Vision and Leadership
Our school motto
Our school motto is, 'Celebrate life in all its fullness. Let's learn together in God's love'.
Vision
At St John’s we inspire our whole school to love learning and work together so everyone can reach their full potential.
Through shared Christian values we recognise the skills and talents of all, nurture creativity and contribute to our community.
With engaging lessons, exciting opportunities and challenging experiences we deepen knowledge and understanding, have fun and succeed.
Here is our school song that we sing during collective worship. We also focus on each of the school values every term and complete a home learning activity surrounding the value.
At St John's the children participate in a daily act of collective worship. Teaching staff and members of the school/church community lead services every day in the school hall. These usually follow the pattern:
- Monday: Whole school collective worship related to the Christian theme
- Tuesday: Hymn practice
- Wednesday: Whole school clergy service - Led by a member of the church team.
- Thursday: Class collective worship
- Friday: Whole school celebration service (where certificates, medals, etc are awarded)
Collective Worship themes for 2023-2024:
- Term 1: Thankfulness
- Term 2: Trust
- Term 3: Perseverance
- Term 4: Justice
- Term 5: Service
- Term 6: Truthfulness
Community and Living Well Together
St John's school has always been at the heart of the community. We are also extremely grateful for the diverse contribution that many members of the community make towards the running of the school and the quality of our pupils' experience.
Mental wellbeing
We teach the skills to support mental wellbeing throughout our curriculum. We celebrate #HelloYellow and Odd Socks Day annually and have recently raised money for a local wellbeing charity for children, Off the Record.
St John's Parish and Church Choir
We have strong links with St John's church. Every Wednesday a member of the clergy team lead collective worship for the whole school. The school enjoy participating in the parish and in particular attending services at the church throughout the year. St John's organise the yearly Keynsham Schools Carol Concert, attended by many schools in the local area. Several children represent the school in the church choir and sing at events such as the Keynsham Winter Festival.
St John’s CofE Primary School history
Once known as Keynsham Parochial School the school was founded in 1857 and so our school has a distinctive provenance of which we are proud. The history of our school in Keynsham can therefore be traced back through over 160 years making it the oldest educational institution in the town.
In 1960 the school moved to its present site when it was renamed St John’s Church of England Primary School. Indeed, up to and including the Victorian and Edwardian periods ours was the only school in Keynsham. The history of the school can be traced back through the school log books which are still in our possession and the original site of the parochial school is still a prominent feature in Keynsham town.
Hope, Aspiration and Courageous Advocacy
Chipata School Partnership
St John's parish is currently raising money to help their link parish in Chipata South complete a new church primary school. Once the school has been built, we will be forming an exciting partnership with the school. We have begun to learn about life in Chipata South and the village during our collective worship sessions.
Charlton House Visits
Year 5 enjoy their monthly visits to the local nursing home and taking part in activities with the residents, including gardening, crafts and engaging in discussion.
Charity
Children across the whole school enjoy raising money for charities as well as donating food and their time to important causes. For example, giving food to a local food bank during Harvest; raising money for wellbeing charities, wildlife organisations and children's charities. This year, Year 6 used several of their playtimes to make Pudsey Bear badges to sell to raise money for Children in Need.
Dignity and Respect
Patronal Festival
Every year we spend a day celebrating the work of our namesake, St John. We reflect together in his teachings and join together as a community in prayer.