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St John's


St John's was founded in 1957 and is conveniently located right at the centre of the school, in one of the older College buildings.

Virtual House Tour 

St John’s is a friendly house in the centre of the main school. It has accommodation for 65 boys with Year 9 in dormitories of six; Years 10 and 11 in twin rooms which have ensuite facilities; and Sixth Form boarders in their own rooms.

Chris Starkey is the current Housemaster in St John's.  He read History at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, and trained as a teacher at the University of Buckingham. Chris is also Head of Politics at Ampleforth, and enjoys this dual academic and pastoral responsibility. Chris has led St John’s for four years, and before that was Assistant Housemaster in St Hugh’s and a tutor across the year groups. He nurtures the personal development of the boys, managing the excellent team of tutors in St John’s and working closely with parents.

St John’s boys are well-rounded and ‘joiner-inners’ in the school community. The culture of the house is comparable to a family home, where there is a premium on open communication and a blend of the formal and informal; the best of the old and the new in boarding school life. St John’s is a place where boys are transformed through their relationships with one another into the best and most authentic version of themselves.

About St John

St John Fisher (1469-1535), Bishop of Rochester, was put to death for resisting Henry VIII's claims over the Church. He was a man of learning and was associated with many intellectuals and political leaders of his day. He eventually became the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge before his death in 1535.

A Compass for Life

Full Boarding & Day School for students aged 11 to 18