Welcome to St John’s School in Sidmouth. From the laying of the foundation stone in 1883 to the present day, our site has been a place of solace and education for many. A visit will certainly confirm the warmth of welcome – something akin to the feeling of ‘coming home’. Not surprising then that we describe life at St John’s as being part of a large family.
Our bywords of ‘individuality’, ‘opportunity’ and ‘success’ sum up the essence of what we offer at St John’s. Ultimately, small class sizes, combined with a very strong pastoral ethos, means that we can spend time getting to know our pupils really well, thereby getting the very best out of all of them. In addition, whilst they are hugely important, we don’t just focus on the ‘3 Rs’ at the expense of everything else; we offer a fabulously varied curriculum, strongly rooted in enquiry-based learning, along with an exciting programme of extra-curricular activities; there is the space and time for a varied and full education.
Children can attend St John’s from the age of 2½ until they are 16. Whilst the majority will be day pupils, St John’s offers a vibrant boarding experience which can be ‘full’, ‘weekly’ or ‘flexi’, with good food, homely bedrooms and a bright, revamped Boarders’ Common Room. Weekend trips, with the focus on fun, are the icing on the cake of the boarding experience.
As a result of generic marketing blurb, it can be difficult to distinguish one independent school from another. Visiting us in person will allow you to experience our ethos and facilities and we invite you to come and see St John’s in action. We offer bespoke tours; this allows us to focus on one family at a time – as it should be.

Bryan Kane
Head of School