History

St James Schools were founded in l975 by Leon MacLaren, a London barrister who had devoted himself to philosophy and economics, and who was also the founder of The School of Economic Science which teaches philosophy and related topics to adults in evening classes in London and throughout the UK. 

The vision for children's schools was for a whole education, from four and a half years to 18 years, which nourishes the whole being spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically.

After their foundation, Leon MacLaren (who died in l994, aged 84) played an influential part in seeking to ensure that St James schools were based on sound principles which, whilst seeking to provide the best in traditional British education, would nonetheless plough the new furrow of a non-denominational spiritual education from which all children of all races and background could benefit.

Today, around a third of the staff at the Senior Boys School, including the Headmaster, have themselves studied at The School of Economic Science and 10% of the children at St James come from families with connections to the SoES. The other 90% from 17 different cultures representing all the great faiths, have been attracted by the ethos, high academic standards and application of the philosophical principles in practice.

The St James Senior Boys purchased Pope's Villa in l996, moving to Twickenham from Victoria in Central London until July 2010.

In September 2010 the school moved again, this time to a 32 acre site in Ashford, Surrey.The school has more than doubled in size to its present role of 330 boys and will reach about 400 to 450 within 2 or 3 years. (SEE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS)

The success of the St James Schools in London has inspired similar schools to spring up around the world, all following the Leon MacLaren educational ideas. There are junior schools in Leeds, Manchester, Dublin, New York, Trinidad, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. A senior school for boys and girls operates in Dublin.