St James Independent Schools

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

St James Independent Schools in London (UK) are three private schools for children aged 4 to18. St James juniors and senior girls schools are currently based in Olympia, and the senior boys school in Twickenham.

1 History
2 Allegations of abuse
3 The Townend Inquiry
4 Other SES schools worldwide
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] History

The schools were founded in 1975 by Leon MacLaren, the leader of the School of Economic Science (SES), with the aim of providing “a whole education which nourishes the whole being spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically”. The SES is an organisation that teaches a philosophy derived principally from the tradition of Advaita The philosophy developed by the SES is taught in the schools, as is the practice of Meditation.

A sister school, St Vedast, founded the same year as St James, closed in 1985 due to declining attendance following negative press publicity.

St James is an independent charitable school. It is an activity of the Independent Educational Association Ltd, a company limited by guarantee, with UK charitable status.

[edit] Allegations of abuse

The St James Schools have a good academic history but some questions were raised in the 1980’s by the London Evening Standard newspaper into the School’s punishment regime and its links to the School of Economic Science which the paper branded a cult Apparently while the under cover journalists were on their 'stake outs' they were offered cups of tea by members of the school. The book was taglined as a A full expose of a strange and destructive organization that is penetrating the corridors of power. There were apparently links with key members of the Liberal party in Britain.

In 2004 the St James School Governors announced an independent internal inquiry, following allegations of mistreatment and physical abuse made by a number of former pupils, primarily relating to the period from 1975 to 85.There is a link below to this report.

[edit] The Townend Inquiry

In January 2006 the inquiry, funded by the schools, published its report. Its chairman James Townend QC made findings that 'mental and physical mistreatment' of pupils had occurred, including 'criminal assaults' by teachers, over a ten year period between 1975 and 1985. The Townend report found evidence to support some of the allegations. Mr Townend's report concluded with a number of reflections, including the fact that there has been 'a real change of ethos and conduct of the schools' since those early days.

Three of the teachers who were accused currently work at the schools. Following internal disciplinary two of the teachers were given a formal warning. The text of the full report is below.

[edit] Other SES schools worldwide

The School of Economic Science, through its independent overseas branches, runs independent children's schools in a number of countries, including in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the West Indies, and the United States. In the UK there is the Alcuin school in Leeds, and St James, a primary school in Stockport near Manchester.

The Education Renaissance Trust, a UK registered charity, was founded by the SES in 1998, to make the philosophy of education based on spiritual values available more widely.