In her letters of appeal to local businesses, she wrote;

In the first place, I am anxious to make an entirely free home, no weekly payments to be required for any patient. Children's illnesses are often very tedious. However excellent the nursing and care they may have received either from friends or some Institutions, it needs to be followed (if it is to have the beneficial results required) by some weeks passed in a fresh invigorating air with good food. A month is hardly sufficient time for a child's recovery, it is therefore desirable that the period of residence should be capable of extension according to the requirements of each case.

St. John's has come a long way since those early days, and seen a great many changes, however it's mission to provide the very best care and education to meet the individual needs of young people has not wavered.

A Brief Guide to the History of St. John's

• 1875 - The first appeal for funds to open a 'Free Seaside Convalescent Home' was made by Jane Borradaile. The first home opened in Sudely Street, Kemp Town, with room enough for 5 children.
• 1881 – Having outgrown the first house, two larger houses in College road were leased.
• 1886 – After another public appeal for funds, Jane Borradaile secured the site in Walpole road, where she planned to have a purpose built home for 40 convalescent children.
• 1890 – The foundations were laid for the chapel to be attached to the home. A committee was formed to oversee the running of St. John's, however Jane Borradaile was to continue to be the main force for many years to come.
• 1909 – A new chronic ward and convalescent nursery were opened on the Walpole Road site.
• 1914 – Against the backdrop of the Great War, a fund was commenced to collect money to provide a balcony where children could spend time in the open air, even in the winter.
• 1918 – Jane Borradaile died leaving over £500 to the home. The committee reassured friends of St. John's that the home would continue as before and, at the request of the foundress, The Sisters of the Holy Cross fulfilled their promise to take over the running of the home.
• 1928 – St. John's receives recognition from the Board of Education and is certified as a 'Home School of Recovery'. It is noted; 'as most children require prolonged convalescence to restore them to health and strength, for some years education according to their needs has been given.'
• 1941 – The second world war leads to the evacuation of children away from the coast. Mrs Upton of Muntham, Horsham, offers to accommodate 30 children. During the war, there were 83 further admissions to St. John's, mainly due to being run down and nervous from sleeping in shelters. With a stable life offered in peaceful surroundings, improvements were soon obvious.
• 1945 – The children of St. John's return to Brighton.
• 1956 – St. John's Home closed after 81 years of caring for convalescing children. It opened again in the same year as a boarding school for children with learning disabilities.
• 1971 – The school transfers to temporary accommodation in Eastern Road, Kemp Town, whilst the Walpole Road building is completely refurbished and modernised. The school reopened, catering for children aged 5-11 with moderate learning disabilities.
• 1978 – The age range is extended to pupils of 13 years old.
• 1981 – The age range is extended to 18 years. Borradaile House is opened to accommodate 15 older boarders who would live more independently.
• 1986 – St. John's celebrate it's centenary year.
• 1991 – A new block of 7 classrooms is opened on the main campus, some fitted out for specialist subjects. The College View residential house on the main campus is opened soon after.
• 1994 – A separate Further Education unit is established on the main Walpole Road campus to offer courses for students aged 16-19. This unit continues to grow, taking up temporary accommodation in a disused bank in Hove whilst a permanent home is sought.
• 1998 – St. John's purchases a building in Caburn Road, Hove, opening the Cornerways residential home soon after.
• 1999 – St. John's is able to acquire the campus in Firle Road, Seaford, following the closure of Pilgrims School. St. John's School, Seaford, opens in September 1999 accommodating learners aged 7-16.
• The Walpole Road site in Brighton becomes the college campus offering courses for learners aged 16-19.
• 2008 – St. John's purchases and refurbishes Framfield House, in Seaford, a new 10 bedroom house for young people studying at the school.
• 2010 – St. John's appoints a new Chief Executive, Mark Hughes, who sets about a new growth agenda to secure St. John's future. Whilst the 'Big Society' agenda of the coalition government threatens to reduce the organisation's funding, St. John's responds by quickening the pace to develop new services, opportunities and partnerships for young people with learning disabilities.

We are very proud of our past and excited about our future. If you would like to get involved with the work of our historic organisation, we would like to hear from you.