A WARM
WELCOME Welcome to Epping St John’s. Along with our fresh identity, we are delighted to introduce our brand-new buildings with stateof-the-art facilities. Designed with 21st-century learning, comfort and aesthetics in mind, our new school offers an unrivalled place in which young people can develop and grow. Equally important as the physical environment is our new learning and teaching framework, designed to embody our school values – Aspire, Innovate, Succeed – by making learning as engaging as possible. Through a combination of our innovative approach to teaching, our fabulous facilities and our distinctive ethos, we aim to make the educational experience at Epping St John’s even better. In this way, we will enable our young people to achieve their very best and equip them for the challenges of the modern world. Our vision for the school also includes Sixth Form provision, which we hope to offer soon. This prospectus can only give a taste of life at Epping St John’s, so we encourage you to visit the school to see for yourself everything that it has to offer. If you would like to apply for a place for your child, you will need to follow the admissions procedure detailed on our website. George Yerosimou MA NPQH Head Teacher
“ Academically, Socially and personally, our boys have achieved beyond their expectations and this can largely be attributed to everyone at St. John’s, not only for pushing them to achieve their full potential, nurture them, talk to them, and listen to them but overall being there to help them grow in confidence.” Parent EPPING ST JOHN’S
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A WONDERFUL
ENVIRONMENT Our iconic new building has been designed both to blend with its beautiful surroundings in ancient Epping Forest and to provide the ideal environment for a contemporary education. With its timber cladding, flowing curves, calming décor and grassed eco roof, the school offers a natural and mature setting that is highly conducive to learning. Effective use of glass not only makes the spacious classrooms and flexible break-out zones light and airy but also affords fabulous views of the countryside.
Our Ethos Epping St John’s offers a caring community underpinned by the Christian values of tolerance and respect to encourage personal excellence and resilience.
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Stunning architectural design combined with high build quality have resulted in exceptional facilities that include ‘the hub’ as a central social space, a vast Learning Resource Centre, a Drama Studio, a Sports Hall, a Chaplaincy Room, outstanding ICT resources and a number of areas for independent study. Set in over 25 acres, the site also features great outside spaces, with students able to enjoy sports on the new 3G all-weather pitch, dipping in the historic pond, quiet contemplation in the Peace Garden and cross curricular activities in the surrounding forest. Our aim is for the whole community of Epping to benefit from the superb amenities we now enjoy.
aspiring to
Excellence We are proud to have been judged as a ‘Good’ school by Ofsted for the third consecutive time in 2012. With 93% of our students achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C across all subjects last year, we enjoy a reputation for success. Not content to rest on our laurels, however, we are actively building on this success to set even higher standards. Our vision will be achieved through high expectations in terms of academic achievement, the delivery of high-quality teaching and the provision of exceptional pastoral care. We want to inspire all our students to raise their aspirations and support them to fulfil their potential.
“ St. John’s continues to exceed our expectations. Our children are challenged academically and supported in their personal development.” Parent
Developing skills
& confidence
Our new learning and teaching framework represents our commitment to providing a transformational education. Instead of learning passively in the classroom, we want our students to be active and collaborative learners. In this way, they not only develop the independent study skills and confidence that will help them in higher education or the workplace, but also an appetite for lifelong learning that will assist them in achieving their personal goals. As an inclusive school, we help each student to achieve his or her best through the use of challenging targets, close monitoring of progress and celebration of achievements. We also encourage students to take increasing responsibility for their own development through home learning and our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Our broad and balanced curriculum features four pathways in Key Stage 4, allowing students to select courses to suit their abilities and aspirations. In addition to traditional academic qualifications – including the option to study all three Sciences – we offer some new-generation vocational courses and the ASDAN award. A comprehensive careers programme allows students to access college taster days, attend our own careers convention, undertake work experience and benefit from mock interviews held with local businesses. As a result, we have one of the best records in Essex for providing appropriate destinations in further education, training or employment.
“ The personal development of pupils, the quality of relationships and standards of behaviour are outstanding.” Anglican Schools inspectorate
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A Caring
Community “Many lessons have a good spiritual dimension, especially in terms of taking responsibility and helping one another.” Ofsted
We take pride in our welcoming and inclusive ethos in which the Christian values of respect, care and forgiveness underpin all that we do. Our new logo reflects our mixed-age tutor groups, in which students support one another to create a genuine sense of family and belonging. With no more than five students from each year in a group, vertical tutoring allows Tutors to offer more personalised support at key times in a student’s academic career. This pastoral care is supported by our Learning Mentors, Chaplaincy Team and Family Support Worker. In addition, a comprehensive programme of Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) enables our young people to develop the skills and self-assurance required to make positive life choices. Through excellent links with local primary schools, a Transition Day and two Summer Schools – along with tutor group buddies – Year 7 students are able to settle in quickly. As a Healthy School, we offer nutritious meals featuring locally sourced, organic produce and provide a daily Breakfast Club. Positive contributions to all aspects of school life – including attendance, punctuality and participation – are rewarded through house points, celebration assemblies and reward trips. Our community extends beyond our site to encompass strong links with local organisations such as Epping Music School, Royal British Legion and Rotary; St John’s and other churches; local and national charities; and, of course, parents and carers.
A PASSION
FOR LEARNING Through a wealth of extra-curricular activities, enrichment opportunities and leadership responsibilities, we help to foster a love of learning that will benefit students throughout their lives. We offer a wide range of lunchtime and after-school clubs – from debating to trampolining – and Youth for Christ leads both a prayer time and the ‘Rock Solid’ club in school. There are also many opportunities for students to showcase their talents in sports matches, arts activities, musical performances and dramatic productions. Students’ horizons are broadened by a number of day visits and residential trips. These include an annual ski holiday to Austria and regular trips to France, as well as visits further afield, such as to India and Poland, where we have links with schools. Visiting speakers and Enrichment Days help to spark ambition and raise aspirations. Most students get involved in charity fundraising and some participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. With many regular events in the school calendar – including the Leavers’ Prom, Sports Day, the Remembrance Day parade and our Christmas carol service in St John’s Church in Epping – students enjoy a rich variety of experiences.
“ A more personalised and varied curriculum is successfully engaging more students and helping them to gain better results.” Ofsted
Our young people are encouraged to develop their leadership potential through a range of roles including School Council and House Representatives; Student Commissioners, who provide feedback on learning; Active Listeners, who offer peer mentoring; and Student Executive Members, who contribute to the running and direction of the school.
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Epping St John’s Bury Lane, Epping CM16 5JB Tel: 01992 573028 Fax: 01992 576928 Email: admin@esj.essex.sch.uk www.eppingstjohns.org Headteacher: G. M. Yerosimou MA NPQH