St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf

About the students

St John’s is a non-maintained special school for students aged 4 – 19. We are school where spoken language is used across the curriculum and where every young person communicates equally and successfully with others. Students in our well-established sixth form participate in programmes of study at local FE colleges where they are supported by qualified and experienced learning mentors and specialist teachers. The school is based in Boston Spa, which lies between York and Leeds.

The school’s extensive buildings are well-equipped, housing a gym with specialist fitness equipment, a purpose built theatre and sound recording suite, a fully stocked library, an IT suite and a number of sensory rooms. The grounds are perfect for sports and leisure activities, with marked pitches and a newly developed sensory garden.

Catchment

Curriculum

Our sixth form offers students the opportunity to study a wide range of academic and vocational courses linked to either York or Askham Bryan College. Students have full time support from learning mentors who are trained to support the communication needs of deaf people. Linking with mainstream colleges helps students build wider friendship groups and offers new social opportunities.

The sixth form residential setting provides a full life skills programme which is accessible for young people with a range of additional needs. By the end of their time at St John’s, students have well-developed independence skills for adult life. Students learn to budget, cook, plan their own social lives and travel independently. We also help students to pass their driving tests by arranging driving lessons and providing driving theory tutorials.

By the time students leave St John’s sixth form they are well-equipped to go on into employment, further or higher education. They have the social and communication skills to participate in the wider world.

Specialist facilities

Students’ communication needs are supported by a team of specialist speech and language therapists who plan and deliver individual programmes. Sixth form work includes sessions on subject specific vocabulary and discussion relevant to young adults.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants are checked and maintained by our school audiologist. She can replace faulty equipment to ensure that students do not miss valuable learning time.

There is a strong focus on physical and emotional well –being. The pastoral team, which includes a school nurse, manage students’ medical needs. The team also promotes healthy and active lifestyles and works with students to develop good social relationships and online safety. The school has excellent links with the Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health team, who have a base in the school.

Other information