Eugene Carnell and Louis Clayton Molloy represent Middlesex

 

Congratulations to the 15 members of the Middlesex 10's squad who won the Silver Group of the SW 10's competition held at Bath University, beating Gloucestershire convincingly 29-7 in the Final. In total there were 5 matches, Middlesex winning 4, and losing only one to Hampshire by just one point 15-14. Wins were recorded against Bristol, Somerset, Devon and finally Gloucestershire.
This was the first time that Middlesex have been invited to the SW Regional 10's - an excellent tournament, well run in a great spirit, and enabling games against Counties we would not normally face.

Two members of the Sixth Form volunteered to accompany Mr Christian Daw on his visit to the site of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. At one stage they stood in a huge room and were told that this was where 2000 Jews were gassed to death every day! Here are their moving accounts:

The Library is running a Bookmark Competition!

Design your own bookmark and the 4 winners will have their bookmark made into the official library bookmark. Come into the library to pick up your entry form. Entries are due in by Wednesday 10^th February.

Here are two lovely winter shots of the new St James Senior Boys School in Ashford, Middlesex. The tranquillity of these scenes belies the re-construction, refurbishment and redecoration that is taking place inside! The contractors moved in on 4th Jan 2010 and started work. We hope that there will be more visits arranged for parents and prospective parents in the coming months, to see the Ashford site and the ambitious plans for the school. Keep an eye on our website for these forthcoming dates.

Justin Murray has been awarded a 'Highly Commended' 2nd place in the Whitbread Memorial Prize for his 12 Grade A* in 2009 GCSE's. These awards are made to the top students in the ISA schools (Independent Schools Association) throughout the UK.

On Saturday last, approximately 450 visitors went to the Ashford site to hear about the vision and the plans for the school right up to 2016. It was a phenomenal turn-out and represents the degree of interest from the Ashford community and prospective parents. It was all highly encouraging and there was a considerable buzz of expectation and excitement. We hope to repeat the exercise at the end of January 2010. Watch this space!

 

 

Salvatorian v St James (Away)

Full report from Mr Pilkington

It must be stated, from the outset, that this is the best rugby game I have seen a St James team play in my four years here as a PE teacher. The Under 16's were a depleted year group from injuries before we even set off for north London on Wednesday. Nearly the entire back line comprised of Year 10 boys...

The editor of The Good Schools Guide, Mr Ralph Lucas, was asked to write an article for 'First Eleven' - a top independent schools magazine. He was asked to write about schools that encouraged 'Entrepreneurship'. Ralph named St James as one of six schools that he felt was particularly successful, amonst them being, Manchester Grammar School and Eton College. This is what he said about the St James Schools:

 

"The aim of this school is to teach community-led, socially-inspired leadership. Pupils are to follow, as well as to lead, and serve as well as be served. It's a school for budding Mandelas rather than multi-millionaires."

Justin Murray, Year 12, writes about his experiences at Arnhem last weekend:

Last Thursday, the St James School minibus revved into life, carrying 13 cadets of 239 Para Cadet Detachment to the town of Arnhem, Holland. As it does every year.

Affiliated, as we are, with the Parachute Regiment, 239 Detachment annually attends the commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Arnhem.

This conflict, which was fought on Dutch soil in September 1944, was the largest in the history of airborne forces. Under the plan codenamed ‘Market Garden', thousands of paratroopers from four nations jumped into Holland to seize strategic bridges in an attempt to seek an easy way into Germany and bring the war to an early close.

This weekend, as every year, veterans, civilians, and troops currently in service, gather all alike to remember their fight. 
During the four days there on the 65th anniversary of the conflict, St James cadets visited the Airborne Museum outside Arnhem, where we learnt much about the battle and its consequences.

We attended the memorial service at the Airborne Cemetery: a very sobering display. The service included several hundred children from the locality of Arnhem laying wreaths at each of the 1600 graves whilst wispering the names of those who fell and died in 1944.

We were present at the Drop Zone (DZ) to witness the commemorative parachute jump by both modern-day parachute troops and veterans who had first jumped there 65 years previously.

That evening we served drinks at the cocktail party reception, at which many important civil and military dignitaries - including the Secretary of State and several senior generals - were present. This was a highly uncommon but extremely rewarding experience: not many other sixth-formers can say that they have served champagne at such a high-profile event! Moreover, the breath-taking display by the Red Devils (the Parachute Regiment's elite parachute-jumping team), and the performance from the Paras' own military band is not to be missed.

For me, however, the highlight was seeing and speaking to the veterans of the 1944 campaign who still travel to Arnhem today; men over eighty years old who will stand stock still to remember their fallen comrades. I end with a quote from the wall of the Airborne Museum.

"If in the years to come any man says to you ‘I fought at Arnhem', take off your hat to him and buy him a drink,for this is the stuff of which England's greatness is made."

For the second year in succession, pupils at St James Senior Boys School in Twickenham have achieved record GCSE results.

Within the 100% pass rate, 94% of papers achieved A*-C grades, equalling last year's record results. 57% achieved an A* or A grade.

Justin Murray secured 12 A* grades, possibly one of the top scores in the country. Harvinder Gill achieved 7 A*  and 2 A grades. Tim Fogarty and Sohinder Rekhi both scored 6 A* grades with the remainder of their papers securing A grades.

Commenting on the results, Headmaster, Mr David Boddy, said: " We are a non-selective school and yet for the past five years we have secured 100% pass rates with an increasing number of those grades at the top levels. We work hard to achieve a balance between academic success and character development. To have, once again, scored such strong academic success is a great credit to the boys and their teachers. It clearly shows this dual approach works."

Last week, St James pupils also achieved record A-level results. (SEE STORY BELOW - 20.8.09)  Mr Boddy added: " The national newspapers are full of how these exams are all being watered down. But the fact is that sitting a set of national exams remains a highly testing time for the pupils. At a time of their great success we need to be generous in our praise, not closed-hearted."