St John's Church of England Primary School, Dorking

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades St John's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations of pupils' attendance at school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide pupils with a wide range of opportunities that enrich their experiences within and beyond the classroom."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils have gaps in elements of their foundational knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Typically, the key knowledge and skills that pupils must learn in each subject are clearly set out in curriculum documents."

Early years - Needs attention. "Leaders have created a curriculum that is well sequenced."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Over time, support to address pupils' barriers to learning has not been effective enough."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Over time there has been many changes to school leadership."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders need to further develop staff expertise in checking and deepening pupils understanding in lessons so that pupils can consistently understand and use what they have been taught"; "Leaders should embed the recent changes in the provision to appropriately support pupils with SEND across the curriculum, ensuring that the right adaptations and guidance are in place"; "Leaders need to further develop and embed their approaches to addressing gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge".

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff, Governors and The Good Shepherd Trust, I would like to welcome you to St John’s Church of England Primary School. It is designed to give you a flavour of the vibrant life of our school, the work of our pupils and the quality education we strive to deliver."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care until 6:00pm, from £3.50 per day.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 4 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 and an open evening on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 43% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Surrey and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 55% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St John's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Church of England Primary School are St Paul's CofE Primary School (0.8 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.9 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 81% reading, 85% maths); and Powell Corderoy Primary School (1 mile, 83% reading, 80% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St John's Church of England Primary School.

St John's Church of England Primary School is one of 24 schools run by The Good Shepherd Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

33.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 42 pupils (20%) received SEN support and 20 (9.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

St John's Church of England Primary School had 16 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Dorking West Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Glory Mead (adjacent), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 47 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76).

In 2024/25, St John's Church of England Primary School issued 24 suspensions, 10.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St John's Church of England Primary School are The Priory Church of England School (1 mile) and The Ashcombe School (1.5 miles).