United Kingdom · Cardiff
St John’s College is a co-educational day school in Old St Mellons, from Nursery through Sixth Form. Years 7–11 cost £6,905 per term for 2026–27, including VAT, plus a £70 sports supplement. Confirm current entry requirements: the reviewed admissions policy is dated 2024–25.
St John’s College is a co-educational day school at William Nicholls Drive, Old St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 5YX. It teaches from Nursery through Sixth Form, leading to GCSEs and A-levels.
Consider it if the east-Cardiff location works for your family. The Cathedral School, Llandaff is a separate day-school option in another part of Cardiff. Compare the actual journeys and programmes rather than assuming that either location will be equally convenient.
The admissions page says children may join during the year if a place is available. The linked policy reviewed for this guide is dated 2024–25. Confirm the current assessment arrangements and whether a newer policy applies.
Under that policy:
The school says it has welcomed international applicants for twenty years and that many stay with homestay families. Homestay is accommodation with a host family, not school boarding. Use the overseas-applicant contact on the admissions page to clarify accommodation, guardianship and any visa arrangements before committing.
The published information describes three academic scholarships worth 5% each year for pupils in the school’s R12 and R14 classes. Assessments take place in R11 in mathematics and English, and in R13 in mathematics, English and science.
These are the school’s class labels, not ordinary national Year 12–14 labels. Ask admissions to confirm the corresponding entry stage for your child and the current assessment dates.
A limited number of means-tested bursaries are available. The reviewed fee-remissions document is dated 2025–26, so obtain the current sibling-discount and assistance terms rather than relying on its older amounts.
The 2026–27 fee table lists the following termly amounts, including VAT. The discounted column applies to prompt payment by the stated dates.
| Year | Fee | Prompt-payment (by 1 Sept / 1 Jan / 1 Apr) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery | £3,555 | £3,484 |
| Reception–Year 1 | £4,895 | £4,797 |
| Year 2 | £4,975 | £4,876 |
| Years 3–5 | £5,720 | £5,606 |
| Year 6 | £6,120 | £5,998 |
| Years 7–11 | £6,905 | £6,767 |
| Sixth Form | £7,290 | £7,144 |
The sports supplement is £70 per term from Reception through Sixth Form. There is also a one-off £250 laboratory-consumables charge for pupils joining at R8 or above; confirm which national year group that school label means.
Bus routes serve South Wales, with fares in a separate document. Some co-curricular activities cost extra. Textbooks are lent, but lost or damaged copies may be charged.
For a Years 7–11 pupil, three standard tuition payments plus three sports supplements total £20,925 a year. This calculation excludes buses, trips and other applicable charges.
The reviewed 2026–27 fee page does not state a registration fee. The 2025–26 handbook gave £125, but that is not a confirmed current charge. Ask admissions for the amount payable with your application.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
The Cathedral School is a co-educational Christian day school in Llandaff for ages 3–18. It offers England-pathway GCSEs, followed by the Welsh AS and A-level structure described in its current handbook.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
CheltenhamCheltenham College is a selective co-educational senior school for ages 13–18. It combines day places, full boarding and limited day boarding with GCSE, A-level and vocational routes.
The Cathedral School in Llandaff and St John’s College in Old St Mellons are co-educational day schools for ages 3–18, with different locations and cathedral traditions.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.