St James Senior Girls' School
Thank you for your interest in working with us at St James Senior Girls’ School.
Our warm and diverse community is one of mutual respect and trust, with dedicated, expert teaching staff and compassionate pastoral care. We support our pupils to become their very best selves through genuinely open-minded enquiry and collaboration, underpinned by a belief in the limitless potential of the human spirit.
Academic outcomes and behaviour are excellent, and pupils take seriously our school motto which challenges them to speak the truth, live generously and aim for the best.
Built around a courtyard, there is a tangible sense of calm and purpose as you enter our Kensington Olympia school, and this is embedded in school routines through a short period of reflection at the start and end of every lesson and opportunities for mindfulness and meditation for all staff and pupils.
St James has its own salary scale. We value our team, and all staff benefit from regular professional development opportunities, a mentor, confidential life and career coaching as well as free refreshments and lunches whilst on site.
I am very happy to discuss any aspect of the position should you wish to do so and look forward to receiving your application.
St James Schools welcomes open minds and open hearts.
Founded in 1975 by philosophically-inclined parents, our three independent day schools offer a distinctive approach to education which provides for the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of every child; they aim to provide an environment in which a child can discover all that is best within their own nature.
We actively support our pupils’ emotional wellbeing, focusing on mindfulness and fostering a positive school atmosphere built on mutual respect, trust and kindness.
Our schools enjoy enviable locations in London and Surrey: our Nursery, Preparatory School and Senior Girls’ School are close to Hammersmith and High Street Kensington, while St James Senior Boys’ School occupies a stunning 33-acre site in Ashford, in leafy Surrey, with transport services from London.
Located down a quiet road in the shadows of Olympia, the main gate leads into an attractive gated courtyard. The Victorian building opened as a school in 1874 and was rebuilt in 1936; today, they are well equipped for a modern learning environment.
Speak the Truth; Live Generously; Aim for the Best
The philosophy and ethos of St James leads us to being a naturally caring and inclusive school where every member of staff will be involved in supporting and caring for our pupils.
We maintain the highest standards of pastoral care, and key staff throughout our pupils’ journeys are on-hand to always care for, inspire, and ensure the safety of pupils during their time with us.
Pupil voice is incredibly important, and we value the ideas, energy, and leadership of our pupils in all areas of school life. With a vibrant School Council, Vertical House system, Prefects, Peer Mentors and the Wellbeing Committee who lead on pastoral issues our pupils embody the school values.
Practical philosophy, personal development, and wellbeing have been woven into the pupil experience at St James for many years, and today, our school is highly regarded in these areas.
Our warm and supportive environment enables pupils to build firm foundations on which they can build academic success and pupil outcomes are excellent. The vast majority of our leavers take up places at the world’s leading universities, with a strong tradition of Oxbridge success.
The Pause
The School engages in a ‘Pause’ at the beginning and end of every lesson and periods such as Assembly. The Pause is a short period of quiet reflection and stillness, a connection with something peaceful and unchanging in today’s busy world. Pausing allows us all to refocus and prepare for what is to come next. It brings everyone back to a stillness and allows a moment of calm before moving on. The Pause is something unique to St James, and the staff and children all value it greatly.
You can view our Safeguarding policy here, our Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure policy here, and our privacy policy here.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to St James Schools. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to public advertisements.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact our advising consultant at Anderson Quigley: Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7596 954 387 or Phil Gifford at phil.gifford@andersonquigley.com, or +44 (0)7743 936 121.
The closing date for applications is noon on March 3, 2024.
Applications should consist of:
Please include details of two referees in either your application or cover letter. Note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent, and only should you be successful in the recruitment process.