ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY At leading Cambridge independent school St John’s College School, extraordinary childhoods are more common than you might expect
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS Drama performances and music recitals are just some of the ways St John’s encourages pupils to express themselves
W hat does an extraordinary like music filling the school at lunchtime, children performing for one another before the whole school gathers for our Christmas Services in St John’s College Chapel. Perhaps it sounds like the remarkable voices of our choristers, whose exceptional talent and dedication inspire those around them. Or the excitement of a new idea, the challenge of trying something for the first time, the moment a child discovers they can do something they once thought impossible. Perhaps, above all, it sounds like children finding their voice. At St John’s, an extraordinary childhood is a journey of discovery. It is shaped by friendships, experiences and opportunities that help children understand who they are, discover where they belong and begin to imagine who they might become. From their earliest days, children are childhood sound like at St John’s College School? Perhaps it sounds encouraged to wonder, discover, try, make, think, belong and adventure. With more than 20 sports and a range of co-curricular opportunities, they can find new passions through music, drama, dance and beyond. Curiosity shapes how they learn too. Through authentic, real-world learning, play-based learning and discovery time,
children ask questions, solve problems and make connections. Philosophical and critical thinking encourage them to question, consider different perspectives and develop ideas of their own. The first time a child uses a Bunsen burner, tackles a problem with no obvious answer or takes an idea from the page into the real world, they are learning to think, not simply to remember. Sometimes, inspiration is all around. A willow tree might spark a poem, become the setting for Shakespeare plays or provide the backdrop for a year 8 Latin play written and performed by the children themselves. In Reception, designated Forest School sessions give children space to explore, imagine and learn through first-hand experience. These experiences build curious, creative, resilient and confident learners, laying the foundations for academic achievement. Last year, 100% of our year 8 leavers gained places at their chosen senior school, across 14 different schools, with 39 scholarships offered. But the destination is only part of the story. Because an extraordinary childhood is ultimately about becoming a little braver, wiser: ready for what comes next. Join us at our open morning on 13 October and experience St John’s for yourself.
Find out more at sjcs.co.uk
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK OCTOBER 2026 95
Powered by FlippingBook