St Johns, Leatherhead

[OlennasWimple]

Hi - does anyone have any up to date info on St Johns? We are seriously considering it for our DS for 13+ entry, but some older MN threads suggest that it's not particularly academic, but is expensive and strongest on the pastoral front rather than achievement.

But it's exam results look strong, it has some great sports fixtures, so I wonder whether it is just a bit over-shadowed by local academic hothouses like RGS and Kings, Wimbledon?

TIA

I'd say its main competitor is Epsom, but may be wrong. I know nice boys ( and girls) from there. Beautiful quad too.

I have a child at St John's. I think the not so academic thing is a bit of an old opinion. It's changed a lot on the past few years.
There's a new head starting in September, so I think there could be a lot of changes ahead.
The pastoral care is fantastic. Very supportive school.

Thank you both!

I think the new head is generally regarded as being a Good Thing, yes?

I think so, she seems quite dynamic in her approach.

Not recent, but I am biased as my siblings and I all went to St Johns and loved it. "Not academic" (back then) was misleading - those who could were given opportunities and achieved accordingly, but there were so many non-academic options that everyone had something they could excel at - no one "fell through the gaps".

Separately, a good friend works with the soon-to-be-new Head at her current school in Reigate and has nothing but good things to say. She has done a great job of doing what needed to be done to save her current school.