Dean Close School (St Johns)

Word From The Head

Nick Thrower

St John's on the Hill, a co-educational day and boarding prep school including a pre-prep as well as all year round day nurseries. Founded in 1923, St. John's combines the best traditional values with a modern approach. Offering both academic strength and all round breadth and diversity of opportunity, our emphasis is on high standards; academic, sporting, creative and social. We aim to provide the highest standard of care and education for children aged between 3 months and 13 years. The school is a charitable trust controlled by a board of governors who are drawn from a wide background. The school is also a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and the Boarding Schools Association. St John's on the Hill is situated in its own extensive and attractive grounds on the border of Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire, overlooking Chepstow castle and the picturesque Wye Valley.


Words and pictures can never do full justice to this particular school. There are aspects we cannot properly convey here; the significance we place on courtesy and good manners; the real sense of family atmosphere that prevails; the enormous amount of hard work put in by all the staff; and the genuine concern we have for the welfare and development of every child. And we can only hint at our beautiful setting and excellent facilities.

The school's principal aim is to provide an education for children aged 3 months to 13 years, both day and boarding, which will motivate, challenge, encourage and inspire them. Equally important, aims which underpin our work are:

*To successfully prepare our pupils both academically and socially for the next stage of education, normally at the age of 13.

*To create a safe, caring and happy environment within which all pupils feel valued and secure.

*To work closely with parents for the good of the children.

*To identify individual needs and to help children move towards realising their potential academically, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, culturally and spiritually.

*To resource the school to provide for a variety of educational experiences.