About us

We are a welcoming school community that encourages curiosity, values diverse perspectives, and inspires independent thinking.

Study at St. John's

Every lesson is a step toward shaping confident learners, strong values, and a future built on knowledge, curiosity, and character.

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Campus life and community

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Academic excellence

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Faculties and staff

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Who we are

Nurturing education and values

St. John's School, Anchal was founded in 1984 by Rev. Fr. George Malancharuvil with the blessings of His Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios, then Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram. It functions under the Malankara Catholic Educational Society, a registered society for the unaided CBSE and ICSE schools of the Major Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram. The president of the society is the Head and Father of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram.

Our values

Integrity, inclusiveness, creativity, compassion and care for the environment

These values shape how we teach and how our students learn to live: as responsible, innovative citizens with a strong sense of service.

Our mission

Discover the multifaceted talents of the learners; cultivate in them a mindset of lifelong learning, strength of character and service to others that are consistent with school values.

Our vision

Every student is a passionate learner, leader and champion, the most decorated citizen of India and a lamp of the world.

The St. John's experience: nurturing minds, building futures

A journey of academic excellence, strong values, community spirit, and holistic development that helps every student grow with confidence.

40+Years of experience
2578Students
111+Teachers

Message from the Principal

Building minds for a better tomorrow

Actions speak louder than words. They turn our values into visible steps: integrity shown, duties done, and promises kept. True discipline is not a list of rules we recite, but a habit we live. It is the bridge between who our students are today and who they are meant to become. Personal discipline begins with timing, waking on time, reaching school before the bell, submitting work by the deadline. Following those limits, whether for study, play or rest, helps a child balance life instead of being ruled by it. School is our first public space, and what a child practises here they carry everywhere.

Mary PothenPrincipal, St. John's School, Anchal

Mary Pothen, Principal

In their words

Messages from our leadership

Written for the 2025-26 school magazine by the people who guide the school day to day.

Fr. Bovas Mathew
Fr. Bovas Mathew Local Manager and Bursar

Rooted in principles, ready for tomorrow

Education at St. John's goes beyond academic achievement. We strive to form people of character: compassionate in service, disciplined in effort, and humble in success. Through co-curricular activities, value education and outreach programmes, our students learn empathy and social responsibility.

Parents and guardians remain our partners in this mission. Your trust and cooperation strengthen the learning environment and encourage our students to aim higher.

Mary Pothen
Mary Pothen Principal

Discipline, the quiet strength that shapes us

Actions speak louder than words. They turn our values into visible steps: integrity shown, duties done, and promises kept. True discipline is not a list of rules we recite, but a habit we live.

It is the bridge between who our students are today and who they are meant to become.

K. M. Mathew
K. M. Mathew Vice Chairman

Character formation

The National Education Policy 2020 places great importance on value education and character formation. Character is formed through the habits children take from home, school and society, and repetitions of simple actions are what make those habits.

Children emulate their parents, teachers and elders, so both parents and teachers carry a responsibility to practise what they preach.

Antony P.T.
Antony P.T. Academic Director

The three-language formula in Class 6

From the 2026-27 academic year, students entering Class 6 will study three languages through to Class 10, in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2023. English, Malayalam as the regional language, and Sanskrit or a foreign language.

Marks for all three appear on the Class 10 board mark sheet, and students pass each separately, from the 2031 examination onwards.

Who runs the academics

The Academic Council

The council that sets and oversees academic direction across the four sections of the school.

Office bearers

Rev. Fr. Bovas Mathew
Rev. Fr. Bovas MathewLocal Manager9447 661 943
Mr. K. M. Mathew
Mr. K. M. MathewVice Chairman9447 332 240
Ms. Mary Pothen
Ms. Mary PothenPrincipal6238 99 23 27
Mr. Antony P.T.
Mr. Antony P.T.Academic Director9447 248 369

Examinations

Mr. Vincent N.V.Exam Co-ordinator

Section heads and academic co-ordinators

Ms. Jennifer J. FernsSection Head, K.G.
Ms. Merina BabyAcademic Co-ordinator, K.G.
Ms. Saji P. T.Section Head, Primary
Ms. Smitha Thampi ThomasAcademic Co-ordinator, Primary
Ms. Jeni JamesSection Head, Middle
Ms. Sujamole M.Academic Co-ordinator, Middle
Ms. Sasikala P.Section Head, Secondary
Ms. S. Maya PrabhaAcademic Co-ordinator, Secondary

The full teaching staff, department by department, is listed on the Faculties page.

St. John the Apostle

Our patron saint

St. John the Apostle

The school takes its name and its motto from St. John the Apostle, the evangelist traditionally shown with an eagle and a book. His gospel is the one that speaks most directly of light, truth and love, and those three words still describe what the school hopes to leave with every child who passes through it.

Our heritage

Where the school comes from

St. John's belongs to the Malankara Catholic tradition, and was founded in 1984 under the Malankara Catholic Educational Society.

Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Venerable Archbishop

Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios

Founder of the Re-Union Movement and first Metropolitan Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church.

Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios Founder

Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios

Founder of St. John's School, Anchal.

Cyril Baselios Catholicos Major Archbishop

Cyril Baselios Catholicos

First Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos

Patron and President

His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos

Patron and President of the Malankara Catholic Educational Society, and Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI raised him to the College of Cardinals in 2012, making him the first Cardinal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. In January 2013 he was named a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and in February 2014 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

Governance

Our leadership

The school is guided by the Malankara Catholic Educational Society and a School Management Committee of educators, parents and community members.

Malankara Catholic Educational Society

The registered society for the unaided CBSE and ICSE schools of the Major Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, presided over by the Major Archbishop.

School Management Committee

Seventeen members including the Chairman, Principal, teachers, parents and community professionals, as required by CBSE.

Academic leadership

Principal Mary Pothen leads a team of 111 teachers and 65 support staff across Pre-KG to Class XII.

Class sessions

Monday to Friday
9:30 am to 3:30 pm

Campus location

Mar Gregorios Campus, Anchal P.O, Kollam District, Kerala 691 306

Office hours

9:00 am to 5:00 pm on working days