Ethos & Values

Welcome to Deepcar St John’s

Deepcar St John’s is a Voluntary Aided Church of England Junior School, serving children aged 7 to 11. As a Foundation School, we are proud of our strong Christian ethos and close relationship with St John’s Church in Deepcar. We regularly celebrate key events in the Christian calendar, both within school and through visits to our local parish church, and we are pleased to welcome the Vicar into our school. 

While our values are rooted in the Christian faith, we warmly welcome children of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. Our ethos promotes mutual respect, inclusion, and compassion, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. There is no ideological pressure, but Christian principles guide our approach to learning, behaviour, and relationships.

We are a true community school, with most pupils coming from Deepcar and Stocksbridge, though we also welcome children from beyond our immediate area. We maintain a strong partnership with Royd Nursery Infant School, our main feeder school, which adjoins our site. Miss Jones, Executive Headteacher of both schools, supports a smooth and well-planned transition for children entering Key Stage 2.

Our school building, opened in 1968, sits within beautiful, expansive grounds with inspiring views across the valley, providing a stimulating setting for learning.

For the 2025/26 academic year, we will have six mixed-ability classes: three Year 3/4 classes and three Year 5/6 classes. This structure encourages collaborative learning while ensuring all pupils are appropriately challenged and supported.

At Deepcar St John’s, we aim to create a school environment that is happy, caring, purposeful, and stimulating. Children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and engaged. Our teaching focuses on providing meaningful, relevant learning experiences, supported by clear guidance and positive feedback.

We know that children who are attentive, enthusiastic, respectful, and kind flourish both academically and personally. By nurturing these qualities, we help our pupils grow into independent, thoughtful, and knowledgeable individuals.

As a Church of England school, we are confident in our Christian foundation and committed to delivering the highest standards of education. Our vision is to see every child succeed academically, socially, and emotionally, and to equip them to become responsible, well-rounded citizens of the future.

Our Values

We are committed to rejecting and proactively confronting:

• Racism, sexism, or discrimination against minority groups

• Bullying and cruelty

• Cheating, deceit, and irresponsibility

We uphold and promote:

• Telling the truth

• Keeping promises

• Respecting the rights and property of others

• Acting considerately towards others

• Helping those less fortunate or vulnerable

• Taking personal responsibility for actions

• Self-discipline

At Deepcar St John’s, these values are embedded in our teaching, relationships, and school life, helping to ensure every child grows academically, socially, and morally.