School history

About eleven years ago in 1994, when the planned housing estate in Carterton was being considered a new school was seen as integral to this new community. The Oxfordshire Diocese and the local Parochial Church Council requested this should be a Church of England linked community school and this was agreed.

The land was designated by the developers and the funding for building the school was passed from the Department for Education to the Oxfordshire Diocese.

Over the next six years the tenders for the contract agreed Fred Jewel and Son as the architect for the new school and Kingerlee as the lead building firm. The school name was linked to that of the parish Church of Carterton – St John the Evangelist.

After some delays, in spring 2002 the work on the designated school site started, and by July 2002 the shape of the design was clearly evident. Although the new building was not complete St John the Evangelist School opened in September 2002 in temporary buildings in Carterton Community College. Early in the autumn of 2002 the Foundation Stone ceremony took place at the new school site. The school opened with 30 children but by December 2002 it was growing beyond the capacity of the temporary site so the school moved to its unfinished building on Shilton Park. Work continued on the building until March 2003 and on the grounds until August 2003. The new St John the Evangelist School was formally opened in April 2003 by the bishop of Dorchester.

In January 2007 the final stage of the initial design was started and completed in July 2007.  St John’s now has 11 classes plus the nursery, group rooms and libraries.

Over the past years St John’s has grown in size but has maintained the caring, friendly atmosphere created in the early stages. As of September 2007 there are 11 classes plus the nursery class – with almost over 300 children in the school.

The Christian Foundation of the school is important to the school and the church. Members of St John’s Church are Foundation governors and the Rector of the Parish are on the Governing Body. The school buildings are used for a church and community outreach project – the Necklace Project and Children’s Centre. This involves a fortnightly Sunday afternoon meeting and a weekly Mums and toddlers (Buggy Club) and health visitors stay and play sessions.

Tessa Farley (Headteacher)