Sports

At St James we try to make sports lessons a thoroughly enjoyable time for all. The aim is that every child develops confidence and proficiency in at least one discipline and learns to be a proactive and generous team player.

Sport gives the children improved physical fitness, stamina, flexibility, agility, strength and balance. We encourage and support each child to reach his or her own sporting ambition, be it getting into the house team or the lofty heights of representing their Club or London Region and we have experienced success in all these areas.

The children take part in dance, gymnastics, athletics, cross-country running, team sports - rugby and cricket for the boys, netball and rounders for the girls and swimming at a local pool. There are also after school clubs in mini-tennis, rugby, netball, dance and yoga.

Sport has the potential to engender a sense of community across many independent institutions. With this in mind St James initiated the “St James Netball Tournament” and the “St James Rugby Tournament”. These are annual tournaments hosted by St James Junior School and enjoyed by a large number of West London Independent Schools. St James pupils successfully take part in the ISA Cross Country Championships, ISA Athletics Championships and the ISA Gymnastic Championships, gaining podium places on each occasion this

Dance

"To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak" — Indian Proverb

Weekly dance lessons take place at St James for girls from reception to year 5 and boys from reception to year 3. The syllabus covers a mixture of ballet, national dance and creative dance and encourages children to develop awareness of oneself, awareness of others and individual creativity. Dance can be used to develop a child’s ability to focus and concentrate with periods of educational play being alternated with times of physical and mental attention. Consequently the child will develop their ability to make an effort and focus their attention as required whilst freeing up the body they are also learning to control.

Dance is featured in many productions throughout the year and during the year each class prepares a piece to perform in an annual demonstration for parents. Highly enthusiastic pupils are also offered the opportunity to participate in weekly after school classes of which further information can be obtained from the school office.