St John the Baptist Primary School started out as two separate schools when first opened in September 1973, with a girls’ and a boys’ school. Set up to serve the growing parish of St Michael the Archangel, the new schools also alleviated pressure within the Catholic school system in the greater Andersonstown and Finaghy communities. In 2011, the two schools amalgamated to create a co-educational school.  

Today, St John the Baptist PS is a two-stream school, with two classes per year group. Since 2022, the school has also operated a number of specialist provision classes.  

The principal, Mr Chris Donnelly, took office in May 2019 in an acting capacity as a new Board of Governors was being reconstituted under a new chairperson, Mrs Dinah MacManus. A number of strategic developments were agreed and implemented throughout the first full academic year relating to the teaching and learning curriculum, school financial plan, leadership structure and community links. A permanent vice principal, Mrs Catherine Maguire, was appointed in January 2020. Mr Donnelly was appointed to the post in a permanent capacity in June 2022.  

The school has been included in the School Enhancement Programme (2nd tranche) announced in December 2019 with significant capital funding ensuring that a comprehensive renovation programme will be commenced within the life of this three-year School Development Plan. Progress with this programme was stalled in 2023 due to Departmental budgetary constraints, and it is hoped this will be allowed to once again proceed in 2024-25.