In 2019 The Times UK School Guide ranked St James' Senior Girls School 102nd with 82.1% scoring A*-B at A-Level, and St James' Senior Boys 251st with 75.9% scoring A*- B at A-level.[1]
St James' incorporate stillness, meditation, reflection techniques into the school routine.[2]
Sanskrit Language
Unusually for a UK school, the St James Schools teach Sanskrit.[3][4][5]，which is a compulsory second language for the junior students. Being an ancient Indo-European language its study illuminates the grammar and etymology of modern languages of that family, including English; its philosophical concepts provide a wealth of human thought; regarded classical language par excellence and considered positive while assessing university admissions. It also helps students grasp maths, science and other languages better. Warwick Jessup, head of Sanskrit department, says: "This is the most perfect and logical language in the world, the only one that is not named after the people who speak it. Indeed the word 'Sanskrit' itself means perfected language." Paul Moss, Headmaster of the school, says: "The Devanagri script and spoken Sanskrit are two of the best ways for a child to overcome stiffness of fingers and the tongue. Today’s European languages do not use many parts of the tongue and mouth while speaking or many finger movements while writing, whereas Sanskrit helps immensely to develop cerebral dexterity through its phonetics."[6]
The School of Economic Science, through associated overseas schools, supports independent children's schools in a number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland (John Scottus School), the West Indies and the United States.
The St James' Schools are legally independent from the School of Economic Science. They seek to preserve the ethos of their founding philosophical principles which are derived from the Advaita Vedanta philosophical tradition, which the schools describe as encompassing the concept of unity, and of a multicultural approach which embraces all faiths – and no faith. Philosophy is taught and transcendental meditation is an optional practice in the schools.
The Education Renaissance Trust, a UK registered charity, was founded by the SES in 1998 with the aim of "[making their] philosophy of education based on spiritual values available more widely". The ERT provides support and funding for the St James schools worldwide, and currently runs inset training days for teachers in UK state schools.
Today, only around 10 per cent of the children have parents involved with SES.[8]
Criticisms
In the early 1980s the London Evening Standard ran a critical series of articles[9][10][11] focusing on the School's discipline regime and its links to the School of Economic Science.
An independent inquiry into mistreatment of pupils between 1975 and 1985 at St James' and its then sister school St Vedast's, which closed in 1985,[12] was funded by the schools and chaired by James Townend QC. The report,[13] published in January 2006, concluded that "mental and physical mistreatment" of some pupils had occurred, including "criminal assaults" by teachers, during the ten-year period considered by the inquiry. Townend's report also found that throughout this period the schools' management and governors were failing to the extent that they "were not in any real sense in charge of the Schools".
In his conclusion, Townend stated that there had been "a real change of ethos and conduct of the schools" since the period of abuses he identified in his report.
In December 2020 a BBC News report stated that nearly £1m in compensation had been paid to dozens of former students at St James and St Vedast schools following historical allegations of abuse.[14]
Following the legal action, which was launched against the school in 2016, the BBC reported 45 former students who attended the schools between 1975 and 1992 had so far received payments of up to £30,000 each. All of the cases were settled without an admission of liability and did not come before court.
Former schools
St Vedast's School for Boys, at Sarum Chase in West Heath Road, Hampstead, London,[15] was sold in January 2005 for £9,300,000.[16][17] The building is now a private residence.[18]
^Times, The Sunday. "Parent Power 2019: Best UK Schools Guide". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^"The joy of daydreaming". 31 May 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
^"Sanskrit @ St James". Sanskrit @ St James. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
^"Sanskrit : A day of teaching Sanskrit at St James School, London". 9 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2017 – via YouTube.
^"Interview with Elena Jessup of St James, London". Sanskrit Literature. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
^Katoch, Prakash (9 February 2016). "Sanskrit and Vedas – what the learning means". Hill Post. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
^Katoch, Prakash (9 February 2016). "Sanskrit and Vedas – what the learning means". Hill Post. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
^Jules., Evans (2013). Philosophy for life and other dangerous situations. London: Rider. ISBN9781846043215. OCLC 820781877.
^"St James & the SES – Media coverage". Retrieved 14 June 2021.
^"Cult schools: parents seek a bigger say" (PDF). Evening Standard. London. 9 June 1983. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^"SES and its strange schools" (PDF). Evening Standard. London. 9 June 1983. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^Townend QC, James. . Report. St James Schools. Archived from the original on 16 January 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
james, independent, schools, other, schools, with, same, name, james, school, disambiguation, james, independent, schools, london, three, paying, schools, children, aged, junior, senior, girls, schools, london, borough, hammersmith, fulham, senior, boys, schoo. For other schools with the same name see St James School disambiguation St James Independent Schools in London UK are three fee paying schools for children aged 4 to 18 The Junior and Senior Girls Schools are in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the Senior Boys School in Ashford Surrey St James Independent SchoolsAddressThree schools on different sites inLondon Greater LondonEnglandInformationTypeIndependent day schoolEstablished1975HeadsDavid Brazier Sarah Labram Kris SpencerGenderBoys and GirlsAge2 to 18Websitehttp www stjamesschools co uk In 2019 The Times UK School Guide ranked St James Senior Girls School 102nd with 82 1 scoring A B at A Level and St James Senior Boys 251st with 75 9 scoring A B at A level 1 Contents 1 Meditation and Mindfulness 2 Sanskrit Language 3 Connection with the School of Economic Science 4 Criticisms 5 Former schools 6 Notable former pupils 7 References 8 External linksMeditation and Mindfulness EditSt James incorporate stillness meditation reflection techniques into the school routine 2 Sanskrit Language EditUnusually for a UK school the St James Schools teach Sanskrit 3 4 5 which is a compulsory second language for the junior students Being an ancient Indo European language its study illuminates the grammar and etymology of modern languages of that family including English its philosophical concepts provide a wealth of human thought regarded classical language par excellence and considered positive while assessing university admissions It also helps students grasp maths science and other languages better Warwick Jessup head of Sanskrit department says This is the most perfect and logical language in the world the only one that is not named after the people who speak it Indeed the word Sanskrit itself means perfected language Paul Moss Headmaster of the school says The Devanagri script and spoken Sanskrit are two of the best ways for a child to overcome stiffness of fingers and the tongue Today s European languages do not use many parts of the tongue and mouth while speaking or many finger movements while writing whereas Sanskrit helps immensely to develop cerebral dexterity through its phonetics 6 Students of St James chanted Vedic hymns in presence of Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace in 2010 to celebrate beginning of the Commonwealth Games 7 Connection with the School of Economic Science EditSee also Leon MacLaren The School of Economic Science through associated overseas schools supports independent children s schools in a number of countries including Australia New Zealand Ireland John Scottus School the West Indies and the United States The St James Schools are legally independent from the School of Economic Science They seek to preserve the ethos of their founding philosophical principles which are derived from the Advaita Vedanta philosophical tradition which the schools describe as encompassing the concept of unity and of a multicultural approach which embraces all faiths and no faith Philosophy is taught and transcendental meditation is an optional practice in the schools The Education Renaissance Trust a UK registered charity was founded by the SES in 1998 with the aim of making their philosophy of education based on spiritual values available more widely The ERT provides support and funding for the St James schools worldwide and currently runs inset training days for teachers in UK state schools Today only around 10 per cent of the children have parents involved with SES 8 Criticisms EditIn the early 1980s the London Evening Standard ran a critical series of articles 9 10 11 focusing on the School s discipline regime and its links to the School of Economic Science An independent inquiry into mistreatment of pupils between 1975 and 1985 at St James and its then sister school St Vedast s which closed in 1985 12 was funded by the schools and chaired by James Townend QC The report 13 published in January 2006 concluded that mental and physical mistreatment of some pupils had occurred including criminal assaults by teachers during the ten year period considered by the inquiry Townend s report also found that throughout this period the schools management and governors were failing to the extent that they were not in any real sense in charge of the Schools In his conclusion Townend stated that there had been a real change of ethos and conduct of the schools since the period of abuses he identified in his report In December 2020 a BBC News report stated that nearly 1m in compensation had been paid to dozens of former students at St James and St Vedast schools following historical allegations of abuse 14 Following the legal action which was launched against the school in 2016 the BBC reported 45 former students who attended the schools between 1975 and 1992 had so far received payments of up to 30 000 each All of the cases were settled without an admission of liability and did not come before court Former schools EditSt Vedast s School for Boys at Sarum Chase in West Heath Road Hampstead London 15 was sold in January 2005 for 9 300 000 16 17 The building is now a private residence 18 Notable former pupils EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message See also Category People educated at St James Independent Schools Notable former pupils include Clara Salaman actress The Bill Emily Watson actress star of Breaking the Waves and Appropriate AdultReferences Edit Times The Sunday Parent Power 2019 Best UK Schools Guide The Times ISSN 0140 0460 Retrieved 6 March 2019 The joy of daydreaming 31 May 2010 Retrieved 11 March 2019 Sanskrit St James Sanskrit St James Retrieved 8 October 2017 Sanskrit A day of teaching Sanskrit at St James School London 9 December 2012 Archived from the original on 14 December 2021 Retrieved 8 October 2017 via YouTube Interview with Elena Jessup of St James London Sanskrit Literature 21 June 2008 Retrieved 8 October 2017 Katoch Prakash 9 February 2016 Sanskrit and Vedas what the learning means Hill Post Retrieved 11 March 2019 Katoch Prakash 9 February 2016 Sanskrit and Vedas what the learning means Hill Post Retrieved 11 March 2019 Jules Evans 2013 Philosophy for life and other dangerous situations London Rider ISBN 9781846043215 OCLC 820781877 St James amp the SES Media coverage Retrieved 14 June 2021 Cult schools parents seek a bigger say PDF Evening Standard London 9 June 1983 Retrieved 3 February 2017 SES and its strange schools PDF Evening Standard London 9 June 1983 Retrieved 3 February 2017 Townend QC James Report of a Private Independent Inquiry Commissioned by the Governors of St James Independent Schools and held in London between 20 June 06 October 2005 Report St James Schools Archived from the original on 16 January 2006 Retrieved 30 October 2011 Townend Report PDF Croxford Rianna 17 December 2020 Pupils historical abuse at London schools claims total 1m BBC News Retrieved 5 May 2022 St Vedasts School for Boys Sarum Chase Hampstead Greater London England British Listed Buildings Retrieved 17 July 2011 Charity Commission Accounts 2005 page 22 Charity Commission Accounts 2006 PDF Retrieved 17 July 2011 Sarum Chase Archived from the original on 13 February 2012 Retrieved 17 July 2011 External links EditSt James Independent Schools Website School of Economic Science website Education Renaissance trust The Parents amp Pupils Inquiry Action Group Coordinates 51 26 31 N 0 19 53 W 51 44194 N 0 33139 W 51 44194 0 33139 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St James Independent Schools amp oldid 1132989786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
