Welcome from the Head
In these particularly challenging times, when there is so much discord in the world, it is wonderful to see the unity that exists in our school community.
Our children excel at so many things, including exams, maths, sport, Sanskrit, cooking, drama and public speaking, to name but a few, but the main thing that makes them stand out is the way they celebrate one another’s achievements, and look after each other. Everyone knows everyone and the warm interactions that take place during the day, across all age groups, are remarked on by visitors.
Singing has a magical way of bringing people together and Mr Fairhead, our very own Gareth Malone, has been encouraging everyone to join our adult choir. It was a highlight of the year for me to see the choir filling the stage at Prize Day, and to see staff from both the Prep and Senior Girls’ schools, along with plenty of committed parents. It was just another beautiful expression of the St James family coming together.
It has been a joy to get to know the Year 6 pupils this year. Each one of them exemplifies the core values of our school; they are caring, open hearted, responsible, and resilient young people who are now ready to spread their wings. I wish everyone the very best for the future. I am truly grateful for all that they have done as School Prefects, and to Lara and Joshin who have been exemplary Head pupils.
As we enter our 50th Birthday this coming January, I am sure that the founding families would be extremely proud of the legacy that they have left. St James Schools are unified in their vision to provide an education founded on the philosophical belief that all beings are in essence the same; we are inextricably joined by our common humanity. If we can teach every child to live in harmony with others and themselves, they can have a significant effect on the communities in which they live.
Thank you to the St James staff team for their hard work and tireless devotion to the pupils, and to the parents and extended families for their generous support.
It is hard to capture all that has taken place, but I hope this publication gives you just a glimpse of our vibrant and exciting school year.
Enjoy!
Hilary Wyatt Headmistress
SchoolNews
Opening of Courtyard Café & Study Space
We are delighted to announce the opening of our new courtyard café and study space starting in the Autumn Term 2024.
The space will not only welcome parents and staff to a cup of tea or coffee, but also serve as an open study space for St James Senior Girls’ School older pupils.
We look forward to the opening of this brand-new convivial hub in our schools’ courtyard, and for opportunities to form device-free connections!
Awards
We are so thrilled to announce that our school was shortlisted for Independent School of the Year for the Performing Arts! Keep an eye out on our website for final results.
Congratulations to our amazing pupils for your confidence and creativity on stage, and to our Director of Music and Head of Drama for their hard work and enthusiasm.
Their efforts will leave our pupils with a lasting appreciation for the arts, and equip them with creative skills and a cultural literacy to enrich their personal and professional lives.
More on this year’s performances on pages 24, 34 and 40
St James is excited to see the launch of personal devices for pupils in September, a significant step in the schools’ Digital Transformation Journey.
This initiative aims to expand pupils’ horizons by incorporating technology into their learning environment, thereby fostering essential 21st-century skills such as creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.
After a successful upgrade to the schools’ technological infrastructures, teachers received training to get familiar with their new device and learn how it can enable inclusive and agile learning, as well as collaborative platforms for seamless teamwork and lessons.
The devices will provide pupils and teachers with access to a wealth of educational resources, and a thorough digital literacy programme will empower pupils to navigate the digital world safely and make informed decisions online.
Families are integral to this journey, with opportunities to learn about the devices, internet safety, and supporting their pupils’ learning at home through various events.
This initiative extends our ability to open our hearts and minds to the world around us, and provides an exciting opportunity to enhance teaching and learning for our pupils, equipping them with vital digital skills for the future.
As we look forward to our first academic year on this journey, the schools continue to uphold their unique educational values, integrating technology in a way that complements traditional learning methods.
Wellbeing Corner
This year, we launched our “Feel Good Friday” initiative. It originated from wanting to further integrate our ethos into school life.
Our primary objective was to enhance the overall wellbeing of our pupils and create a supportive environment promoting resilience, emotional intelligence and inner peace.
We also aimed to further build our school community, by involving all pupils in all age groups in a fun day, when they can mix between age groups and support each other.
To fulfil these objectives, we organised each Feel Good Friday to focus on a different wellbeing theme. These have included themes of calm, togetherness, unity and mental health. The theme of togetherness was explored through a House Friday, where pupils of different ages spent the day together to further build on their bond and enjoy sharing experiences. The Feel Calm Friday saw the whole school participate in a collaborative art project, in which everyone was tasked to create a picture responding to our feelings and the sounds of beautiful Mozart music. We also discussed what it means to be and feel calm and how to be selfaware of our emotions. We also wanted to involve families in our initiative, and had parents treated to a calm, mindful and spiritual session by our Sanskrit teacher. Additionally, we incorporated discussions on self-care, stress management and positive affirmations into the day’s lessons.
We also introduced a Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme to promote and amplify pupil voices within our initiatives. Pupils from each KS2 year groups were chosen to represent the school’s wellbeing programme both in school and externally, and will graduate to become ‘Wellbeing Champions’. These pupils already are such sensitive and eloquent speakers! In their mission statement, they explained they wanted to remove any judgement or stigma around mental health across our school community.
As well as a programme that includes outside visitors, and Empathy Lab activities runn alongisde the library, this year’s initiatives enabled us to promote and highlight the many different facets of wellbeing and mental health. All of these initiatives have created a positive impact in pupils, who are now more able and willing to discuss the importance mental health plays in their lives. It has also given them strategies they can adopt and use in their lives at home and school to improve their own and others’ wellbeing.
Chaplain to St James Schoolsbeing alongside the school community
My association with St James Schools started just before the new millennium when the Prep School was located across the road from St Augustine’s Queen’s Gate in Kensington where I was parish priest.
I have continued to serve the three schools as School Chaplain alongside my other work and ministry ever since.
The Collins dictionary defines the role of a chaplain as “a member of the clergy who does religious work in a place such as a hospital, school, prison, or in the armed forces.”
As Chaplain to St James Schools, I see it more as being alongside – as a friend, a support, someone people can hopefully rely on – as well as praying for and supporting pastorally all staff and pupils.
St James has a philosophical foundation drawing on sources from eastern and western wisdom. But it inevitably wrestles with big theological truths too: love, light, goodness, strength. The aim is to give the best start to life for all its pupils.
I have been asked questions about this many times. A regular one is “Why does a school with such strong philosophical foundations take the name of a well-known Christian saint who was the author of the New Testament Letter of James?” Another is “what about the famous scallop shell associated with another St James (the Great) who attracts thousands of pilgrims every year on the Camino route to Santiago de Compostella where his remains are said to be buried?”
(See https://www.pilgrim.es/en/routes/)
The author of the fascinatingly challenging New Testament Letter of James is believed to be James “the brother of the Lord”. He eventually became Bishop of Jerusalem before being martyred at the hands of Annas the High Priest. He was deeply spiritual, open, practical and honest.
In 1975, those who founded St James were so taken by the teaching contained in James’ letter, they named the schools after him. They celebrated the King James Bible and embraced the simplicity of the teaching the Lord’s Prayer as a fine guide to modern living. You did not need to be a Christian to appreciate the wisdom here.
St James wrote that faith without action is dead (means nothing) and that we should be true to the words we speak. This dovetailed perfectly with the philosophical framework undergirding the day-to-day life of the then new schools.
The schools have always welcomed people of all faiths and none. That is my starting point as School Chaplain.
People visiting the schools, whether staff, pupils or visitors, always note the sense of calm reflection and acceptance of others. In a world of constant noise and friction, a pupil of St James is urged to focus on the inner self which is common in many faiths including Christianity.
At the start of every academic year, I always look forward to what lies ahead.
A series of regular assemblies each term forms the backdrop to a series of special events including a beginning of year service for all schools, harvest, remembrance, Christmas, Easter and leavers’ services.
The pupils are encouraged to face daily living by reflecting philosophically on why the teaching of St James the brother of Jesus is still relevant for today. My own theological reflection on the same has helped me enormously in this role.
It is a great honour to serve St James Schools. The Prep School children never fail to brighten my day. The Senior boys and girls are mainly eager to chat and talk about a wide range of things from sport to media and a whole range of things in-between.
I hope all at St James feel that I am a person they can talk to, and some seek me out to do that. I am always encouraged by how articulate many of the pupils are in expressing themselves to others.
The staff are also so welcoming and accommodating.
For sure, as St James says, we need to be true to the words we speak. And we need to do what we can to make the world a better place by reflecting on the eternal truths in a world in which so much is transitory.
Fr Rob
The Revd Canon Dr Rob Marshall Chaplain, St James Schools. February 2024
Fr Rob has had a broad career with stints as a Director of Marketing for St Mary’s University, working in PR consultancies, and is a regular BBC Radio Broadcaster.
Head Pupils’
Lara
I’m very grateful that I was given the chance to be Head Girl. It brought many amazing opportunities for me.
I have loved being at St James and have many great memories; the recent Dorset school trip, Sport Days at Linford Christie stadium and laughing every day with my friends.
The teachers are fun and enthusiastic about learning, in particular Miss Robertson, for encouraging me to push my limits in sports, Mrs Slater who was a brilliant first teacher and Miss Inglott for always being the best. As Michael Morpurgo said, “It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom”.
Thinking to the future, I'm looking forward to making new friends at the senior school, meeting the teachers and having my own locker!
I found a quote from Maya Angelou when I was thinking about what to write here: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.”
I would translate this into one piece of advice we can all do with: “BE YOURSELF!”
I’m very grateful that I was given the chance to be Head Girl. It brought many amazing opportunities for me. I am very sad to say goodbye to this amazing school that I have been at for 7 years. Thank you for the amazing memories!
Finally, good luck to the next Year 6 in the 11+, and welcome to the new Reception. I'm sure Year 6 will do well and Reception will love it at St James!
Reflections
Joshin
I’ve really appreciated the chance to be Head Boy at this amazing school that I’ve been at for 7 years.
Now that I'm leaving St James, I think back to what I have enjoyed here. I will miss all my teachers and friends. But I'm also looking forward to the challenges my new school will bring.
Some of my favourite things about this school are the trips. I've really enjoyed every single school trip, except maybe St Paul's in Year 1 where we had to climb up 200 stairs! But in the end the view was amazing. So, it was worth the big climb.
I've also really liked games at King’s House as it is always fun when we play games against other schools and all our team practices pay off. I've enjoyed playing netball, football, rugby, athletics and cricket at games, and handball, kick rounders (a form of rounders where you kick the ball as far as you can to get either two points for a full rounder or one point for half a rounder) and dodgeball - only a few of the sports we do at school. I really enjoy the handball competition when we get put into different countries' teams to play against our friends (it gets a bit competitive!), especially as the winning team at the end gets a little treat.
Lastly, I’ve really appreciated the chance to be Head Boy at this amazing school that I've been at for 7 years. I hope it will be loved for many more years to come.
PupilVoice
School Council
The School Council has worked hard to improve St James for everyone this year!
The enthusiastic group of pupils elected from Year 1 to 6, along with the gentle guidance of Mr Norris, hosted several successful Bake Offs, conducted a uniform survey and met with staff, governors and inspectors to share their classmates’ ideas. Well done to all!
Eco Committee
Eco Committee Reps were busy this year with numerous environmentally friendly initiatives!
In the Autumn Term, pupils were thrilled to see many of the seeds that they had planted grow into enormous vegetables. It was an impressive harvest, and we were pleased to share everything we grew with our school kitchen and the local foodbank.
Before Christmas, the Year 6 Eco Prefects wrote a rap called, ‘Put Your Pens in the Pot’ which they then performed in a whole school assembly. The message of the song encouraged everyone to save their empty plastic pens (and glue-sticks) in order for them to be recycled. As we neared the spring break, 762 pens had been collected – so off to the recycling centre in Rymans, Hammersmith they went!
When summer drew near, the annual Sunflower & Pumpkin Growing Competition was held. Well done to Ahmad, Finn and Mrs Toole for their thriving sunflowers and pumpkin plants! As more sunshine and pollinators reach our garden, we look forward to seeing more of our fruit and veg thrive!
Many thanks to our Eco Warriors and Ms Parker Woods for all your hard work!
Library
With exciting author visits, engaging celebrations, and a wide array of beloved books, the library has truly been a hub of learning and inspiration for our pupils this year. We look forward to continuing this journey of fostering a love of reading and discovery in the coming year. Many thanks must go to our Pupil Librarians who have helped organise lots of fun activities in the library!
We are looking forward to the library refurbishment – we can’t wait to see the new tree that will have sprung up in the middle of the room!
Skandar Series Cover Reveal
In a significant highlight of the year, we had the honour of hosting A.F. Steadman for the global cover reveal of the third book in her acclaimed Skandar series.
The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of pupils, who were thrilled to be the first to see the new cover and hear about the latest adventures in the Skandar universe. Steadman’s engaging presentation and interactive session was both inspiring and entertaining for all!
Empathy Day
Empathy Day was another great event, emphasizing the importance of stories in helping pupils understand and share the feelings of others.
The library hosted a series of workshops that included empathy walks, emotion mapping, and emotion mirroring exercises. Many books from The Empathy Lab’s suggested reads have been shared with the children over the course of the year and they always prove popular.
Watch Here
WorldBook Day
Art
St James hopes to create a collaborative Art project with local school, Avonmore Primary. This wonderful pen and ink sketch was drawn using what could be seen out of the Art room window.
Immersed in the enchanting world of the Greek tale, the joint St James Senior Girls’ School and St James Preparatory School’s production of “The Odyssey” was a mythical journey to remember!
Huge thanks to our audience for joining us on these performances of epic proportions. To our talented pupils who channelled the spirits of heroes and deities – your performances were divine!
And of course, none of this would have been possible without the colossal hard work of our amazing Heads of Drama, backstage crew and staff members. Thank you for making this Homeric adventure a reality. Until the Fates weave our next tale, thank you for being part of this legendary production!
Nursery go on a Bear Hunt!
Nursery went on their first school trip for a special day centred around the story “We’re Going On A Bear Hunt”!
They travelled by coach to St James Senior Boys’ School and upon arrival had a wonderful re-enactment of the story by the teachers, which all children got involved in.
After the little Drama session, the children made some Bear Hunt Crowns. They each got some bear ears and some stickers to decorate their crowns! The children used their special crowns to help find the bear on the bear hunt. They travelled the grounds, looking for the bear, but couldn’t find it!
Eventually, they found that the bear had been hiding in the picnic room the whole time! Children got to name the bear and even got to bring it back to Nursery. They all received their own copy of the story which was a gift from the Boys’ School.
Everyone enjoyed a picnic and a big run around on the sports fields before returning back to school – just in time for nap time!
Year 4 whizzed off on broom sticks to the Senior Boys’ School for their Harry Potter Day!
Pupils began in the DT workshop, crafting their own wands, before heading to the library to choose their Harry Potter houses and make witch and wizard hats, adorned with their chosen crest. After exploring the grounds, pupils learned the science behind quidditch, worked in teams to understand the physics of velocity, and finally got creative in making witch and wizard book buddies bookmarks, to add to their own favourite book.
This was a great opportunity for Year 4 to work collaboratively with the Senior Boys’ School, exploring their facilities and working with their specialised teachers, all which helped create a very magical day!
Day
Year 5 Take on the Senior Boys’ Cadet training!
Year 5 enjoyed an action-packed Activity Day at St James Senior Boys’ School in the Summer Term!
Working in teams, they moved in carousel between Cadet challenges (including an obstacle course and command tasks) orienteering, and the climbing call, led by Senior Boys’ Prefects and staff. This day not only created opportunities for the class to build on
their team-working abilities, but also allowed great collaboration between the two schools and, encouraged by the weather, saw a very active and enjoyable day all around!
time Buddy
At St James, we take pride in our dedicated Buddy Times: where older classes pair up with younger classes to form friendships across the years!
Buddy Time is a highlight of the week for Year 6, who help their Reception buddies develop their reading, maths and playground behaviour. They’ve even shared a yoga session or two!
Year 5 and and Year 3 buddies shared activities such as an Ancient Egyptian-themed quiz, a performance of a Balinesestyle dance, and a plethora of card games enjoyed together (Spotty the dog made an appearance a few times too!).
Year 2 and Nursery have grown a close connection this year; they’ve danced, played and read together, truly taking joy in every moment.
Class 2C said: “We like playing with our buddies because they are so cute and funny! We ask them what they want to do, are kind to them and take care of them. Together, we made puzzles, played baby tag, made origami chatterboxes and did building and climbing. We are like their big sisters and big brothers.”
Buddy Time also involved the Senior Girls’ School, with Year 9 pupils coming to play and read with Nursery on Thursday afternoons!
All in all, Buddy Time has been a great success this year. Not only do the younger pupils have lovely role models to take guidance from, the older pupils have the wonderful opportunity to look at what it means to share our CORE virtues from a younger perspective too. It is valued by pupils, staff and parents alike, and hopefully creating friendships for life.
Nativity
Well done to our Lower School pupils for putting on a great show for parents and the whole school body: it’s always incredible to see children from the age of two stand and perform so confidently on stage!
Nursery
Q&A with Mrs Slater
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
The children! We had such a wonderful big class full of lots of different personalities. The children have made so much progress in all areas of learning!
What is your favourite memory of the year?
It would be so hard to pinpoint just one. Every day in Nursery is different; no two days are ever the same! Every day we make new memories that will last and move forward with us forever.
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
The progress they have made academically.
Dolphins – You have done so well with your pencil grip, letter formation, numbers, and counting. I couldn't be prouder of all you have learned and achieved this year! For those of you moving up to Reception, I wish you the very best of luck on your next adventure.
Seahorses – Your speech, vocabulary and colour knowledge grows from strength to strength every day - well done! Your ability to sit and keep your attention is fantastic! Keep up the hard work for next year; I couldn't be happier with your progress.
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Just keep trying. You never know until you have a go, one day you will surprise yourself. Keep shining my little stars, you are all so bright!
Reception B
Q&A with Miss Baillieux
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Reception B was such a special class to teach as they worked very, very hard and put so much effort into their work, especially their writing. I am very proud of each and every one of them. The pupils are working hard to develop their resilience and they give everything a go! They are definitely developing growth mindsets. The pupils are really developing life long learning skills which I hope they will foster throughout their learning journeys.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
My favourite part of this year was our Chinese New Year class assembly. The pupils worked so hard, for quite a few weeks, to learn their lines and to practise the songs and dances. They made all the props and learned a lot about the festival beforehand. On the day, they performed with such confidence and enthusiasm and helped each other know when it was their turn. We had many little stars in my class!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
It is hard to choose, as the pupils have made so much progress both academically and personally. I think the best achievement has been how responsible they have all become. As a class, we decided during the year to choose “monitor jobs”. Pupils chose which jobs they wanted to do and kept track of their progress individually, helping and supporting each other with their tasks. They have truly embodied our “CORE” values.
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
If I could pass on one thing to the pupils, it would be to have the confidence to give things a go. Try any new opportunity that comes your way with as much enthusiasm as you have shown all year. This will help you learn even more, develop your confidence and your brains!
Reception L
Q&A with Miss Laird
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
My Reception class absolutely adored each other and had such a special bond. They showed feelings of love, respect and empathy every day. They were supportive in their words and actions, often cheering each other for successes and bursting into group hugs! The staff have modelled a lot of kindness throughout the year, but this now comes naturally to the pupils.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
Our sponsored scooter wash was one of my finest memories for a few reasons. The activity was for charity, which was a wonderful cause and learning opportunity for the pupils. It was incredible fun with lots of soapy bubbles everywhere while we sang and danced to “car wash” music. Luckily, the sun shone and the colourful scooters glistened. It was wonderful to see the pupils have so much fun!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
The greatest achievement by far is their self-belief. This is the foundation of everything and an important life skill. This includes their approach to work, making friends, facing challenges and everyday decisions. It takes time to build but they are now full of self-belief ready for Year 1.
On top of this, I am proud to say they have mastered our “Pause” to become calm little beings with a beautiful sense of stillness which they practise without my lead.
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Continue being such kind and fun-loving children. Continue working hard because you have made fantastic progress this year. Be healthy and eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables every day. Manners should be remembered all the time and everywhere. Always say how you feel and share emotions from inside.
Class 1C
Q&A with Miss Chetwin
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Their boundless creativity made this Year 1 class special. They shared a love for making wonderful Lego creations! They are all curious and inquisitive learners, always eager to explore and discover new things, whether in the classroom or in Forest School.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
My favourite memory of the year is how warmly the pupils welcomed me into their classroom! I loved our chats in the morning where we checked in with each other and shared our thoughts and feelings. It always started our day on the right note! I will also always remember the luxurious bug hotel we worked on together in Forest School. What lucky insects!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
Year 1 should be so proud of themselves for all their hard work this year. They have made strides in their reading and writing and are critical thinkers during Maths and Science lessons. Their performances for The Great Fire of London assembly and the Shakespeare Festival were a triumph! I am most proud of how they have learnt to work together as a class. Their growth in empathy and collaboration has been wonderful to watch!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
As we look forward to Year 2, remember to stay curious, kind and “Elastic”. I look forward to our challenges and fun times ahead together next year! To our friends who are leaving St James, you’ll be dearly missed, and we wish you the best on your new adventures!
Class 2C
Q&A with Miss Cselko
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Year 2C was special because they were so good at playing with each other and being creative and inventive. They were open, honest and loved challenges. This class was particularly good at art, craft and design activities and they had a good eye for detail. They had so much fun together, were really good friends and always looked out for each other in class and around the school.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
Reading Greek Myths to you all on the coach, to and from the swimming pool. Greek Myths are brilliant, and we never tired of listening to them each week!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
Year 2C loved dressing up, learning their lines and performing in the Nativity Play. The Shakespeare Festival was also a fantastic chance to see each pupil excel. It was a joy to watch – the finishing dance was executed with such good timing and vivacity. I was so proud of their assembly when they sang three-part rounds with perfect tuning and timing – Year 2C, you were excellent at listening to each other, and it was spine-tinglingly good!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Life is good when you sing like birds and flow like water.
Class 2J
Q&A with Mr Jones
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Huge Fun! 2J had wit, charm and bags of charisma, and have given us many special and happy memories to cherish over the summer. They all had so much to offer and wore the St James badge with such pride. They are a credit to themselves and should be very proud of all that they have achieved this year.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
Seeing the awe and wonder on all of their faces as we compared their creative writing from September to June.
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
They were all incredibly caring of each other and, without exception, would comfort and console anyone that was sad or injured. They demonstrated so much joy and tackled each challenge with a verve and energy that was such a delight to be a part of. Most of all though, they are wonderful young boys and girls. I thank them for making this year so fun and enjoyable. Hasn’t it gone quickly?!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Go well and keep being you!
Class 3E Q&A with Mr Edwards
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
3E are so full of positive energy, it has been a delight to come into the classroom every single day. They put so much effort into what they’re doing, they’re always smiling, and they really look out for each other, which is so nice to see.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
I have loads of fond memories from throughout the year, but my favourite is probably the 3 days we spent on our residential trip to New Barn. The weather was glorious, the activities were varied, fun and interesting, and everyone had the best time. It was the perfect introduction to the idea of class holidays!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
This is fairly niche, but I am incredibly proud of the effort that the class has put into learning their times tables. At the time of writing, five of the top ten fastest pupils in the school are in Year 3!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Very simply to be yourselves. You are a fabulous group of children who are lucky to all be together in the same class. Watching you learn, grow and support each other has been a real joy and I am looking forward to seeing the amazing things you’ll achieve as you progress through the school. Thank you for making the year so fun!
Shakespeare Festival
All the World’s a Stage!
The opening line of one of The Bards most famous speeches performed by Reception on the first day of our Shakespeare Festival!
Across three days, every child from Reception to Year 6 performed the words of William Shakespeare on our stage.
We have seen sword fights, fairy spells, witches, tempests and even some 50s dance moves.
It was incredible to watch the talent that poured out of all the pupils. The courage and confidence it takes to step out onto a stage and perform is immense, and seeing the confident performances of even our shyest pupils was so heart-warming. Everyone tried their very best and we are so proud of them all!
Class 4I
Q&A with Miss Inglott
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Having new children join a class is such a fun experience; Year 4 had the pleasure of six new joiners and it was wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the dynamic of the class change so positively, as well as seeing new friendships flourish and individuals support each other both in and out of the classroom.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
My favourite memory of the year was when the pupils performed Sanskrit for Grandparents’ Day. Every pupil performed so beautifully; it was wonderful seeing their efforts appreciated by such a wide audience!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
We had many successes this year. A couple of pupils made the ISA Nationals for different sporting events, some excelled academically whilst others achieved personal goals. Their greatest achievements were noted during our residential trip to Mendip, whether that be climbing further than they had before, jumping in the river or facing their fear of bugs!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
Take pride in how far you’ve come, have faith in how far you can go, but don’t forget to enjoy the journey.
Class 5S
Q&A with Ms Simmons
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
What made this class special was how wonderfully unique they all were. Every child in this class was so proud to be their full brilliant selves and, as a result, our lessons were always filled with laughter, curiosity and thinking outside the box! They surprised and astounded me daily with their unique perspectives and witty asides.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
This is an extremely difficult question as there were so many! Here are three of my favourites:
• Learning a traditional Balinese dance with the class for International Week - there were plenty of giggles along the way!
• Our class residential trip (especially the day of water activities) - it was amazing to see the pupils facing new situations and challenges.
• Sports day - what a fabulous day having fun in the sun!!
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
One of their greatest achievements this year was collectively delivering an awe-inspiring performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. They captivated the audience; there were no dry eyes in the house! They also achieved well in so many other areas too – our classroom was full to the brim with amazing artists, mathematicians, writers, athletes, actors... the list could go on!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
“It is our choices that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Class 6N
Q&A with Mr Norris
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
This year has been such a fun and creative experience. Seeing the Year 6 pupils work so hard in preparation for the 11+ and then celebrate the end of their time in Prep School has been such a privilege.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
My favourite memory of the year was our wonderful trip to Osmington Bay. The pupils challenged themselves so successfully and overcame many fears during a fantastic week together by the sea.
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
The greatest achievements for Year 6 this year were the outstanding results that they achieved in their 11+ exams and the fabulously creative work they put into their various projects on Ancient Greece, Scientists and Rivers.
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
A little nonsense now and then is treasured by the wisest men!
Class 6PW
Q&A with Ms Parker-Wood
What has made your 2023/2024 class special?
Year 6PW, you are special because you are kind, helpful and full of fun. Your unique gifts and talents made our lessons interesting and exciting. You made me smile with your enthusiastic ‘Just-Dance’ moves, and I loved reading the stories you wrote in English. You were a good, kind and hard–working class, and I feel grateful and privileged to have been your Class Teacher.
What is your favourite memory of the year?
My favourite memory was celebrating World Book Day with you. Your outfits were brilliant and for the first time, different parts of your personality shone through. It was so much fun seeing you work in groups with a kaleidoscope of characters to create your own story and freeze-frame.
What have been your class’s greatest achievements this year?
Year 6PW’s greatest achievements this year included preparing for and working through their 11+ exams. Everyone worked to the best of their abilities and rose to the challenge with resounding success! Other amazing achievements include everyone’s participation in Sports Day: from the sprints to the ball-throw and then the high jump – you were all amazing!
What is your parting message/words of wisdom to your class?
When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind!
Help people who are less fortunate than you.
Your work is a reflection of who you are - autograph your work with excellence!
Aladdin JR.
The school auditorium was transformed into the magical world of Agrabah for the Year 6 production of Disney's Aladdin JR. and it was nothing short of spectacular! This enchanting performance transported the audience on a journey filled with adventure, laughter, and heart-warming moments, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our Year 6 pupils.
From the moment the curtains rose, it was clear that this was no ordinary school play. The cast, led by the charismatic Aladdin, the brave and beautiful Princess Jasmine, and the hilarious Genie, brought their characters to life with enthusiasm and skill. With big showstoppers like ‘Friend Like Me’ and ‘Prince Ali’, Year 6 all showed their talents as triple threats, singing, dancing and acting, leaving the audience in awe.
The applause that followed was thunderous, a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.
This was more than just a play; it was a celebration of creativity, teamwork, and the boundless imagination of our pupils. This magical performance will be remembered.
Bravo to Year 6 and everyone who made this enchanting production possible
House Celebrations
The House Captains led their Houses proudly this year!
In September, we celebrated our first Feel Good Friday with a “House Pride” theme. Canterbury Cobras, Salisbury Scorpions and Winchester Wolves were treated to a presentation about their house and the city it is named after; and then the pupils completed music, sport and drama activities in their House groups.
Throughout the year, pupils competed in sporting and dramatic competitions in their Houses, earning points for their success as well as their good behaviour. The winning House each week got to have a treat on Fridays and the winners of the term celebrated with a House treat.
Winchester won in the Autumn Term and had a giant games party; Canterbury won in the Spring Term and celebrated with an Easter Egg Hunt; and the last winner, Salisbury, enjoyed water games in the Summer Term!
Year 3 explore Dorset on their residential trip!
The coach stopped at Moors Valley Country Park on the way there; the weather was beautiful and everyone sat at picnic tables for lunch. Then, it was time to walk around the play trail, stopping at attractions such as Ants Nest, Enchanted Woods, Crocodile Crossing and Mr Edwards’ favourite, the Tree Top Trail.
Once they arrived at New Barn, pupils quickly settled into their dorms and explored the vicinity before heading to dinner. After a pottery session, a 'night walk' around the surrounding fields was enjoyed by all.
Most of Day 2 was spent on the 'Living History' activity, where pupils made their own butter, carved their own designs into stone, ground grains to make flour, and made Celtic braids. Later on, they walked around to meet some of the resident animals, including sheep, alpacas, chickens, a pig and two tortoises! After dinner, everyone sat around the campfire, sang songs, and enjoyed impromptu performances from many of the pupils – what a talented bunch!
On their last day, they picked their brains with some problem-solving games, and enjoyed lunch and a play at Avon Heath Country Park.
It was so much fun – I loved every single minute of it!
Aria
I really enjoyed sharing a room with my friends!
Zafir
Year&4 Year 5
at the Mendip Activity Centre
Year 4 and Year 5 had a brilliant week away! After arriving on Tuesday, everyone enjoyed lunch together and the sun came out as a wonderful surprise as they got stuck into a week of challenging but exciting activities!
Year 4 took part in problem-solving challenges and worked in teams to solve a range of different puzzles. On Wednesday, pupils spent the whole day on Oldbridge River, beginning with open canoeing and ending with standup paddleboarding. Thursday saw them rock climbing and completing challenges on the Low Ropes. Pupils enjoyed their final morning at Mendip completing Bushcraft activities, including shelter-making and learning how to start a fire. Out of all the activities, canoeing, rock climbing and fire making were Year 4’s favourites. They worked fantastically well as a class and enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors!
Shortly after arrival, Year 5 became opponents in a giant game of Archery Active (poor Miss Simmons and Mr Fairhead were hit by a fair few well-aimed arrows during this time...). Day 2 saw them kayaking and raft-building. Unfortunately, only one raft lasted past the 10 second mark and therefore most of Year 5 had a lovely time submerged in the water! On Thursday, we were so proud of how many pupils braved the (extremely high) abseiling activity – a big well done to the pupils who had a go, even if they did not make it the whole way down (maybe next time). They participated in axe-throwing, where many pupils surprised themselves with their ability to hit the targets. An evening around the campfire swapping puzzles, stories and the highlights of the week was then enjoyed, with the added treat of melted marshmallows and hot chocolate. Finally, Year 5 explored a local cave and saw a sleeping baby bat. All in all, it was an excellent week; tiring and at times tough, but the smiles on the pupils’ faces and the personal challenges that each overcame made it worth it!
YearTrip6
For their highly-anticipated residential trip to Dorset, Year 6 stayed on the PGL site in Osmington Bay which gave them access to the beautiful Jurassic Coast.
There was a plethora of activities which included zipwire, rifle shooting, climbing, archery, aero-ball and stand-up paddle-boarding. The pupils enjoyed a wide variety of different foods at the buffet, warm and cozy en-suite dormitories and danced their final night away
Y5&6 House Cross Country Medal Winners
ISA National Swimmers
Y5&6 House Cross Country & Rugby Winners
ISA Cross Country House Netball House Football Winners
ISA National Netball
ISA National Athletics
ISA Girls Football
Y3&4 House Rugby Winners
SportsHighlights
Our school has had a remarkable year for sports. We participated in six Regional ISA events and successfully qualified for four National events!
Our achievements began with the Regional Swimming Championships, where four pupils secured a place in the Nationals which was held in December at London Aquatics Centre.
During the ISA Regional Cross Country, Katherine (Year 4) qualified for the Nationals, and an impressive six of our pupils finished in the top 20 in their respective races.
In the ISA Football, our girls’ team reached the Plate Final and our boys’ team unfortunately got knocked out in the group stages.
The Year 6 Girls placed 3rd in ISA Regional Netball, then went on to win the Bowl at Nationals, which was an excellent achievement!
At ISA Regional Athletics, five children qualified for Nationals in various events, leading to a memorable experience at the Alexander Stadium (home to Commonwealth Games 2022)!
This year also saw the return of our St James Inter-Schools Cross Country Championships. Six schools competed, Lennox (Year 6) won an individual bronze medal and both Year 6 teams secured 3rd place overall.
Our House Competitions, such as the Swimming Gala and House Cricket, were as always enjoyable and showcased great team work and spirit across year groups.
In the Lower School, we emphasized activities like climbing, swinging, and building courage. From Reception to Year 2, pupils strove to earn three different apparatus awards: Panda, Koala, and Chimpanzee. Each award involved advancing through tasks such as jumping from box tops, climbing ropes, rolling on bars, and landing from climbing frames!
Inter-school Cross Country Bronze Medal Winner
Y5&6 House Rugby
Sports Day
Sports Day was a great success this year, with five school records being broken!
Congratulations Oliver and Madu (high jump), Gemma (long jump) and Malu (high jump and 400m)!
Our winning House, Canterbury, racked up an impressive 397 points, securing them the coveted Sports Day Cup! A round of applause also goes to Salisbury for their second-place finish, narrowly beating Winchester by just 3 points. It was a close competition, showing the fierce spirit and sportsmanship of all our pupils.
Special mention to Tate (Year 2) and Tait (Reception) for their impressive 6 wins in the lower school events!
And let's not forget the adorable toddler race that brought smiles to everyone's faces, and the fierce parent/teacher race! The day ended on a sweet note with an ice cream treat for all. Thank you to all our pupils, teachers, parents and alumni for making this Sports Day such a memorable event.
Speech & Prize Giving Day
2024
Our annual Speech & Prize Giving Day saw another set of impressive performances, from Nursery’s singing and Reception’s reciting, to Year 4’s art presentation and Year 6’s wowing Aladdin Jr. musical performance.
Congratulations to all prize winners and to all for performing so confidently on stage!
Maths
This year has been exceptional for our young mathematicians.
Many earned gold, silver, and bronze certificates for their remarkable efforts in the Primary Maths Challenge. Pupils achieving at this level were just some of a small number of children doing so nationally, a truly fantastic achievement.
We were particularly thrilled by the success of Maitreyi, Madu, and Yeva in the Young Mathematical Story Author Competition, where their outstanding entries highlighted their creativity and deep understanding of mathematical concepts.
Year 2, 3 and 4 also shone in the First Maths Challenge, with an incredible turnout, including participation from Year 2 for the first time ever. This enthusiasm continued with the Junior Mathematical Challenge, aimed at Year 8 pupils, where Maitreyi advanced to the next round and performed exceptionally well. Dylan's achievement was equally impressive, as he not only progressed to the next stage but also received merit certification.
Our curriculum remains dedicated to fostering a love of problemsolving and logical thinking. This passion and energy were evident throughout the year and were celebrated during National Numeracy Day, where we embraced all things numerical.
Congratulations to all our students for their hard work and successes. We look forward to another year of mathematical excellence!
ICT
This year, we continued to prepare our pupils for a digital future. Lessons extensively focused on online safety, equipping pupils to navigate the internet responsibly. We also held several successful online safety workshops for parents.
Our coding curriculum continues to thrive, with pupils demonstrating remarkable proficiency.
Year 6 even had the opportunity to utilise and develop their digital presentation skills while taking part in their Enterprise project. Pupils were also able to use software for 3D modelling and we can see some future architects and designers in our midst!
We are excited about the upcoming Digital Transformation and the positive, exciting opportunities it brings to further enable us to teach our pupils how to be safe and confident in a technological world.
Sanskrit Speech Competition
Always a highlight in the year, all pupils, including Nursery, took part in the annual Sanskrit Speech Competition.
Pupils performed to an audience of parents, teachers and visitors. Classes recited from memory Sanskrit verses from the Bhagavad Gita and other ancient Sanskrit texts, along with English translations. We were lucky to have Mrs Helen Harper, a former Sanskrit teacher at St James, and now Director of our outreach Sanskrit@StJames, as our judge for the event.
Class 2J recited a wonderful piece about Ayurveda and healing with such focus and clarity that they won the Lower School contest!
The Upper School pupils recited some particularly challenging verses from the Upanishads. There was fierce competition. However, Year 5 edged ahead and won the contest, winning a huge football - so huge that Mr Jessup had difficulty getting through the doors!
Finalist prizes were won by the following: Year 3 Erik, Year 4 David, Year 5 Ella-Grace, Year 6PW Lara and Rosa, Year 6N Claudia and Maitreyi
Library Fundraising Fundraising
This year, the focus for the Friends of St James and the Development Office was raising funds and drawing up a design for our library refurbishment.
Thanks to our parents’ interior design skills, we have wonderful plans in place for a new fresh and bright Library design. The new space will be lighter, brighter and follow a natural theme, with green carpets, blue skies and a lovely tree with a birch canopy to bring the design together. It will provide a calm and peaceful environment where the children can further develop their love of books and reading.
Thank you to all for giving so generously to this project. We can’t wait to welcome you in to see the new library in September!
Charity Fundraising
Thanks must go to all the pupils, parents and staff who continue to support our fundraising efforts.
Our first fundraiser was in support of Children in Need, where pupils dressed in as much yellow as possible. We raised £512 - what an achievement!
£4,900
We have had yet another fantastic year of fundraising for charities and raised in total!
Throughout the year, we have raised funds for Rossholme School in Kenya. Pupils were invited to wear Christmas hats and jumpers to raise money for the school. We received kind donations which totalled to £176, as well as £203 collected after the Christmas Carol Celebration. In total, we were able to donate £739.73, which meant the school was able to buy more laptops for their pupils to support their learning. This was gratefully received by both the staff and pupils and has made a huge difference.
St James was filled with red noses in March, as the school raised money for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. The pupils loved buying their red noses and competed to see who could design the best one. £470 was donated.
In the Summer Term, the school’s final fundraiser of the year was decided by our wonderful Charity Reps, Poppy, Ahmad and Luca, who decided the school should support UNICEF. Each class completed a sponsored activity of their choice to raise as much money as possible. We raised a total of £2,800. Outstanding!
Bursary Fundraising
As we approach our 50th Anniversary and we look towards the future of the schools, we want to put bursaries at the heart of our fundraising.
St James has a long history of providing bursaries which both enrich the school community and give children access to a high-quality education that their parents would not be able to afford otherwise.
By focusing on bursaries, we hope that children who would flourish at St James have the opportunity to do so.
Thank you to our wonderful body of parents and particularly our Parent Class Coordinators for making sure the events throughout the year were a success.
Community
It has been wonderful to welcome more and more parents for weekly activities at the school, as well as at our regular school assemblies, concert teas and pupil performances.
We hosted our very first Parent Cooking session with Chef Allegra, where everyone had a fun time making healthy gnocchi and pesto sauce, and experienced first-hand our fantastic cooking curriculum.
The Parent Art sessions, led by our Art teacher, demonstrated talents which certainly explain the incredible pool of artists we have amidst our pupils!
The Staff and Parent Choir, which met every Thursday morning before school, and included both Heads, had a brilliant final performance at the Prep School Speech Day. It was a lovely way to start the day and many thanks to Mr Fairhead for making it so enjoyable.
We also had the pleasure of hosting a reunion for the Class of 2013: the girls were delighted to see their old teacher, Mrs Anthea Douglas Aditi, and reminisce about their time at St James.
A huge thank you to all parents and carers for all of your support and dedication for our school events this year. We know how hard it is to juggle school life when working full time and so it is much appreciated!
Class of 2013 Reunion
Year 6 Memory Your Favourite
Ahmad
Going to visit Leighton House and seeing the Arab Hall
Alice
I loved dancing in the Disco at Osmington Bay!
CJ
When I played in a football tournament with all my friends
Claudia
I loved playing the Genie in Aladdin and overcoming my fear of singing! I have also made some good new friends and enjoyed taking part in ISA Netball Nationals
Finn
I enjoyed the Shakespeare Festival and delivering my monologue
Jess
Performing as Iago in the Aladdin Jr. production
Ektor
My first day in Year 6 and meeting all the new pupils who joined our class
Eva
I enjoyed competing in the Maths Story Writing Competition!
Gemma
When I shot my first successful goal in football during games
Joshin
I enjoyed Sports Day!
Idriss
Participating in the ISA cross-country competition with my friends
Kaitlyn
Spending time with Spotty the dog on our Feel Good Fridays
Lara
Playing netball with my friends at the ISA tournament
Mac
I loved our trip to Dorset – especially the giant swing!
Lennox
I loved representing the school at the ISA Nationals in the 600m
Luca
Our residential at Osmington Bay!
Madu
Baking delicious food in our cooking lessons
Marileta
When everyone in Year 6 went to Ektor’s birthday party!
Meerab
Break-time with my friends
Maitreyi
I was proud to win the 75m sprint in Sports Day
Mostafa
I loved the residential, playing Jafar in Aladdin and taking part in electricity lessons in Science
Naima
I have enjoyed performing in Aladdin, taking part in ISA Netball Nationals and going to Dorset
Olympia
I loved the residential –especially the zip line and giant swing
Nanapari
I have enjoyed preparing Aladdin and playing the Genie
Poppy
I was proud to win the 600m race at Sports Day
Oliver
I enjoyed Sports Day and was proud to set a school record in the High Jump
Rosa
When I played Romeo in our class-play, ‘Romeo & Juliet’
Shivaani
I have lots of favourites –playing Princess Jasmine, making a human pyramid while stand-up paddle boarding and being in the ISA Netball Nationals
Sophia
Making friends with Alice!
