St John’s was founded in 1851 and moved to Leatherhead, Surrey, in 1872.  The location has proved popular ever since, being conveniently close to the town centre and with excellent communications by road and rail.

The main school buildings at St John’s were constructed in the 1870s and the striking mix of mid-Victorian architecture with contemporary, state-of-the-art buildings around our site offer a blend old and new and create a special atmosphere. Our intention is to provide our pupils with the very best facilities, creating an environment which is inspiring and enjoyable in which to learn, live and work.

We are fortunate to have a beautiful 50 acre school site and in recent years, we have undertaken a number of significant projects, both to create innovative new spaces and to renovate and revitalise older parts of the School.  These ongoing developments are not only exciting, but stand as testament to our ambition to offer the best possible environment for our pupils and for others who benefit by using our site.

Take a Virtual Tour of St John’s

Lower School

In 2016 the ground floor of East House, in one of the School’s original Victorian buildings, was completely refurbished to create a home for Lower School. With its own entrance and reception, and inner connections to the main school, the St John’s Lower School offers our younger pupils the chance to feel fully involved in school life, while providing them with the comfort of their own community within the School.

Comprising a large open-plan common room and garden room along the whole of the back of the wing, the Lower School looks out onto a large new landscaped garden which was created especially for our youngest pupils. There is also a multimedia room and quiet study area along with new changing rooms.

Science Centre

The Science Centre was opened in 2015 and provides eight state-of-the-art biology and chemistry laboratories. The building’s innovative design engages and stimulates pupils, motivating them to explore the sciences through experimentation, study, research and discussion.

Sports Centre

We’re fortunate to have exceptional sports facilities at St John’s. The creation of a new sports centre was completed in 2020, providing a competition-standard six lane, 25m pool, gym and conditioning suite, studio and sports changing areas.

Our facilities also include: nine rugby/football pitches, two Astroturf pitches, six netball courts, four cricket squares and a recently refurbished cricket pavilion, five hard tennis courts and 24 synthetic courts (in summer) and an athletics track.

The Chapel

The Chapel is an integral part of life at St John’s.  It is where we meet for assembly and services and is a beautiful space for reflection and contemplation in the busy school day.  It features stunning stained glass windows including a window, designed by Jude Tarrant and installed in 2014, which focuses on themes of war and its futility.  A new Tickell organ was installed in 2015 thanks to generous donations of the St John’s community.

The Old Chapel

Built in 1878, the Old Chapel was later used as a library before falling into disrepair. It was fully renovated in 2014 and the beautifully restored building has become integral to school life once again. It is multi-purpose, being used for a wide variety of events both by the school and local community but lends itself particularly well concerts, recitals and exhibitions which suit the atmospheric setting.

The Dining Hall

Stretching along one side of the Quad, the Dining Hall is an attractive and welcoming space, filled every day with pupils enjoying the delicious school catering.  An atmospheric setting for evening dinners and special events, the Dining Hall frequently welcomes OJs, parents and other groups for celebrations and memorable occasions.

The Houses

Our Houses range from recent additions to traditional buildings which have been here since the 1800s but all are updated and made to be warm, welcoming spaces which are a home away from home for the pupils, whether they are boarding or simply taking time out to relax with friends during a school day. Dotted around the campus, each House has its own identity and space.

The Performing Arts Centre

We are fortunate to have this flexible space, designed for theatre performances and dance recitals. The PAC has a retractable rack seating, a built-in projector and drop-down screen.  It is perfect to house theatre performances as it is equipped with a state-of-the-art lighting board, dressing rooms for performers and is also fully air conditioned.

Venue Hire

Many areas of our school site are used by local groups and organisations.  If you would like to find out more about hiring space at St John’s, or to make a booking, please click here to visit our Venue Hire Information.