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St John’s School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 11–18 in Leatherhead, Surrey. Kindness is the most cherished value of the school community, and five principles of kindness – respect, inclusion, support, empathy, and service – underpin how pupils and staff think, interact, and behave on a daily basis.
St John’s describes itself as a day school with a boarding school heart, offering an environment where every pupil – day or boarding – has the opportunity to experience a rich and varied school day, full of academic and co-curricular activities. The house system is fundamental to school life, enabling pupils to become part of a tight-knit community while ensuring a special partnership between home and school. A robust network of staff is dedicated to looking after every child’s wellbeing, while a programme of mindfulness and wellbeing themes is integrated into the school timetable.
Pupils at St John’s are encouraged to take responsibility for their progress and development, both in and out of lessons. It’s the school’s aim to help pupils think for themselves and to embrace learning as something they will enjoy throughout their lives. Pupils experience a rich curriculum right from the start, studying traditional subjects alongside interesting cross-curricular links through studies such as the classical world, theology, philosophy and religion, and a bespoke enrichment programme which encourages pupils to ‘think bigger’. Exam results are consistently excellent; in 2022, 88% of A level grades were A*–B and 82% of GCSE grades were 9–7 (A*–A).
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Key information for St John's School, Leatherhead
Acting Head: Mrs Rebecca Evans
Address: St John’s School, Epsom Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8SP
County: Surrey
Admissions contact: Laura Tredwell – [email protected], 01372 373 000
Age range and gender: 11–18, co-educational
Number of pupils: 843
Open day date: Saturday 13th May 2023
Overview of admissions process: remote interview, entrance exam (written and online tests), and school report
Registration closes: 1st November 2023
Assessment date: January of Year 6
St John's School, Leatherhead fees and financial assistance
The current fees at St John’s School are:
Years 7 and 8 (day pupils): £7,500 per term (includes lunch)
Years 9–13 (day pupils): £8,520 per term (includes lunch)
Years 9–13 (weekly boarding): £2,085–£2,711 per term
Boarding is also available on an ad-hoc basis and for one to two nights per week. See the school website for more details.
St John’s has access to charitable funds providing fee remission for children whose families may not be able to afford the full fees. Known as a bursary, this financial support is means-tested and is provided as a percentage reduction of tuition fees only. A separate bursary award, known as a Foundation Bursary, is available for the children of practising Anglican clergy who have limited financial means.
11 plus candidates may also apply for a scholarship at St John’s School, but these do not always come with a financial reward. The available scholarships for Year 7 entry are academic, art, design and engineering, drama, music, sport, and dance.
St John's School, Leatherhead term dates
The term dates at St John's School, Leatherhead for 2022–23 are:
Autumn term: 5th September – 14th December 2022
Half term: 14th–30th October 2022
Spring term: 5th January – 24th March 2023
Half term: 10th–19th February 2023
Summer term: 17th April – 1st July 2023
Half term: 25th May – 4th June 2023
The term dates at St John's School, Leatherhead for 2023–24 are:
Autumn term: 4th September –15th December 2023
Half term: 20th October – 5th November 2023
Spring term: 9th January – 22nd March 2024
Half term: 9th–18th February 2024
Summer term: 16th April – 29th June 2024
Half term: 23rd May – 2nd June 2024
Admissions process for Year 7 entry to St John's School, Leatherhead
The admissions cycle for entry to St John’s School in 2023 is now closed. The next available entry point is for Year 7 in 2024.
If you would like your child to be considered for a place at St John’s, you will need to complete the registration form and pay a non-refundable registration fee of £150 before 1st November 2023. The same date also applies to scholarship applications.
Once your child has been registered, the admissions team will request a reference from your child’s current school. Your child will then be invited to attend a remote interview in the autumn term of Year 6. This is an informal session with a friendly St John’s teacher and is designed to get to know your child and understand their interests and aspirations. This interview will take place from the comfort of your child’s home.
The 11 plus entrance exam will take place at St John’s the following January (see more details about what the exam involves below). All children are automatically considered for an academic scholarship based on their performance in the entrance exam, with candidates who perform exceptionally well invited back for an academic scholarship interview with a member of the senior academic staff in late January. However, if your child has applied for a co-curricular scholarship, there will be additional steps in the entrance process:
Art scholarships: candidates will be invited to a scholarship assessment and a 15-minute informal interview, where they will discuss a small portfolio of their work.
Design and engineering scholarships: candidates will be invited to an informal 15-minute interview, where they will discuss a design-related project they have completed in the last two years.
Drama scholarships: the application process is in two stages. In the first stage, all candidates will be reviewed for shortlisting based on their application form, the submission of a recorded monologue performance, and a reference from a drama/English/LAMDA teacher. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend a drama assessment consisting of a group improvisation exercise and a solo performance of a monologue.
Music scholarships: candidates should have achieved at least a grade 4 on their main instrument, and ideally will offer a second instrument. After submitting an application form, references from a current instrumental teacher and proof that grade 4 has been achieved, candidates will be invited to an assessment. This will include a performance of two pieces on the first instrument and one prepared piece on any other instrument, aural tests, and a short interview.
Sports scholarships: there are three stages to the application process. All candidates will be reviewed by shortlisting, based on their application form and a reference from a sports teacher or club coach. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an initial assessment session in January of Year 6, which will include activities across all of St John’s major sports. A final shortlist will then be drawn up and a smaller group of candidates will be invited back for a final assessment session (likely in the same week), where they will take part in two of their favoured sports alongside current pupils and will have an interview with a member of the sports team.
Dance scholarships: dance scholarships are offered as a subsidiary to the head’s all-rounder award. It is not possible to apply for an individual dance scholarship, but candidates may offer dance as an additional application, alongside another scholarship application, to be considered for the all-rounder award. Candidates will be invited to an assessment, where they will be asked to perform a dance piece in the style of their own choice.
St John’s will write to you to let you know the outcome of your child’s application in the spring term of Year 6.
The 11 plus exam at St John's School, Leatherhead
All children who are registered for 11 plus entry to St John’s will take the school’s entrance exam in the January of Year 6. This consists of the following papers:
English: a multiple-choice reading comprehension and creative writing task.
Maths: a non-calculator paper based on the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum.
Abilities assessment: an online test measuring verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability. This test is administered by CEM Select and will include questions in multiple-choice, drag and drop, and auto-complete format.
How to prepare for entry to St John's School, Leatherhead
Build foundational knowledge
If your child is applying for Year 7 entry to St John’s Leatherhead, they will be assessed on their knowledge of the Key Stage 2 national curriculum for English and maths. They will also need to demonstrate their logic and problem-solving skills through tests in verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which are not taught at school.
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