In addition to our extensive curriculum, St John’s School pupils take part in out of school trips as well as workshops and performances run by external speakers and companies.

These opportunities encourage students to engage with people, places and buildings in new ways. Learning outside the classroom is rewarding and enriching for pupils and adds extra depth and motivation to their learning and experience.

Kindergarten and Junior School experiences

Linked to the EYFS curriculum and areas of learning our Pre-Reception and Reception pupils have experienced themed days for example Festival of Lights, Chinese New Year and visits by the local Fire and Police Forces.

Children in Kindergarten often visit Hyde Hall, Barleylands, Chelmsford Museum and Call of the Wild.  Linking to curriculum we have guest visitors from the Fire Brigade, local Doctors and animal charities.

Kindergarten ends every academic year with a fantastic Teddy Bear’s Picnic where both parents, teachers and children come together for a fun filled afternoon.

In Junior school educational visits are often further afield.  Form 1 (Year 3) pupils often visit Colchester Castle, Barleylands and have visitors into class.  Lower 2 (Year 4) often visit Colchester Castle, Mountfitchet Castle and conduct a local town visit as part of their geography and history curriculum.   Upper 2 (Year 5) visit one of our local churches for Religious Studies and in the Spring Term visit Layer Marney Tower to study the Tudors.  Lower 3 (Year 6) visit Duxford Museum, Cambridge, visit other local attractions to enhance curriculum and take part in Bikeability.

Throughout the academic year the Junior School enjoy various workshops that visit our pupils at school.

All pupils from Reception through to Lower 3 (Year 7) have the opportunity to go to a traditional Pantomime during December.

Junior Residentials

Pupils in Upper 2 (Year 5) and Lower 3 (Year 6) are actively encouraged to become more independent as they complete their final two years in Junior School.  With this in mind, St John’s organises two residential trips.  Upper 2 attend a residential for three days, two nights at the Danbury Outdoors Centre and experience many outdoor pursuits from high ropes to den building.  Lower 3 visit York for four days, three nights, where they take in the various attractions and sites that York has to offer.

Senior School experiences

Educational visits in the Senior School are either curriculum specific or cover a multitude of curriculum subjects.

In the last year our pupils have experienced numerous theatre visits to London from Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre, a Christmas Carol and Hadestown.

Starting the academic year Upper 3 (Year 7) pupils attended the Danbury Outdoor Centre for a teambuilding day.  Senior pupils have also visited Chatham Green Fieldwork Centre and The Old Bailey.

Senior pupils education is further enriched by visits from visitors to our school such as the Macbeth performance and interactive workshop run by Box Clever and Mathematic problem solving days and the taking part of national math competitions such as the UK Math Challenge.

Senior School Residentials

To support learning within the Modern Foreign Language Department we have taken pupils on residential trips to various parts of France and Spain.