In Victorian times, St John’s Church, in common with much of the Church of England, saw the provision of education as an important part of their ministry. A school was soon established in Queens Road near the old St John’s Church in Watlington Street. A painting of that school hangs in the foyer of the present school. In the course of time a second church school was set up at the then newly built St Stephen’s Church where it formed a physical part of the building. An infants’ school was later built onto the side of the old St. Johns Church in 1873.

By the 1970s St Stephen’s School had closed and the fabric of the old St John’s Primary School was in poor condition. An imaginative scheme was proposed to redevelop all of the church buildings and to integrate the school and the church into a single building on a new site in Orts Rd.

This had many advantages enabling both School and Church to make best use of the facilities. The school holds its daily assembly in the Church whilst children’s Sunday activities make use of teaching areas. Bringing them together on one site meant that the links between school and church have been strengthened too.

Newtown itself has changed with a sizeable ethnic minority population and a multi-faith society. Could the school survive in this changing environment?

The answer has been a resounding YES! It has become a very popular school and currently has about 270 pupils. The premises are attractive, the resources are good and results are excellent.

The recent OFSTED inspection reported … ‘the school shows a firm commitment to raising standards’. It praises the level of teaching, 63 per cent of which is good or better, the head is identified as caring, hardworking and providing very good educational direction for the school and the harmonious working relationship with all the staff’.

The Report adds "The school successfully encourages very good pupil attitudes, racial harmony and behaviour, so that all pupils enjoy very good relationships in a caring learning environment that offers equality of opportunity for all." And it praises pupils for being "quite outstanding".

At the same time the Diocesan Inspectors commented that "St John’s CE Primary School is a model church school. The rich cultural diversity of the school’s intake and the range of faiths that are represented have led to the establishment of a unique and positive ethos that is an example to society. The philosophy that every child is special is evident in the general life of the school."

But despite this excellent report, the school is not complacent and the Governors and Head teacher, Maggie Donaldson, are busy looking at issues in the report where improvements can still be made.

St John's CE (VA) Primary School
Orts Road, Reading, RG1 3JN

Tel: 0118 901 5540

Head teacher: Mrs Margaret Donaldson
Chair of Governors: Mr David Langshaw
Email: head.stjohns@reading.gov.uk