St John’s CE Academy celebrates official opening of new secondary site.

The official opening on Thursday 1st October brought together pupils, staff, community representatives, and special guests to celebrate the new Secondary Site as part of the all-through school and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for St John’s.

The new site has welcomed their Year 7 and 8 pupils this September. For both year groups, the move into the new secondary building has marked an exciting new chapter, with pupils settling into new routines, specialist facilities, and a dedicated secondary environment.

The first few weeks have seen pupils getting to know their new surroundings, teachers, and classmates, while experiencing the wide range of subjects, facilities, and opportunities available at the new school. The school has been delighted to see both year groups settling into secondary life and growing in confidence as they become familiar with their new building.

The new secondary site sits alongside the existing primary provision at the Wellington Gate development and completes St John’s vision for an all-through school. The school is now able to provide a continuous educational journey from nursery through to Year 11, with the primary and secondary phases working together as one school across two sites.

The purpose-built secondary school provides places for approximately 600 students aged 11 to 16. The 6,074m², two-storey building includes specialist teaching spaces, sports facilities, grass playing fields and a multi-use games area.

The building has also been designed with sustainability and wellbeing in mind, including a cross-laminated timber structure, photovoltaic panels, a green roof, and extensive outdoor spaces. The design incorporates natural materials, daylight, and connections with the surrounding landscape to create an environment that supports learning and wellbeing.

At the official opening, guests heard speeches celebrating the development of the new secondary site and the journey to welcoming its first pupils.

Pupils then took centre stage, leading guests on tours of the new school and showcasing the facilities where they are now learning, spending time with friends and developing new skills.

A Founders’ Book was also introduced as part of the celebrations. Guests were invited to sign the book and leave a message to mark the opening of the new secondary site. The book will form part of a time capsule, creating a permanent record of this important moment in St John’s history for future generations of pupils to discover.

Callum Jackson, Head of School – Secondary Phase at St John’s CE Academy, said:

“St John’s is a happy, calm and purposeful school where hard work is the norm, positive relationships flourish, and students take pride in both their own achievements and those of their peers.”

“We now have facilities that reflect our ambitions for the school and provide an environment in which our young people and staff can feel proud to learn and work each day.”

“The foundations are strong, the future is bright, and I genuinely believe the best is yet to come.”

Rick Holroyd, Executive Headteacher of St John’s CE Academy, said:

“It is exciting to see the new Secondary Site open and, most importantly, to see it filled with our first secondary students.

“This is a significant moment in the development of St John’s as an all-through school. Our Year 7 and 8 students have made a fantastic start, and it has been wonderful to see them beginning to settle, build relationships and make the new school their own.

“We are hugely grateful to everyone who has helped bring this vision to life. The new site provides outstanding opportunities for our students to learn, develop their talents and grow in confidence, and we are looking forward to seeing our secondary community develop over the years ahead.”

Richard Evans, Chief Executive of Cambrian Learning Trust, said:

“The opening of St John’s secondary site is a hugely significant moment for the school, the Trust, and the wider community. It is wonderful to see the building now filled with the energy and enthusiasm of our first Year 7 and Year 8 students.

“St John’s has a clear ambition for every young person to grow, flourish and fly, and these new facilities provide an environment in which that ambition can become a reality. The opening also brings us closer to our vision of an all-through school where children can experience a strong sense of belonging and continuity throughout their education.

“This is a wonderful beginning for the secondary phase, and we look forward to seeing our young people make their mark on St John’s in the years to come.”

The secondary site was delivered by Bouygues UK on behalf of Cambrian Learning Trust and the Department for Education. The project completes the first all-through education provision in the local area, bringing together nursery, primary and secondary education as part of St John’s growing community.

St John’s vision is for every individual to “grow in wisdom and character, to flourish in our vibrant community, to fly beyond expectations,” with its Christian values of Courage, Kindness, and Respect underpinning school life.