Frequently Asked Questions

General Enquiries 
What are the timings of the school day? 
The school operates a five period day, each with 60-minutes in length. The day begins at 8.40am with registration. Lesson 1 commences at 9.00am, followed by lesson 2 at 10.00am. There is a 15-minute break at 11.00am. A further two lessons commence from 11.15am, with lunch taken for all pupils at 1.15pm. The afternoon registration session is taken at 1.55pm, at the commencement of lesson 5. The school day then finishes at 2.55pm. Throughout the school year, there will be a range of after-school clubs and additional lessons available for students, especially those sitting public examinations. 

What are the term dates for the academic year?
The school coordinates its term dates, in conjunction with Rhondda Cynon Taf. Full details of the dates for the academic year can be accessed via the link.

Is there a Friends Association? 
Yes, we have a thriving Friends. However, the PTFA are always looking for new members. The PTFA help strengthen the link between home and school through a variety of worthwhile initiatives, which raises valuable monies to help invest in the education of the children of the school. 

How can I get involved with the school? 
There are a variety of ways to get involved including: attending various sporting, musical and liturgical performances; regularly visiting the school website and following us on X (formerly Twitter) @StJohnsAberdare. We welcome feedback via email, letter or in person too.

Pastoral Matters
Who is the best person to contact with general questions about my child? 
If your concern is about an individual subject, then we ask that you contact your child's classroom teacher, followed by the subject leader. However, if your concern is about school or more than one subject, we would recommend you speak to your child's tutor and then the relevant Assistant/Head of Key Stage.

If you are still concerned, or you have not been able to resolve a concern, then we recommend you speak to Mr Toghill, Assistant Head, for concerns relating to Year 7; Year 8; Year 9. For concerns relating to Year 10 and/or Year 11, then Mr Love, Head of School; and for concerns in the Sixth Form, you should contact Mr Hollidge, Assistant Head (Sixth Form). 

For contact details of all staff, then please click on the link.

I have emailed my child's Head of Key Stage but they haven't replied. What should I do?
All of our staff have teaching commitments. Therefore, it is likely that there is a genuine reason you have not yet received a reply. We recommend that families contact staff by email or leave a message with the main office. We aim to get a response to families within 24-48 hours.

Uniform
What if I do not agree with the school's policy on uniform?
When applying for a place at St John's, the school is very clear about its expectations of parents/carers and pupils. This includes issues relating to attendance, engagement with school, and its uniform expectations. By sending your child to the school, it is on the understanding of these expectations. Only those pupils with medical conditions, and supported by a medical note, are permitted reasonable adjustments to the school's uniform. For more information speak to your child's relevant Head of Key Stage.

Absence and Lateness
Will the school contact me if my child doesn’t arrive at school? 
Yes. Ms Stephens, our Attendance Officer, closely monitors attendance, and will contact you by phone or text if your child is absent and you have not called in. Please make sure that your contact details are up-to-date. You can contact the school office with any change of contact details on 01685 875414. 

Who do I tell if my child needs to be absent from school for a medical appointment? 
Please contact Mrs Stephens, Attendance Officer on 01685 875414 if your child is going to be absent from school. Please be aware that medical evidence may be requested for prolonged absence.

My child has an injury – what should I do? 
Once your child is ready to come back to school after an injury, we will make necessary arrangements to ensure that he/she can continue to learn at school in a safe environment. We will undertake a risk-assessment with you to ensure you are content with the arrangements in place. Please feel free to call the main office to discuss further.

What if I want to take my child on holiday during term time?
Pupils are expected to attend school for 190 days of the year. We expect students to have strong attendance and not below 95%. Attendance below this seriously jeopardises a child's educational attainment. To request an absence for your child, please contact the school via Mrs Stephens, FAO Mr Toghill (Assistant Head). However, please be aware the school does not authorise family holidays during term time. 

When should my child arrive to school? 
Your child must be in school by no later than 8.35am. If your child is persistently late, then this may result in a sanction.

Will I receive a home visit from the school if my child is persistently absent from school? 
Yes, perhaps even if you have phoned in. This is intended to be a supportive measure and forms part of the local authority approach to reducing persistent absence in school. 

Academic Progress
How can I find out what level/class my child is streamed into?
To find out how well your child is progressing, please attend parent' evenings and information evenings. These provide important information for families. If you have concerns, you may contact individual teachers. Dates for parents’ evenings can be found on the school calendar. Please make a note of these and, remember, that you can subscribe to the calendar. This will allow you to download it to your Google, Microsoft and/or iOS platforms.

What if I am concerned about my child’s academic progress? 
The school communicates progress on a termly basis. This will include a mixture of parents' evenings, interim and/or full reports. At key stage 3, this will provide information to explain whether your child is performing 'above' expectations; 'in line' with expectations; or 'below' expectations. For key stage 4 and sixth form, this will make explicit links to examination grades.

Where you have concerns about your child's progress in an individual subject, please contact your child’s teacher, in the first instance. Each subject has a designated lead and they would be the next point of contact. If your concerns are broader, then we would advise you contact your child's relevant Head of Key Stage.

Behaviour
How will I know if my child receives a detention? 
The school will contact you if your child receives an after school detention. Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date to avoid any issues with communication. You can contact the school office with any change of contact details on 01685 875414. 

I’d like to discuss my child’s behaviour outside of school – who is the best person to speak to? 
The pastoral team are available to discuss any queries you may have and can direct you to the person most suited to support. In the first instance, we recommend you speak to your child's relevant Assistant/Head of Key Stage. Please be aware that we sanction pupils for misbehaviour outside of school and outside school hours. This is in line with Welsh Government guidance.

Extra-curricular
Afterschool Clubs – does my child have to attend every week or can they drop in? 
Your child is welcome at after-school clubs whenever they want to attend. However, some extra-curricular activities such as school performances may require committed attendance to avoid letting others down. 

Additional Learning Needs
Who should I contact about my child’s additional learning needs? 
Please contact your child’s teacher to discuss queries around your child's additional learning needs. Alternatively, please contact our ALNCo, Mrs Macdonald via email, for queries regarding provision available or your child's specific needs.