St James Senior Girls' School

Since September 2023, Emma Bell, MA (Oxon), PGCE (UCL IOE). The super-dynamic Ms Bell comes from a family ‘where no one had done A Levels’, but she herself attended Dr Challoner’s High School, a girls’ grammar school in Buckinghamshire, then

Two classes of 25 in year 7, with 170 applying for about 30 places (the remainder go to girls coming up from the junior school). St James is a member of the London 11+ Consortium, and all applicants sit the Consortium written tests and are

Typically, a significant exodus post-GCSEs, when about a quarter leave for larger, often co-ed, schools, both state (such as nearby Twyford) and boarding. Those remaining – and numbers are increasing – get outstanding support for university entrance,

In 2025, 55 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 41 per cent A*/A at A level (70 per cent A*-B).

Academically, the school achieves very good results in a broad curriculum (though with a grade spread reflective of its reasonably broad intake), with pupils generally taking nine or 10 GCSEs. Notably strong in classics, with Latin, Greek (by

About 30 per cent of girls have mild to moderate learning difficulties – a relatively high percentage – and the approach here is bespoke, focused, and child centred, with in-class support, additional teaching and remedial clinics. The head of

Creativity is fundamental to the school’s philosophy and curriculum. Drama – offered at both GCSE and A level – is notably strong with a large take-up at GCSE, and we watched an eager year 9 class about to improvise on the theme of trust and

It would be disingenuous to suggest that parents select St James for its sport, though the head is putting greater emphasis on this aspect of the curriculum. In the years up to GCSE all girls take two timetabled lessons, one on site in the good-sized

Many parents choose St James because of its pastoral care. ‘The pastoral care is second to none,’ said one father. ‘It really focuses on the individual girl and what they’re feeling.’ ‘We were looking for a school that was very small and very

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

A cosmopolitan school, with families from the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East drawn to its holistic education. Alongside the usual bankers and lawyers, English parents (including numerous alumnae) often have a slightly alternative perspective.

The school is owned by a charitable trust, which offers means-tested bursaries to all current and future pupils, with about 10 per cent of current pupils benefitting.

A holistic education balancing exceptional pastoral care with a supportive intellectual environment and a multitude of opportunities for creativity.