St James Independent Schools

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St James Independent Schools in London (UK) are three private schools for children aged 4 to 18. St James juniors and senior girls schools are currently based in Olympia, and the senior boys school in Twickenham.

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[edit] History

The schools were founded in 1975 by Leon MacLaren, the then leader of the School of Economic Science (SES), whose underlying principles of service and of the potential in boys and girls to lead good, useful and upright lives, still underpin the schools today.

The schools have grown from 40 pupils in 1975 to over 800 pupils today. Enquiries at both senior schools are now at record levels, with approximately four candidates for every available place.

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. All three schools are members of the Independent Schools Association (ISA). The senior boys’ school is also a member of the Society of Headmasters and Headmistresses of Independent Schools (SHMIS), and the senior girls’ school is a member of the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA).

[edit] Academic performance

Both senior schools achieve exam results above the national average. Since 1996, around 10% of all school leavers have gone on to Oxford or Cambridge. The very great majority of other leavers have gone on to other universities.

[edit] Alumni

There are 50 sons and daughters of old boys and old girls currently in the schools. 17 members of the existing staff were themselves pupils during the formative years. St James has a thriving alumni Association: see http://www.seventhform.org/

[edit] Connection with the School of Economic Science

Although the St James Schools are legally independent from the SES, they continue a close association with it, seeking to preserve the ethos of its philosophical principles. These are based on the concept of unity, and of a multicultural approach which embraces all faiths – and no faith. For further details on the philosophical principles of the SES see http://www.schooleconomicscience.org/philosophy/philosophy_intro.htm

The schools have produced a booklet – Answer to Frequently Asked Questions – which explains the relationship with the School of Economic Science in more detail and which is available online at http://www.stjamesschools.co.uk/v2/documents/NewFAQbooklet-web.pdf

[edit] The Townend Inquiry

In January 2006 an independent inquiry, chaired by James Townend QC and funded by the schools, published its report into alleged mistreatment of some pupils between 1975 and 1985. The findings of the report concluded that 'mental and physical mistreatment' of some pupils had occurred, including 'criminal assaults' by a teacher. 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 procedures, two of the teachers were given a formal warning. The text of the full report is contained in the iirep website shown below. This also contains statements by the School's governing body and the current leader of the School of Economic Science.

[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.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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