St James Senior Girls' School

Our View

If the high moral tone appeals and you enjoy the repetition of words such as 'fine' 'wise' and 'beautiful' you have achieved Nirvana here. A tiny, peaceful school offering what many parents dream of.

Headmistress

Since 1995, Mrs Laura Hyde Cert Ed (fifties). Mrs Hyde trained as a primary school teacher and taught at two London schools before joining the St James Junior School (qv). She became PA to the founder of the St James schools and of the School of Economic Science (see below). She has recently completed study for an MEd in Educational leadership. After some years at home bringing up her children, she became assistant head at the St James Senior Girls' School in 1994, assuming the headship a year later. Mrs Hyde is an ISI inspector.

None of which prepares you for the charm of the woman herself. Quietly spoken, measured and exuding calm, Mrs Hyde exemplifies the qualities she hopes to develop in the young women she sees into the world. She answers questions thoughtfully and frankly in her cheerful, elegantly furnished study and inspires trust. A subtle, gentle moderniser, she has, while maintaining the core ethos and traditions of the St James family of schools, done much to bring her branch into the twenty-first century. Parents enthuse – 'she's fantastic – she's my current heroine – she has created a gentle, loving, caring atmosphere'. Mrs Hyde's already lengthy tenure has given the school the stability and confidence it needed.

Academic Matters

A good example of a school that should not be judged on the league tables. Girls here take the IGCSE in maths and all three sciences – for greater rigour – and, as this is too complicated for the tables to cope with, the school's ranking is skewed as a result. At GCSE, everyone gets A*-C. Stunning success in physics, history and English and at least respectable everywhere else. In 2009, two girls gained 10 A*s, another 9 A*s, and in general, the quality of teaching is praised. At A level the twenty subject options now include theatre studies, Spanish and art history. Results creditable in most subjects – few grades below B – and English and maths impressive. School also offering the new AQA Bacc – seeing it as recognising much of what they already do in terms of critical thinking and an extended project.

But this is not a school to think of solely in these terms. The school's culture largely determines the extended curriculum. Sanskrit is continued for those who join from the Junior School and available as an option at GCSE. Singing, dance, the art of hospitality and philosophy are taken by all and everything is taught from the philosophical perspective which underpins the St James schools' ethos. Philosophy is taught all through the school; Mrs Hyde teaches years 6-7 and 11-13. This approach extends to the LDD provision which is managed on the basis of an individual's needs, although the hope is that most pupils can work independently by the end of year 8. Thereafter, the SENCo – the deputy head, pastoral, in this case – sees girls individually or in small groups according to need – no withdrawal from academic lessons. The staff monitor progress with care.

Games, Options, the Arts

This is a compact city site so anything involving running takes place at the Chiswick playing grounds, a bus ride away. On site, they cram in netball, fencing, aerobics, gym, yoga and dance etc and off site lacrosse, athletics and tennis are the main sports. They have their own adventure club – the St James Challengers – and D of E. One good art room in which, largely, the trad skills are taught by much admired staff. Visiting instructors add to the core curriculum and the school now has a kiln but no dark room. And no DT. One of the best schools we know at actually displaying its own pupils' art – everywhere and with style. Music is big here – again under charismatic leadership – everyone sings – we heard it everywhere – the whole school sings together twice weekly. Music seen as part of the spiritual education provided. Lots of individual lessons and good collaboration on concerts and productions with the boys' school – despite the distance. Drama popular and lively. The 'art of hospitality' is taught to years six and seven – cookery but not as you might have known it elsewhere – the thrust here is on sharing food and using it as a way of nurturing relationships. The sixth form cook for each other, have formal dinners with high profile guests etc. In year 10, all go on a residential week which has moved from being less about 'hospitality', housework and etiquette and increasingly about 'becoming an adult' – life skills, presenting oneself at interview and being a responsible citizen etc. Much emphasis on community service.

Background and Atmosphere

Founded, along with its sibling Junior Schools and Senior Boys' School, in 1975 by The School of Economic Science (see the review of the Senior Boys' School for background and history), the girls' school and junior schools moved to their impressive modern accommodation in 2001. The outside is daunting. The main gate, within sight of Olympia down a quiet side road, is encased in uniquely secure architecture – grilles, grids and gratings, entry phone and an unnerving sign with a prone figure skewed by a zig-zag arrow and 'Danger of Death' underneath it. If you happen to be a billionaire or high profile political refugee, you will deposit your daughter here in the mornings, confident that the bad world will be kept firmly outside.

The two schools co-exist happily and it is rather nice – if surprising – to come across classrooms full of six year-olds as you cruise around the corridors. Nonetheless, the schools are finding, as was inevitable, that both need more elbow room. The place is in good nick – lots of white-painted corridors, blue carpets, good wall displays and useful noticeboards. The sixth form have a good sized common room and study room attached. They also have privileges – eating in the staff dining room, for one – and responsibilities which are taken seriously.

Classrooms, while not quite providing the 'beautiful environment' aimed at, are orderly and well-kept and most now have whiteboards. The library is clearly too small. Outside space is limited though care has been taken to provide little trellised alcoves for quiet chat around the tarmac playground. A sense of cheery collaborativeness abounds – girls look relaxed and happy and appreciate their unusual school. Staff, according to parents, 'always smile and are friendly'. 'Silence, stillness and meditation' are important – everyone has a few moments for these at the start and finish of each lesson. The food is vegetarian and the tables are laid invitingly – hot home-cooked food plus fresh fruit, salad, bread and cheese.

Major news to affect all potential – and present – pupils is that the St James Schools have agreed to 'merge' with St David's Ashford – a treasure of a girls' school forced to close, what with the recession and all, and will be much missed by its aficionados. St James boys will move from the Twickenham site in Sept 2010 – but this will be a boys only school – not, as the St D's community hoped, a girls' school. Will provide much needed expansion space for the St James boys in a very attractive position. But while the arrangement presents opportunities for the St James schools, there may well be difficulties now that the family of schools is to be spread over a wider geographic area. How families wanting the St James brand of education for their boys, girls, juniors and seniors will adapt remains to be seen.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Highly praised. Pupils like the mentoring system and the 'strong bond' they feel to many teachers. Younger pupils are assigned sixth form prefects, older ones have teachers. 'Your mentor is your friend – they always give you someone who doesn't teach you – you go to her with any problems – not just academic ones.' Head relies on the 'very strong programme of education' to guard against the usual teenage problems. 'We emphasise strengthening a girl's social conscience and confidence...if you present with difficulties we will help you so long as you are not harming the rest of the community.' On bullying, 'we keep working at it... stressing the importance of unity and not harming each other'.

The school's strong spiritual ethos underpins the disciplinary side but girls don't feel it's thrust down their throats. A parent expressed the general view – 'we like the way they approach education – they believe strongly in the spiritual side of it – it doesn't invade life but they look at the whole development of the girl and believe that the academics will follow'. A sixth former confided, 'Mrs Hyde wants us to be great women – she doesn't want us just to stay at home'. She herself says, 'my emphasis is on creating responsible citizens'. Who wouldn't fit in? 'Someone who is only out for themselves wouldn't find themselves in their natural environment...our girls are gentle on the outside but inwardly strong and independent – they are women of some integrity.'

Pupils and Parents

Mixed as befits its west London location. Unsurprisingly, given the influence of 'the wisdom traditions of east and west', the school has an appeal to families with Asian backgrounds who make up around a quarter. Some of the staff are members of the School of Economic Science, some are ex-pupils, but a large majority of the pupils are now from families who have no direct connection with the SES. Pupils come from great distances – at least for the first five years – though most are relatively local. Former pupils include actresses Emily Watson and Sasha Behar and novelist Laura Wilson.

Entrance

St James Junior pupils move seamlessly through – NB at year 6 – and, at present, given that they share the site, this is much easier for girls than for boys who head off to Twickenham. Main feeders otherwise are Chiswick and Bedford Pk Prep, Falcons, Ravenscourt Pk, Avonmore, Orchard House, Kew Green, Pembridge Hall and Barnes Primary. A few join at year 6 but main intake into year 7 when around 100 apply for around 25 places. School now part of the North London Consortium so tests in maths and English. School's own reasoning test day also includes activities in baking, art, drama, dance and chemistry. Few come in at year 12. NB how small the school is. Head says, 'I'm looking at the character of the girls and whether what the school is about resonates with her and her family'.

Exit

Currently a quarter leave after GCSEs; some to co-eds, often to colleges, occasionally to board or to nearer home. A pity as the sixth form classes are small – one-to-one in some cases – the teaching is good and nothing beats the continuity of staying where you are known. This foolish fashion of moving for doubtful gains is on the wane, one hopes. Lots of gap years. Thereafter, many to the south of England Russell Group or newer unis. An increasing number are pursuing science degrees as in 2008 when nearly half the year group left to study science of some kind. Many pursue careers in which they contribute to the community.

Money Matters

Sibling discounts - five per cent for two, 10 per cent for three and 20 per cent for four. Various bursaries and a couple of schols but this is not a rich school so don't look for masses of help.