Latest Newsletter (website translatable version)
8th July 2026
Dear Parents/Carers,
As we get close to the end of term, I wanted to write to you to make sure that you have all the dates and times for our end of year events as well as to share some other useful information.
Wednesday 8th July
Thank you to the families who came to our KS 1 end of term assembly and well done to all our KS 1 children and staff.
Thursday 9th July
Year 1 trip the Big Read at Victoria Park
Friday 10th July
9.30am Reception and Year 1 Celebration of the Word at the cathedral. Parents/carers are very welcome and we always appreciate those that are able to walk there and back with us.
WB 13th July
No clubs. All clubs, except wraparound, stop until September.
Monday 13th July
9am KS 2 End of term assembly. Parents/carers are very welcome.
Wednesday 15th July
Year 3 trip to proms in the park (and lunch) and the cathedral exhibition.
Year 1 trip postponed until Thursday 10th September.
Thursday 16th July
Year 6 SATs results due to be released by the DfE. (They will come home in reports)
1.45pm and 6pm Year 6 show. Tickets will be sent home with year 6 children.
Monday 20th July
9am Year 6 Leavers’ Mass in the hall. Year 6 parents/carers are very welcome.
Reports out
Tuesday 21st July
3.20pm/3.30pm End of term for all children.
Wednesday 22nd July
INSET day. School closed for staff training and handovers.
Tuesday 1st September
INSET day. School closed for staff training
Wednesday 2nd September
INSET day. School closed for staff training
Thursday 3rd September
8.45/8.55am Term starts for children in Years 1-6
INSET days for 2026-2027
Tuesday 1st September
Wednesday 2nd September
Friday 9th October
Monday 22nd February
Wednesday 21st July
Other information
Goodbye
Thank you and goodbye to those families who will be leaving us at the end of term. Thank you and goodbye also to Mrs Brown and Mrs Dunford who will be retiring and to Miss Rist who will be moving to her next placement school. You will all be in our prayers and much missed by our school community.
School meals
Caterlink have made us aware that the cost of a school dinner will rise to £2.96 in September.
Nursery Top-Up Charge
From 1.9.2026 the top-up charge for 2026-27 is set at £6.00 per additional hour.
Year 6 Leavers
Parents of Year 6 children, please look out for the exit survey which will be sent home before the end of term. It helps us to gain some valuable insights into how we are doing as a school and what our parents feel about everything that St John’s provides. Children will be given an opportunity to complete theirs in school.
Summer reading challenge
Please support your child to take part in Read to the Beat, this year's Summer Reading Challenge, which launches in all Portsmouth Libraries from Saturday 4 July. Please encourage your child to visit the library and see the difference the Challenge makes to their reading and confidence. It is also a really fun way to spend time together during the holidays as libraries will be offering lots of activities during the summer. It is FREE to join the library and take part in the Summer Reading Challenge and there are NO FINES or reservation charges for books borrowed by children or adults! Children can also register online: www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
Every child taking part in the Challenge will receive stickers and other incentives to encourage them to reach their reading target. When they complete the Challenge, they will be given a special certificate and invited to the very popular celebration event to receive a medal and take part in lots of fun activities. This will take place at Southsea Castle on Sunday 27 September.
Pride of Portsmouth
This summer, Portsmouth will come alive with the Pride of Portsmouth lion trail, a colourful city-wide public art event taking place from Monday 13 July to Sunday 13 September 2026.
As part of the Portsmouth100 centenary celebrations, the trail has been created in partnership with Wild in Art and will feature a pride of lion sculptures designed by artists and local community groups across the city. The trail offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils and their families to develop a sense of pride in their city while engaging with art. Find out more: prideofportsmouth.co.uk
Children’s commissioner’s national survey
The children’s commissioner is asking children about the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns and their hopes for the future. She wants to know what children think a good childhood should look like now and in the future. She is asking for as many children as possible to complete the survey here: https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.
Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful summer when it arrives.
Yours sincerely,
L. Park
Head Teacher
DIARY DATES
2026-2027
September
Monday 1st INSET day – school closed
Tuesday 2nd INSET day – school closed
Thursday 3rd Back to school Year 1-6
October Half-Term 26th-30th October
Christmas 21st Dec – 1st January
Feb half term 15th-19th February
Easter 26th March-9th April
June half term 31st May-4th June
INSET days for 2026-2027
Tuesday 1st September
Wednesday 2nd September
Friday 9th October
Monday 22nd February
Wednesday 21st July