My children started at this school over 9yrs ago when it had a thriving community spirit and was rated outstanding. Since then it's had a new Headteacher, changed to an Academy and seen a mass exodus of v good teachers. It now has a "good" Ofsted rating and many of the original teachers are still leaving. The school is expanding from a 3 form enty to a 4 and is being stretched way beyond its capabilities. A number of nursery staff have been moved into the school as either a teaching assistant or teacher. Personally I feel that a lot of the teaching staff's frustrations are being taken out on the children. Having spoken to many other parents, I keep hearing so many heartbreaking experiences. There are some wonderful teacher's still there, but a large number of staff could benefit from a behaviour management course.
Trevor Zinyuke
It's so friendly and loving when we moved my daughter never wanted to go and know were still here there strict and fun you also have the best time I love and recommend it to lots of my friends
Basil Juma
This is a brilliant school and after moving house, I took them there instantly, they found really nice friends. The teachers are very good and they make sure the children are safe. Fabulous school.
E F278 days ago
DKY309 days ago
An honest review of St Johns which may help future parents:
Enrolled my child to this school from reception thinking it was a good school but have been truly disappointed throughout. On enrolment the front office staff acted as though it was such an exclusive school and to make out that it was difficult to get into. I did not experience this attitude when applying to other schools in Gravesend. I should have know then it was a red flag but was naive into thinking I was doing my best for my child.
Things you would normally find in any other school eg, after school clubs, breakfast clubs, trips, school parties are almost non existent here, it’s almost like it’s too much to ask for them to work beyond their normal hours. I feel children need sports and extracurricular activities and not just academic to be fulfilled. Note if you need childcare before or after school there’s nothing on-site. They use the after school provision at the North Kent College down the road, or you have to find a childminder. Any clubs they do have e.g Centrestage, Multisports are brought in from external sources. The school very rarely will use a member of staff to run these clubs!!
Outdoor space for the Junior part of the school is an absolute joke! Pretty much all it is is a concrete car park, (and not a big one). There is no grass, no outdoor equipment, not even a shaded area like a tree or shelter. Come on could they not even put up a gazebo for the poor kids? They are told they are not even allowed to play outside at lunch time if no school hat. I found all my child and friends did at break time was to find little broken gems/broken glass on the concrete ground!! Oh yes and they have a small wooden box which isn’t used for anything.
Teaching standards, some teachers have been good but it seems a lot of good teachers have left.
Doing the bare minimum is the the middle name for this school, this is especially apparent during the lockdown. The school took great enjoyment in closing whilst staying at home and still getting paid, was like one big holiday for them!! On return they couldn’t wait to have another lockdown as always claiming that Covid was to blame for staff shortages and not enough staff means school has to close!!
The Welfare of children is at bottom of their priority, swimming lessons in December for example where kids came out from the leisure centre and into the cold with dripping wet hair! Lots of kids went sick but I feel they didn’t care. Also winter time leaving the classroom door wide open (which opens out into the outside) in the classrooms and letting the kids freeze to death in the class. Do you think this was was in the childrens best interest?
If parents who have children from a different race don’t expect everyone will be treated the same here, In fact I found that in my child’s class children were only friends with other children in their own race and no one really played with each other outside of their race circle. This also resonated to the childrens parents to the same extent.
I have now moved my child to a different school and feel this is the right choice plus also been thinking about it for a long time.
Lee Jackson2 years ago
THE ENVIRONMENT The school look's OK at first glance, they have a melting pot of students from all walk of life but the staffing is completely different, they are Desperately in need of more mixed MINORITY. CUSTOMER SERVICE: The customer Service is 4/5 but unfortunately after conversation with other parents, they and myself have experienced rude and aggressive service from one of the front desk staff, it is what you would expect in a free for all market place. HEALTH AND SAFETY : The school needs to do more on the health and safety of children, as my kids have had many accidents due to bad supervision during outside play. TEACHING STANDARDS : when my 1st child started he had a fantastic teaching team, and was exceeding, after 2 years they have extended the size of the school adding a extra class to each year and lost most of the experience teachers , I have noticed a drastic decline in his abilities, so left considering taking my kids out.
Enrolled my child to this school from reception thinking it was a good school but have been truly disappointed throughout. On enrolment the front office staff acted as though it was such an exclusive school and to make out that it was difficult to get into. I did not experience this attitude when applying to other schools in Gravesend. I should have know then it was a red flag but was naive into thinking I was doing my best for my child.
Things you would normally find in any other school eg, after school clubs, breakfast clubs, trips, school parties are almost non existent here, it’s almost like it’s too much to ask for them to work beyond their normal hours. I feel children need sports and extracurricular activities and not just academic to be fulfilled. Note if you need childcare before or after school there’s nothing on-site. They use the after school provision at the North Kent College down the road, or you have to find a childminder. Any clubs they do have e.g Centrestage, Multisports are brought in from external sources. The school very rarely will use a member of staff to run these clubs!!
Outdoor space for the Junior part of the school is an absolute joke! Pretty much all it is is a concrete car park, (and not a big one). There is no grass, no outdoor equipment, not even a shaded area like a tree or shelter. Come on could they not even put up a gazebo for the poor kids? They are told they are not even allowed to play outside at lunch time if no school hat. I found all my child and friends did at break time was to find little broken gems/broken glass on the concrete ground!! Oh yes and they have a small wooden box which isn’t used for anything.
Teaching standards, some teachers have been good but it seems a lot of good teachers have left.
Doing the bare minimum is the the middle name for this school, this is especially apparent during the lockdown. The school took great enjoyment in closing whilst staying at home and still getting paid, was like one big holiday for them!! On return they couldn’t wait to have another lockdown as always claiming that Covid was to blame for staff shortages and not enough staff means school has to close!!
The Welfare of children is at bottom of their priority, swimming lessons in December for example where kids came out from the leisure centre and into the cold with dripping wet hair! Lots of kids went sick but I feel they didn’t care. Also winter time leaving the classroom door wide open (which opens out into the outside) in the classrooms and letting the kids freeze to death in the class. Do you think this was was in the childrens best interest?
If parents who have children from a different race don’t expect everyone will be treated the same here, In fact I found that in my child’s class children were only friends with other children in their own race and no one really played with each other outside of their race circle. This also resonated to the childrens parents to the same extent.
I have now moved my child to a different school and feel this is the right choice plus also been thinking about it for a long time.
The school look's OK at first glance, they have a melting pot of students from all walk of life but the staffing is completely different, they are Desperately in need of more mixed MINORITY.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
The customer Service is 4/5 but unfortunately after conversation with other parents, they and myself have experienced rude and aggressive service from one of the front desk staff, it is what you would expect in a free for all market place.
HEALTH AND SAFETY :
The school needs to do more on the health and safety of children, as my kids have had many accidents due to bad supervision during outside play.
TEACHING STANDARDS :
when my 1st child started he had a fantastic teaching team, and was exceeding, after 2 years they have extended the size of the school adding a extra class to each year and lost most of the experience teachers , I have noticed a drastic decline in his abilities, so left considering taking my kids out.