SEPTEMBER 2023
• SCHOOL ETHOS AND AIMS
• ST JAMES SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE
• SCHOOL GOVERNORS AND TRUSTEES
• GENERAL INFORMATION
• ADMISSIONS
• CURRICULUM
• CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
• EXAMINATION RESULTS
• LEAVERS’ DESTINATION
• FEES
St James School was founded in January 1975. It was inspired by the desire of parents who wanted to offer their own children and the children of future generations a different education to that available at the time. These parents were philosophically-inclined: through their own studies, they had come to value the importance of an education which provided spiritual enrichment as well as what could be described as the best of a traditional British education; a rigorous education steeped in classical tradition and offering the best of artistic and academic culture.
Our three St James Schools are based in London and Surrey. Together, these independent day schools offer a distinctive approach to education which provides for the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of every child; they provide an environment in which a pupil can discover all that is best within his or her own nature.
The inspiration of St James Schools in London has led to the foundation of a number of schools across the world from Auckland, New Zealand to San Fernando, Trinidad.
Forming a global family of Philosophy schools, these institutions are unified around a core theme: that behind the apparent differences of every child, there is a conscious, intelligent and loving power, waiting to be discovered. Simple practices of self-awareness are part of the daily routine of school life. These allow both teachers and pupils to find a natural peace and stillness which is beyond all the usual movement and agitations. By focusing firmly in the present, pupils can discover and utilise their talents and limitless potential. The philosophic approach supports academic excellence as well as artistic, physical and emotional development.
ETHOS
The philosophy behind the St James ethos is the Philosophy of Unity. This philosophy emphasises the practice of self-awareness and also the unity of all humanity.
At St James self-awareness is practised during pausing and Quiet Time. Boys are provided with the opportunity to connect with the peace and stillness behind all movement and encouraged to utilise this practice in their daily life.
Unity, or non-duality, is a core theme in the teaching and practice of philosophy throughout the school and in the pastoral care of all boys. The heart of the philosophy is that the individual and the universal are not essentially different.
AIMS
– To foster the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical development of boys as fully as possible.
– To develop open-hearted young men who will be able to lead full and useful lives in the service of others.
– To build good character by providing boys with moral and ethical values.
– To provide training in self-awareness, stillness and attention.
– To provide teachers who inspire the boys through the love of their subjects and the use of the finest material possible.
St James Preparatory School London
St James Senior Girls’ School London
Chair of Governors
Mr Jerome Webb
If there is a need to contact Mr Webb, please do so in writing, addressing your letter to him, marked ‘Confidential’, at:
IEAL Ltd
St James Schools
Earsby Street London W14 8SH
Ashford Governors
Mr Chike Azuonye
Mrs Mary Chadwick
Ms Helen de Matos
Mr John Meltzer
Mr Jeffrey Sapiro
Mr Jerome Webb MA MRICS (Chairman)
Chief Operating Officer and Clerk to Trustees
Mr William Wyatt
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Speak the truth.
Never disturb the peace of another.
Obey all instructions given by teachers and prefects promptly and fully.
Treat each other and all property with care, consideration, tolerance and respect.
Behave appropriately before, during and after school.
PERSONAL CONDUCT
Be on time.
Full School uniform must be worn and you must look neat and tidy.
Language should be respectable.
Smoking and alcohol is strictly forbidden. Personal devices including mobile phones, are not to be switched on or used in School.
MOBILE PHONES
Smart phones are not allowed to be used in school from Years 7-11. Pupils in Year 7 & 8 must use an analogue phone. All phones being used during the school day will be confiscated and handed to reception for safe keeping.
TRAVEL
Be considerate to fellow travellers.
Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing point only. Whilst travelling by School bus you must remain seated with seatbelt fastened.
SCHOOL HOURS
8.15am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
UNIFORM
All boys wear a uniform purchased from the School suppliers, Stevensons in Twickenham.
SIBLING POLICY
Priority is given to any candidate who has a brother or sister who is attending or has attended any of the St James Schools throughout the world. In addition, any candidate who has a parent who is an ex-pupil of any of these Schools will receive priority.
LEARNING SUPPORT
The Learning Support Department is committed to providing inclusive and empowering support for our pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Teaching staff in the Learning Support Department are qualified in teaching pupils with a range of additional needs and work closely with staff to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made, in order for pupils to reach their full potential.
While it is the aim of the department that the majority of pupils’ needs are met within the classroom, through quality first teaching and – in some curriculum areas – support from Learning Support Assistants, there will be times where more tailored and focused support is required.
If your son has ever been assessed for, or diagnosed with, a Special Educational Need or Disability (under the areas of need in the SEND Code of Practice: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Social Emotional and Mental Health or Sensory and Physical) please submit all – including historical – documentation in regard to this. This information should be submitted along with the application forms, to the Registrar; this is so we are able to understand any adjustments your son may require to access all aspects of school life. If you would like to speak to the Learning Support Department please contact the admissions office in the first instance to arrange an appointment.
All candidates requiring access arrangements for the entrance examinations must provide evidence to confirm the need. If evidence is submitted that an access arrangement is your son’s usual way of working, this will be provided by St James following agreement between them and the School.
Lunch is provided for all pupils. The food is vegetarian, fresh and nutritious. Staff and boys eat together, and lunch provides an opportunity for guidance in good manners and looking after each other.
The Independent Educational Association Ltd. is insured for public liability. This insurance only covers any possible occurrence where it could be proved that the school had been negligent.
However, like many other schools, we also insure all staff and children against simple accidents. This insurance covers sudden and unforeseen fortuitous identifiable events which cause bodily injury. The policy also covers:
– Disappearance: where the insured person disappears and it is reasonable to believe they have died due to bodily injury
– Exposure: where death/injury to an insured person as a direct result of unavoidable exposure
Parents need to note that, where applicable, a claim must be made to the insurance company within one month of the accident on the appropriate form.
Parents are responsible for insuring the pupil’s personal property whilst at school, or on the way to and from school or on any school-sponsored activity away from school premises. Musical instruments should not be left on the school premises overnight.
There are School coaches and mini-buses available from different locations for transport to the School. Please check our website or prospectus pack for route details.
A formal complaint about any matter of School policy or administration not involving a decision to expel or remove a pupil must be stated courteously in writing to the Head and, if unresolved, should be restated in writing to the Chairman of Governors in accordance with the School’s published procedure, available on the website. Every reasonable complaint will receive fair and proper consideration and a timely response.*
*The number of formal complaints received in 2022/2023 was 0.
Boys may enter at the ages of 11, 13 or 16 years
11+ Entrance examinations are held at the School in December for admission the following September. The examination is open to boys from all schools. It consists of basic tests in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. All candidates and their parents are interviewed by a member of the Senior Management Team.
13+ Entry for boys at Preparatory or state schools by 12+ entrance exams. 10+ entry is also available for boys in Year 5. All pre-tests are held in May, the exams follow the same format as the 11+ with age appropriate examination papers. Scholarships are available in sport, drama and music. To apply you must be receipt of an offer of a place and assessments are held in February. Exceptional candidates who perform highly in the entrance assessments will be invited to apply for a Headmasters Academic Scholarship.
Entry to the Sixth Form is by interview, subject to satisfactory results being obtained at GCSE: Grade 8, 7 or 6 is required in the subjects to be studied at A Level. In addition, candidates must achieve at least six level 5 grades at GCSE.
In year entry may be available depending on the availability of places. Please contact the Registrar on 01784 266 933 for more information.
The School administers a Bursary fund which is designed to assist Parents of children who otherwise would be unable to attend the School. Bursaries are awarded to both existing and new pupils provided financial need can be demonstrated.
Bursaries and scholarships can only be applied for the year of entry. They are not available for boys who are sitting for pre-tests or have a place from a previous years’ pre-test. Applications for new pupils, accompanied by relevant financial details as required, will only be accepted for those who are registered for admission in the next entry year. Once registered with the school, Parents are invited to contact the Bursaries department to register their interest in a Bursary. This must be done before end of November for awards in respect of the next academic year.
LOWER
LOWER
UPPER
GCSE Course Select 9 or 10 from:
SIXTH
Level Select 3 or 4 from:
& Design
Drama
YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9-11 YEAR 12-13
French
Latin Mathematics
Media Studies
Music
Physical Education Physics
Religious Studies
Sanskrit
Spanish
Non-examined Subjects
Philosophy
Physical Education
PSHE
Further Mathematics
Media Studies
Music Psychology
Physics Politics
Non-examined Subjects Philosophy
Physical Education
In addition to the curriculum subjects, there are many optional activities for pupils during school hours, including orchestra, choir, instrumental tuition, art club, drama workshops, creative writing and lunchtime sports clubs.
All boys in Years 7–11 have three full Physical Education sessions a week; sixth formers have two sessions. The sports hall provides a superb indoor sporting facility, with a new climbing wall recently opened in September 2022. Other facilites include indoor cricket nets, basketball, badminton, volleyball and a strengh & conditioning fitness gym.
Options (Fridays)
As documented widely in the media the government have reset the examination pass rates to 2019 levels before the assessed grades used in the pandemic to counter grade inflation.
Pupils at St James Senior Boys School have achieved excellent GCSE results that exceed those of 2019. Top grades of 9-7 were 38% (compared to 2019 of 27%) with 29 grade 9’s. The 9-6 rate was 61% (in 2019 48%) and the 9-4 rate 92.6% (2019 this was 89%). The overall pass rate was 99.8%.
Autumn & Spring Term
Years 7- 8 Years 9 -13
Autumn Term
Cross Country, Rugby.
Spring Term Football and Rugby 7s
Summer Term Athletics
Cricket Tennis
Autumn Term Rugby, Hockey and Fitness.
Spring Term Football, Hockey, and Rugby 7s
Athletics Cricket Tennis
Years 9-13
Badminton, Basketball, Canoeing, Climbing, Cross-Country, Football, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Sailing, Squash, Strength & Conditioning, Table Tennis
Athletics, Basketball, Canoeing, Climbing, Cricket Nets, Fencing, Golf, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Squash, Strength & Conditioning, Table Tennis, Tennis
Extra Curricular (All Years)
Basketball, Canoeing and Kayaking, Climbing, Football, Strength & Conditioning, Winter Cricket Nets, Badminton, Table Tennis
Basketball, Canoeing and Kayaking, Climbing, Football, Strength & Conditioning, Table Tennis
A programme of sports science workshops, seminars and lectures designed to give our pupils the knowledge and understanding needed to take the next step in their sporting journey. While in most schools, a programme like this would be reserved for ‘Gifted and Talented’ athletes, we are firm believers that hard work beats talent every time and that all of our pupils should be given these tools needed to reach their sporting potential.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme – St James boys participate and work towards bronze, silver and gold awards. The purpose is to develop character by challenging the boys’ endurance and skills, and encouraging service to others.
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) – Boys who volunteer for the CCF are challenged mentally and physically. They meet one evening a week to train for Star Awards in first aid, navigation, field craft, survival and skill at arms. The highlight of the training is the annual camp, a week adventure where boys pit themselves against the elements.
Activity Week – (Spring Term) Year 7 go on an adventure week in the United Kingdom; Year 8 to go to Greece to further their studies of Classical Civilisation; Year 9 spend a week in Spain, hiking a segment of the Pilgrimage of St James; Year 10 go to Florence to study Renaissance Art and also spend a few days in Lucca, training in leadership skills and ‘personal mastery’.
Alps Trip – Bi-annual trip to Alps for Alpine Mountaineering and Climbing for Upper School pupils.
Ski Trip - Annual Ski Trip to the French Alps in the Christmas holidays. The trip is open to all pupils.
The Senior School Lecture is held twice a year. Speakers from all walks of life – ex prime minister to practising architect – relate their experiences to enthuse and broaden the minds of the students. Recent speakers have included the following:
2023 Gary Lachmann
Michelle Da Souza
2022 Derek Redmond
Alannah Weston
2021 Ms Dawn Airey
2020 Mr Daniel Sonabend
Mr Kirk Jones
“ We are naturally delighted with these superb results and the clarity they bring in terms of academic performance. It is very useful to set these current results against the 2019 scores, as this shows clearly the development in Teaching and Learning over the past three years. It is important to remember that this cohort also had their teaching disrupted during the pandemic. I would like to thank all the teachers who have worked so diligently to support and enable these pupils in their time at St James.”
Headmaster, David Brazier
Special congratulations go to the following pupils:
Bodhi F 6 x Grade 9, 2 x Grade 8, 1 x Grade 7 & A*
Daniel B 5 x Grade 9, 2 x Grade 8, 2 x Grade 6
Toby C 4 x Grade 9, 4 x Grade 8, 1 x Grade 7
Alexander C 4 x Grade 9, 1 x Grade 8, 3 x Grade 7 & 1 x Grade 5
Rajveer P 3 x Grade 9, 4 x Grade 8, 2 x Grade 7
Alex B-W 1 x Grade 9, 3 x Grade 8, 5 x Grade 7
Stefan C 1 x Grade 9, 3 x Grade 8, 3 x Grade 7, 2 x Grade 6
St James Senior Boys have achieved a pleasing set of A Level Results with an A-A* pass rate of 15% an A* - B of 41% and an A* - C pass rate of 66%. The overall pass rate was 95%.
“ We value deeply each pupil in our care and these pupils, and their parents, who stay with us and complete their education value greatly the holistic education we provide. These results are due to the pupils’ determination and the hard work of their teachers. I must also mention their excellent form tutors who help them make the transition from GCSE to A Levels in terms of self-study and maturity. These results follow the national pattern and show a fall in comparison to the last two years when lower grade boundaries were in place, and the previous two years of teacher assessed grades. They mark a return to pre-pandemic levels. The Times last Saturday and Sunday ran stories to this effect; stating, ‘It will be the first year since 2019 that children receive “normal” grades, which are expected to show the biggest ever year-on-year fall in top marks.’ Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, said that, ‘teenagers receiving their A-level results must brace themselves for lower grades than last year because universities need to be able to properly distinguish between candidates.” Headmaster,
Knowledge, Science and Philosophical thought Art Collections and how to curate them
The Basic Fundamentals’ Diversity & Inclusion Sustainability
Do we believe what we see
We fight Fascists: The 43 group and their forgotten battle for post war Britain To Hollywood and Back: How to make your own luck.
University Course
Anglia Ruskin University Optometry
Bournemouth University Geography
Brunel University London Aerospace Engineering
Cardiff Metropolitan University Accounting and Finance
Cardiff University Mechanical Engineering, English Literature
Durham University History
Fresno Pacific University Business Studies
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Mathematics
Keele University History
Leeds Beckett University Business & Management
Loughborough University Finance and Management
Nottingham Trent University Product Design
Royal Holloway, University of London Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Management with Marketing, Classical Studies, Politics
SOAS University of London Business, Management, Economics & Law
St Mary's University Physical Education and Sports Coaching
University of Bath Chemical Engineering
University of Exeter Accounting and Finance
University of Kent Accounting and Finance
University of Sheffield Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
University of Southampton Psychology, Modern Languages and Linguistics
University of Surrey Physics
University Course
Bristol, University of the West of England Drama and Acting, Business and Management, Business Management and Marketing
California State University Business Administration and marketing
Hartpury University Sport and Exercise Sciences
Lancaster University Physical Geography
Loughborough University Sports Technology, Engineering Management
Nottingham Trent University Sport and Exercise Science
Oxford Brookes University Psychology
Queen Mary University of London History
Royal Holloway, University of London Music and Theatre
Sheffield Hallam University International Business with Spanish
SOAS University of London Social Anthropology and Law
Swansea University Computer Science
University of Aberdeen Economics and International Relations
University of Bath Aerospace Engineering
University of Bristol Psychology
University of Dundee Psychology
University of East Anglia UEA Engineering
University of Exeter Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Classics
University of Leeds Genetics, Geography
University of Liverpool History
University of Manchester Classical Studies
University of Oxford Geography
University of Reading Business and Management
University of Sheffield Physics and Astrophysics, Biomedical Science
University of Surrey Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Psychology
University of Sussex Arts and Humanities
PER TERM FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2023/2024
Senior School (Years 7–13) £7,635
Acceptance Deposit
Half a term’s fee £3,818 is payable as a deposit on the acceptance of a place. The deposit is held against the fee for the final term of education. This is refunded once the pupil leaves the school.
Registration
A non-returnable fee of £125 per child is payable on registration.
Terms are fully set out in the contract. The fees are fully inclusive and there are no extra charges for anything within the School curriculum with the following exceptions:
1. All costs relating to external examinations. 2. Additional Learning Support by agreement. 3. Class outings, costs of which will be advised by staff in advance. 4. Tuition for musical instruments, if arranged through the School. 5. Exceptional stationery items (especially in the Sixth Form). 6. Club activities where membership costs are incurred eg Climbing Club.
7. Some optional games programmes. 8. Modest membership fees for the Sailing Club, etc.
All text books, exercise books and other equipment needed for lessons are issued to pupils free of charge but remain the property of the School. Charges may be made for any books which are lost or damaged. Sixth Form pupils buy their own text books, which remain their property.
Note: A term’s notice is required, in writing to the Headmaster, for the withdrawal of a child, or a term’s fee will be charged in lieu of notice.
Church Road, Ashford, Surrey TW15 3DZ
Headmaster Mr David Brazier BA (Hons) PGCE MSc
Chair of Governors Mr Jerome Webb
If there is a need to contact Mr Webb, please do so in writing, addressing your letter to him, marked ‘Confidential’, at the following address: St James Schools Earsby Street London W14 8SH
Website www.stjamesboys.co.uk
Admissions Tel: 01784 266 933 Email: admissions@stjamesboys.co.uk
General Enquiries Tel: 01784 266 930 Email: mailing@stjamesboys.co.uk
Proprietors: The Independent Educational Association Ltd.
St James School, Earsby Street, London W14 8SH
Tel: 020 7348 1700
Registered in England 1222329 Charity number 270156