional on CE is that right?

Are you considering other schools? 13+ CE doesn't really cater for multiple applications so you will need to nail your colours to the mast before the exams!

Yes, thats right, subject to 55% pass at CE .We have him registered for Reigate grammar and caterham, but had done this prior to hearing about/viewing St Johns - our preference from what we've seen so far is St Johns, but the only slight niggle is how difficult it will be in terms of breaking into friendship groups as I believe it is mainly fed by 2 or 3 local prep schools is that right? We live in Reigate so are not especially local...

BF's boy goes there. He is very very happy and the family are very happy with it. Our DS is now in 6th form at Kings. He has always enjoyed a match against St John's because he says the boys are nice, normal, and very decent. Think that's a high accolade from another teenager.

A wide variety of feeders so don't worry on that score. Boys in my D'S house live as far apart as far south Surrey to London so don't worry about being local either unless you feel that will impact on social life (his or yours!). But you will have to decide because the senior school you choose marks the CE papers so you only get one shot!

Thanks for all your feedback everyone - really do appreciate it! Shall look forward to seeing it properly at the forthcoming open morning...:o