Admissions FAQs
How many pupils are at St James Senior Girls’ School?
There are approximately 260 pupils in the school. Year 7 – 11 are each made up of 2 classes of about 24 pupils i.e. 48 in each year group.
What are the main entrance points?
Pupils can enter St James aged 11 or 16. Our main intake is at 11+ (Year 7), when we admit approximately 28 pupil. We occasionally have places available in Years 8, 9 and 10.
When are your Open Events?
We hold our main Open Events in the Autumn Term. At these events, prospective parents can have a guided tour of the school given by current pupils, visit our subject exhibitions and hear addresses from our Headteacher, a Year 7 pupil and some of our Sixth Formers. In addition, each term we hold Open Mornings during which visitors have a tour of the school and see it on a ‘normal’ working day, as well as hearing presentations from our Headteacher and some pupils.
Click here to book an Open Event
Should I bring my daughter with me when I visit?
Some parents prefer to see the school themselves first before returning for a second tour with their daughter. Others bring the whole family so that everyone is involved in the decision-making process. The Autumn Term Open Events are the best events to bring your daughter to as they provide an opportunity to meet and talk to the largest number of St James pupils and teachers.
What is the entrance procedure?
We are a member of the London 11+ Consortium. Applicants for Year 7 sit the Consortium exam at any Consortium school of their choice.
All candidates are interviewed by our Headteacher, or a senior member of staff. There are no trick questions in the interview: we are simply trying to find out more about our candidates and their interests. After meeting the pupil, the interviewer will then meet their parents. This meeting allows prospective parents to tell us anything they would like the school to know and to ask any questions they might have about the school.
How can we prepare our daughter for the entrance tests?
There is no specific revision pupils can do for the entrance tests. The best advice is that pupils should relax and try to answer all questions to the best of their ability.
What is the ratio of applicants to places available?
This varies year by year. However, for Year 7 entry in September we can have 8 applicants for each place.
What paperwork do we need to provide for the admissions process?
All applicants need to complete and submit:
A Registration Form
A copy of your daughter’s passport
A digital passport photograph
A copy of your daughter’s most recent full school report (this will usually be the end of Summer Term report)
Registration fee of £125 payable to St James Independent Schools via bank transfer (this registration fee is non-refundable)
If your daughter has been assessed by an Educational Psychologist, has had any specialist assessment or has a known disability or allergy, you are also required to submit the reports to the school.
If your daughter requires any special arrangements or considerations for her entrance examinations, her medical / Educational Psychologist Report must be less than 2 years’ old.
Do you accept pupils who are currently at school overseas?
We invite applications from overseas and our international pupils are warmly welcomed to St James. We would ideally like everyone to visit St James for yourself to see all that is on offer, but understand that this is not always possible. We can facilitate the admission process online.
Our schools are a Sponsor for UK Visa and Immigration, and are licensed to support CAS for Child Student Visas. Please contact the Registrar for further information on availability of places and procedures.
Do you offer Bursaries / Scholarships?
We offer six different Scholarships. Click here for more information on scholarship application.
We administer a Bursary Fund which is designed to assist children who otherwise would be unable to attend the school. Bursaries are awarded to both existing and new pupils provided financial need can be demonstrated. Applications should be made to the Bursar by the last Friday in November to be considered for awards in respect of the next academic year (we subcontract the evaluation process to an independent company hence the lead time of ten months). Bursary applications for new pupils will only be accepted for those who are registered for admission. Click here for more information on fees and bursaries.
Do you have a sibling policy?
If we have to decide between two or more candidates who meet our admission requirements after all appropriate allowances and special consideration has been given, we may give preference to a child who already has a brother or sister in the school or whose parent is a former pupil.
Do pupils wear uniform?
All pupils in Years 7 – 11 are required to wear uniform and should have the required kit for sport and the performing arts. Uniform can be purchased from Stevensons Uniform Shop.
Sixth Form pupils are not required to wear uniform but must have a smart suit for formal occasions such as Open Events, school lectures etc.
Does St James offer transport?
Our school is served by excellent public transport links and we offer school transport to a variety of routes. Click here for more information on transport.
Where do pupils do sport?
We use the playground for break times. Our single PE lessons take place in the playground or the gym.
For our double lessons we go by coach to Will to Win Centre at Chiswick House Gardens for netball and King’s House Sports Ground for lacrosse in the Autumn and Spring Terms. Pupils take part in athletics at Linford Christie Stadium or play rounders at King’s House Sports Ground in the Summer Term.
Older pupils have the option of attending a local gym or kickboxing sessions at school.
Do you offer school meals?
Yes, we do and the cost of these is included in our fees. All meals are vegetarian but pupils don’t have to be vegetarian! The food is vegetarian so the school can offer really fresh, good quality meals.
How do I contact the Registrar?
If you require any further information on our admissions process, please email Mrs Patricia Snowdon or call 020 7348 1748.