Ethos & Values
Deepcar St John’s is a Voluntary Aided Church of England Junior School catering for children from ages 7 to 11 and is classed as a Foundation School. Being a Voluntary Aided School, we have close links with St John’s Church in Deepcar and regularly celebrate the major events in the Christian calendar either in school or by visiting the local parish church. The Vicar regularly visits the school.
Whilst professing the uniqueness of the Christian faith, we welcome all children from the neighbourhood regardless of family beliefs and faiths. There is no ideological pressure and yet Christian inferences are built into our ethos to help ensure all children develop their full educational, spiritual and social potential.
We are very much a community school with most children coming from the local area of Deepcar and Stocksbridge. However, some children do commute from out of our catchment area. Royd Nursery Infant School, our feeder school, adjoins the site. Miss Jones is Executive Head Teacher of both schools and we have close links with them, particularly regarding the transition of infant children into our school.
The present building was opened in 1968 and stands within extensive and beautiful grounds with amazing views across the valley. For the 2023/2024 academic year the school will have eight classes of mixed ability; two year 3, 4, 5 and 6 classes.
We want our school to be a happy, caring, challenging and purposeful place for all who enter. We think that children will learn best when they are happy at their work. We aim to give each child interesting and relevant work with positive feedback.
We know that children who learn best are those who are attentive, enthusiastic, kind, polite and respectful. Developing these habits supports children in becoming independent and knowledgeable.
As a church school, Deepcar St John’s works with confidence from a Christian foundation to provide the best possible education for its pupils. We believe in encouraging children to succeed academically, socially and to be able to become responsible citizens.
The schools vision statement -
The school’s vision statement is ‘To create a welcoming Christian community of mutual love and care, where all are valued for who they are, where everyone is inspired to reach their full potential’. We are a church school, a status that we take seriously, and which impacts positively on an ethos which ensures that each individual is treated as special and important.
We uphold :
- Telling the truth
- Keeping promises.
- Respecting the rights and property of others.
- Acting considerately towards others
- Helping those less fortunate and weaker than others.
- Taking personal responsibility for our actions.
- Self-discipline.
We reject and will be proactive in confronting:
- Racism, sexism or similar practices which discriminate against minority groups.
- Bullying and cruelty.
- Cheating, deceit and irresponsibility.
