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Curriculum British Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Typical class size 22
Introduction
St John's College is an Anglican boys' school in Houghton, Johannesburg, offering education from Grade 0000 through Grade 12 (approximately ages 3–18) across Pre‑Preparatory, Preparatory, College and Sixth Form divisions; girls are admitted at The Bridge nursery and may rejoin in Sixth Form. The College follows the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) curriculum in the senior school and offers the option to read Cambridge A Levels or post‑matric programmes in Sixth Form. English is the home language; Afrikaans and isiZulu are taught as First Additional Languages and other languages (including French, German, Latin and Sesotho at various stages) are offered. The school describes an Anglican Christian ethos with chapel and pastoral provision and notes partnerships such as membership of the International Boys' Schools Coalition and community initiatives including the St John's College Academy and scholarship programmes. Campus facilities listed on the school site include a nine‑lab science centre, multiple networked computer centres, libraries, a music centre and theatre, indoor and outdoor pools, extensive sports fields, courts, a high‑performance gym and an outdoor education centre in the Waterberg.
Gallery
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Fees
Annual tuition at St John's College ranges from ZAR 87,076 to ZAR 232,974 depending on year group. That works out at roughly ZAR 87,076 to ZAR 135,393 for the early years, ZAR 135,393 to ZAR 182,204 for primary, ZAR 232,974 for secondary, ZAR 232,974 for sixth form. Billing schedule and payment terms: Payment frequency options are annual, termly, or monthly.
School Events
The school has not added events
FAQs
Where is St John's College located, and what should relocating families know about its setting?
St John's College sits on St David Road in the Houghton Estate, Johannesburg (postal 2198), just south of Sandton. The campus is bordered by Sandton and central Johannesburg access points, with the main gate on the school property. It is a private Anglican day and boarding school serving a wide age range and housing options.
What ages and school phases does St John's College cover, and how is the campus structured?
The school serves ages 3 to 18, with four levels: Bridge Nursery (co-educational), Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory (boys), College (grades 8–12), and Sixth Form (co-educational). The Sixth Form offers Cambridge International AS and A Levels and is part of the long-standing Cambridge centre network in the country.
What curriculum and language options does St John's College offer?
St John's follows the National Senior Certificate curriculum examined by the IEB, with English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language, IsiZulu First Additional Language, Sesotho First Additional Language, and French Second Additional Language. Core subjects include Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, IT, Geography, History, Life Orientation, and the arts. The Junior Phase adds Design & Technology, Computer Literacy, and EMS; the Senior Phase offers Further Studies English, Further Studies Mathematics, and Further Studies Physics.
How much does tuition cost at St John's College, and what deposits are required on acceptance?
For 2026, College & Sixth Form tuition is 232,974 per annum (22,708 per month or 80,062 per term). Preparatory fees run around 182,204 per annum, with Bridge Nursery levels varying by grade. A refundable deposit equal to one term's tuition is required on acceptance, and deposits are topped up when advancing to higher-fee grades.
What is the admissions process, and are there waitlists?
Applications are submitted online only. Main entry points are Bridge Nursery, Pre-Preparatory, College, and Sixth Form, with places sometimes offered from a waiting list. Admission is at the discretion of the Heads of the respective schools, based on space, likely fit, and alignment with the school's values. All new families sign a Parent Contract for readmission each year.
Are there scholarships at St John's College, and how do I apply?
Yes, there are merit-based scholarships for Grade 8 entrants, including Academic, Centenary, Sports, and Music categories. Candidates must complete the online application and take the College entrance assessment. For Grade 8 in 2027, applications close on 30 January 2026, with scholarship offers typically announced in April.
What subjects and assessment outcomes define the academic program at St John's College?
The NSC curriculum includes extensive subjects across sciences, humanities, languages, and arts. The college highlights strong matric results and a focus on academic support through its Academic Support Centre, with weekly consolidation lessons and access to a professional team for additional needs.
What facilities support learning, science, tech, and the arts at St John's College?
The school features a science centre with nine laboratories, six computer centres, and well-stocked libraries with ICT. Arts are anchored by a music centre and a theatre with two auditoria seating up to 700. On sport and activities, there are three cricket fields, four rugby fields, hockey fields, an indoor Aquatics Centre, an outdoor pool, a high-performance gym, and multiple courts.
What kinds of clubs, activities, and leadership opportunities exist beyond academics?
There are extensive clubs and societies run through the House System, with students required to join at least one club each term. Sixth Formers can participate in theatre, music ensembles, sport, and debating, and leadership roles often come through the House System, including possible house prefect appointments. The school also emphasizes community outreach and Olympiads/Expos.
How does St John's College support students' wellbeing and safeguarding?
Pastoral care is central, with a team including the headmaster, deputies, housemasters, chaplains, and a school psychologist who provide counselling as needed. There is a designated safeguarding policy (since November 2023), the two-adult rule, vetting for roles with children, and clear reporting channels for safeguarding concerns.
What is the boarding setup and how are houses organized?
Boarding is offered in four houses—Nash, Hill, Clayton, and Hodgson—for roughly 240 boys from Remove to Upper V, with weekly or termly options. Juniors share rooms (3–4 per room) while Upper V boarders have single rooms; each house has common rooms and supervision. There are eight houses in total (Nash, Hill, Clayton, Hodgson for boarders/day-boys; Thomson, Alston, Clarke, Fleming for day-boys) with inter-house competitions and dedicated leadership roles.
What does the school uniform look like, and what about boarders' attire?
The uniform includes a navy blazer with badge, charcoal trousers, white shirt, a blue-and-maroon striped tie, grey jerseys, and black shoes. Boarders wear a navy T-shirt and blue PE shorts; a sports uniform is required for sports, and rowing kit features a maroon shirt with the crest and ‘St John's College' in gold on the back.
What meals and daily food arrangements are in place at St John's College?
Meals are served in the dining hall and prepared by in-house kitchen staff. Menus are regularly reviewed with input from staff and students, and hot lunch and morning tea can be added as optional services with notice requirements.
What languages are taught at St John's College, and how are they structured across year groups?
Languages taught include English, Afrikaans, and isiZulu. IsiZulu is offered from Pre-Preparatory through matric as a First or Second Additional Language (Second Additional Language from Grade 8). In the College, Afrikaans is a First Additional Language, IsiZulu a First Additional Language, and French is a Second Additional Language.
What is the school's history and governance, and how does it reflect its Anglican ethos?
St John's College was established in 1898 as a parish school of St Mary's Anglican Church in downtown Johannesburg. It moved to the Houghton site in the early 1900s, remains Anglican in ethos, and is governed under the care of The Visitor, the Bishop of Johannesburg, with chapel life and weekly services central to school life.
What role does the Parents' Association play at St John's College?
The Parents' Association runs services and shops (School Shop, Tuck Shop) and coordinates catering at events. It funds development projects such as the Centenary Scholarship Programme and Masibambane, hosts events throughout the year, and collaborates with neighboring schools on local precinct improvements.
What international connections does St John's College maintain for families relocating from abroad?
St John's College maintains international connections through groups like the International Boys' Schools Coalition and the G30 network, and it supports global engagement through initiatives such as the St John's College Academy and the Centenary Scholarship Programme.
