St James Independent Schools

St James' Independent Schools in London (UK) are three private schools for children aged 4 to 18. The juniors' and senior girls' schools are in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the senior boys' school in Twickenham.

History

The schools were founded in 1975 by Leon MacLaren, the then leader of the School of Economic Science .

The schools have grown from 40 pupils in 1975 to over 800 pupils today.

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 of the Girls' Schools Association (GSA).

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.

Alumni

There are 50 sons and daughters of old boys and old girls at the schools. Seventeen members of the existing staff were pupils. St James' has a thriving alumni Association that also helps fundraise for the schools.

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 derived from the Avaita Vendanta philosophical tradition, which the schools describe as encompassing the concept of unity, and of a multicultural approach which embraces all faiths – and no faith.SES philosophy is taught and transcendental meditation is practiced in the schools.

The schools have produced a booklet, Answer to Frequently Asked Questions, in which they describe their relationship with the School of Economic Science.

Criticisms

Both the St James' Schools and the SES have received critical press attention, principally in the 70s and 80s. In the early 80s the London Evening Standard newspaper ran a critical series of articles focusing on the School’s discipline regime and its links to the School of Economic Science.

In January 2006 an independent inquiry, chaired by James Townend QC and funded by the schools, published its report into mistreatment of pupils between 1975 and 1985 at St James' and its then sister school St Vedast, which closed in 1985. The findings of the report 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. Mr 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 September 2007 three of the teachers named in the report still worked at the schools. Following internal disciplinary hearings two of the three teachers were given a formal warning.

In Mr Townend's conclusion he stated there has been 'a real change of ethos and conduct of the schools' since the period of abuses he identified in his report.

Other SES-supported schools worldwide

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

The Education Renaissance Trust [http://www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk/] , a UK registered charity, was founded by the SES in 1998, with the aim to make their 'philosophy of education based on spiritual values available more widely'. The ERT provides support and funding for the St James 'family of schools' worldwide, and currently runs inset training days for teachers in UK state schools. The Chair of this charitable Trust is Nicholas Debenham.

External links

* [http://www.stjamesschools.co.uk/ St James Independent Schools Website]
* [http://www.schooleconomicscience.org/ School of Economic Science website]
* [http://www.iirep.com/Report/report.htm Townend Inquiry report]
* [http://www.iirep.com/ St James schools' Inquiry website]
* [http://www.stjamesinquiry.org/ Parents and Pupils Inquiry Action Group website]
* [http://www.ses-forums.org/ Discussion forum documenting some former pupils' experiences and criticisms]
* [http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/stjamesreport/ Critical 1996 report by a former St James Governor]
* [http://www.education-renaissance-trust.org.uk/ Education Renaissance trust]