St John's College School

This year, for the very first time, our Year 8 Leavers’ Service took place at Great St Mary’s, in the heart of Cambridge.

Together, we walked through the historic Courts of St John’s, across the Bridge of Sighs and into the heart of Cambridge, retracing the paths that have shaped so much of their childhood.

The Service itself was a celebration of every child and all they have become.
Leavers shared treasured memories, personal valedictions spoke lovingly of individual strengths, achievements, quirks and kindnesses, reminding us that every child here is known, valued and cherished.

Music filled the church. Our choristers sang beautifully, poetry was recited, and performances on piano and clarinet brought moments of reflection and joy.

From Odysseus to Count Orsino, the voices of literature echoed through the space, a testament to a school where creativity, curiosity and confidence flourish side by side.

We reflected on what makes a St John’s education so special: a place where childhood is cherished, not hurried. A place where children are given time to discover who they are and the freedom to become who they are meant to be. Not moulded, but nurtured. Not rushed, but encouraged to grow with confidence, compassion and purpose.

As one speaker reminded us, St John’s is a place of enduring connection. The seeds planted here continue to grow long after pupils leave its gates. The lessons, values and friendships endure.

The Service concluded with Puck’s valedictory speech from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, a poignant and fitting farewell. As the final words rang out beneath the vaulted ceiling of Great St Mary’s, there was a sense of an ending, but also of a beginning.

Like the pupils in C. Day-Lewis’s ‘Walking Away’, our Leavers now step forward towards new adventures. While there is sadness in letting go, there is also immense joy in seeing them spread their wings.

For selfhood begins with a walking away.

Records were broken. A new House lifted the trophy bringing Beaufort’s long reign to an end. But the magic of a St John’s Sports Day lives in the moments in between.

It’s in the nervous glance before a race begins. The cheer from a teammate. The child who discovers they can run faster, jump further or keep going longer than they ever thought possible. It’s in the pride, the resilience and the joy that can’t be measured on a results sheet.
It’s in The Great Race, where our oldest pupils join hands with our youngest. A Year 8 guiding a Year 7 all the way down to Year 3, crossing the finish line together, hand in hand.

For a few precious moments, the whole journey of a St John’s education is there for all to see: older children encouraging younger ones, friendships spanning year groups, and a reminder that nobody succeeds alone.

It’s in the laughter and determination of the Leavers’ tug of war. One final chance for a year group that has grown up together to pull as one, cheered on by a school community that has watched them grow from small children into confident young people ready for their next adventure.

For a few hours, the records and trophies feel like everything.

But what lasts are the memories. The friendships. The courage to try. The kindness shown in victory and defeat. The quiet confidence that comes from discovering what you are capable of and helping others do the same.

Those are the victories that matter most. 💙🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏆

Congratulations to George, whose consistent hard work, dedication and musical talent have been recognised with a Music Scholarship to Charterhouse School.

‘George’s interest in composition has been nurtured throughout his time at St John’s and one of his pieces was performed by the college choir last year. His achievement in gaining a senior school Music Scholarship is the culmination of several key ingredients: it is his many years of dedication and commitment to his art to fulfil his undoubted long-term potential; it is the outstanding teaching provision offered in school which guided him on his journey; it is the carefully curated diet of first-class ensemble and performance opportunities he enjoyed from the outset; and it is the culture of enjoyment, excellence and inclusivity which is embedded in the life of our Music School.’ (Director of Music, Mr Simon Kirk)

‘George has had terrific support from staff in the lead up to firstly gaining his place at Charterhouse, and then also winning a music scholarship there. The teaching staff were marvellous in preparing George and musically, Mr Kirk has been an extraordinary support and influence, not only working with him but also coordinating effortlessly with the university music team, where George has been serving as a chorister. We are both so grateful.’ (Parent)

‘Thank you St John's for all the support I was given to prepare me for the entrance tests, and special thanks to Mr Kirk and all the music team for helping me prepare for the scholarship exam. I was really surprised when I got the scholarship as the standard was very high, especially for singing. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can develop my voice in the next few years.’ (George)

Congratulations to Arthur on being awarded a music scholarship to Uppingham. His passion, commitment and countless hours of hard work have led to this fantastic achievement, and we couldn't be prouder. Wishing him every success as he continues to develop his musical talents.

“Arthur’s music scholarship to Uppingham School is thoroughly deserved and I’m absolutely delighted for him. It has been enormously rewarding to see him progress and develop as a violinist and the award of a music scholarship is recognition of his talent, hard work and musicianship.” (Mr Warburton, Violin Teacher)

‘Violin at St John’s has been an amazing experience for me, and I was very privileged to lead the orchestra at the West Road Concert. It’s been a long journey from starting in Form 2 at the back of the orchestra all the way to 1st violin. I hope to carry on at Uppingham.’ (Arthur)

What an unforgettable evening at our Summer Concert.

Around 140 pupils from Year 2 to Year 8 took to the stage at the West Road Concert Hall, showcasing the breadth, ambition and joy of music-making at St John’s.

From Vivaldi, Mozart, Rossini and Holst to Adele, AC/DC, Toto and Louis Cole, the programme celebrated an extraordinary range of musical styles performed by Chamber Orchestra, Big Band, Massed Strings, Chamber Choirs, Rednotes Jazz Ensemble and many more.

Performing to a full-house audience, our pupils demonstrated remarkable confidence, commitment and musicianship, with outstanding ensemble performances and impressive solos from our Year 7 and 8 musicians.

The evening concluded with our Symphony Orchestra of nearly 100 pupils, whose spectacular space-themed programme culminated in a thrilling performance of Holst’s ‘Jupiter’ from ‘The Planets’.

A huge congratulations to every performer and thank you to our dedicated staff, accompanists, technicians and the wonderful audience who made the evening such a memorable celebration of music.

We are delighted to celebrate two pupils who have been recognised with two of St John’s most prestigious awards: The Zoe Jagelman Prize and The Lance Ellison Prize.

These awards celebrate pupils whose actions, attitudes and example have had a lasting influence on those around them. They reflect the importance we place on character, responsibility and making a positive contribution to school life.

We are incredibly proud of both pupils and all they have brought to St John’s during their time here. Through their integrity, generosity, commitment and engagement, they have enriched our school and set an example to others. These awards are a fitting recognition of the difference they have made.

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement.