Hydra? St James Independent School (Stockport)

Discussion of the children's schools in the UK.
sparks
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Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:17 am

Hydra? St James Independent School (Stockport)

Postby sparks » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:08 am

YES ....yet another one...funny no mention of a history of abuse at St James London though!

Published: 22nd February 2006
?Modern? primary opens its doors to the town

A NEW school with an alternative outlook on education has opened in Heaton Norris.

St James Independent School, on Belmont Road, opened in September and claims to offer a fresh approach to education, with study based on philosophy rather than a specific religion.

Robert McNeill, headteacher, said: "We want to develop the whole child and help them work in harmony with what is around us and with each other.

"We draw on any great works from the East and West including the Bible and Sanskrit"

The fledgling primary school is attempting to establish itself in Stockport, but concerns have been raised over the school?s links with an organisation called the School of Economic Science (SES).

The SES was subject of an expos? book in 1985 called Secret Cult. Written by investigate journalists Peter Hounam and Andrew Hogg, it claimed the organisation was secretive and destructive.

However, Mr McNeill claims much of criticism has been taken on board by the SES and the organisation has moved on since the 1980s.

He is now hoping a lecture, being held at the school this Saturday, will help address public concerns and help build links with the local community.

Mr McNeill said: "We are trying to get ourselves known and are certainly not hiding.

"We want to get away from what seemed fair criticism at the time and a public lecture is a clear way of doing that."

The primary school is modelled on four St James schools, set up by the SES in London, and Mr McNeill claims positive inspection reports for these schools is evidence of the primary school?s potential.

"We have nothing to hide and are inviting as many people as possible to come and see what we are about."

He added: "We are absolutely concerned with children?s happiness and nourishment spiritually, mentally and physically."

However, cult watchdog FAIR (Family, Action, Information, Resource) has cast doubt over whether the organisation has changed.

FAIR secretary Audrey Chaytor said: "We have recently received calls from parents concerned about the school. The SES has never published anything to defend that book [Secret Cult]. Since the writing of the book the SES has kept a low profile and there is no reason to think they have changed."

If you want to hear more about St James School the headteacher of St James Senior School in London, David Boddy, will deliver a talk at the school on Saturday, February 25, 7.30pm.

The event is by ticket only. More information is available by ringing 480 4586.


Paul Maher

First published by the Stockport Express


Note:
If you want to hear more about St James School the headteacher of St James Senior School in London, David Boddy, will deliver a talk at the school on Saturday, February 25, 7.30pm.

The event is by ticket only. More information is available by ringing 480 4586.


Anyone free Saturday and fancy a visit - could be interesting?

I notice there is an email link at the bottom of the article for reader comments... see http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/ ... _town.html

james
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Postby james » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:14 am

Im glad to here that the St James system is florishing.
I had nothing, well near enough nothing, but good experiences throughout my education there, from my primary years at the alcuin in leeds (moved there at 8 because of bullying, and, wait for it.... teacher verbal abuse at my first school!) to boarding at st james senior boys in London.
I wish the school the best of luck.

ses-surviver
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Location: London

Postby ses-surviver » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:21 am

ah Stocky! Close enough to Manchester for the rents to be cheap enough and yet close enough to the more desireable parts of South Manchester to have nice cachement area.

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a different guest
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Postby a different guest » Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:04 am

[quote="james"]Im glad to here that the St James system is florishing.
[quote]

Glad to "here" eh?

ross nolan
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the mote in the eye

Postby ross nolan » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:12 pm

More pedantic 'spell checking' ADG ? There is also a "U" in flourishing but hey, who (else) is so nit picking ?

I do not edit posts for minor spelling errors since the risk of my whole posting dropping out increases with time -- having just caught up with four days of postings (including yours and quite a few errors of spellling) -- some people might not have glasses on when posting or are in a hurry etc etc -- how about just saying something when you have something worth listening to ?
Skeptic

sparks
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Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:17 am

Re: the mote in the eye

Postby sparks » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:23 pm

Another article on the new St James Primary School - from the Stockport Express

Clearly the PR machine is in overdrive...but interesting turn of phrase used by the headteacher McNeill

Mr McNeill, himself a member of the SES, said: ??We need to demystify the SES, as a lack of understanding leads to scepticism.

I have been a member of the SES for 30 years and I have always found its members to be good at heart. They are very generous people who want to be of help to society, and want to improve themselves".



The full article is below (or see http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/ ... aries.html )

Published: 27th March 2006
School that breaks down boundaries

SHAPING UP: A youngster learns with coloured shapesSTOCKPORT?S newest ? and most unusual ? primary school was keen to show off an innovative approach to teaching when it invited Stockport Express reporter Paul Maher to observe lessons.

Since opening in September, St James Independent Junior School has managed to generate a great deal of interest from parents curious about its unique teaching methods.

However, the school has also come under suspicion because of links with a well established but little known philosophical organisation called the School of Economic Science (SES).

Claims that pupils at St James? sister schools, in London, suffered physical abuse in the 1980s has also cast a shadow over the fledgling primary.

But despite the scepticism surrounding the school, headteacher, Robert McNeill, is confident the new school offers a ?wonderful product?, which aims to draw out a child?s potential without forcing any form of doctrination.

Mr McNeill said: ?We offer an unusual mix of traditional and modern teaching methods.

?What we try to do is provide good material which keeps the attention of children. It is very important to us that the children never get bored.

?In many ways we are exactly the same as other schools and follow the same curriculum, but we quite often have an innovative approach.

?We encourage the children to develop themselves and when you allow a child to develop at their natural speed it is incredible what can be achieved.?

The school claims its lessons ?transcend culture? by introducing pupils to great works from different religions.

Language studies are also based around the teaching of Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-European language, which the school claims gives children the basis to understand modern languages.

Some of the techniques employed by St James are also quite simple, such as the use of calligraphy boards which helps children?s posture by preventing them from having to bend over to work.

However, despite the innovative approach St James is aware that if the school is to grow it will have to confront concerns over its links with the SES - which has been described as a ?secret cult? - as well as the accusations against its sister schools.

Mr McNeill, himself a member of the SES, said: ?We are trying to look at the public perception of the School of Economic Science but it is difficult when a book is written labelling you a cult.

?We need to demystify the SES, as a lack of understanding leads to scepticism.

?I have been a member of the SES for 30 years and I have always found its members to be good at heart. They are very generous people who want to be of help to society, and want to improve themselves.

And about the London schools, he said: ?Things happened 20 or 25 years ago which shouldn?t have happened. That doesn?t excuse it but we don?t want to dwell on the negatives.

?There has been an independent inquiry and it said what happened then does not reflect the schools now.?

St James claims it is now looking forward to its first Ofsted report - scheduled to take place before the end of the academic year - which it hopes will give the school a stamp of credibility.

First published by the Stockport Express

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mike_w
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I wonder how many more there are?

Postby mike_w » Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:05 am

...any why they are not openly linking them. They may be prefectly good schools. And the education you get for the money is probably above average, but why keep things secret? Why not be honest? Why not tell 'the truth' up front, before people start asking questions?

Similar report on the news about the Reg Vardy sponsored schools - Sir Peter Vardy puts up the money so he gets to say what gets taught religion wise...

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools ... 08,00.html

http://news.billinge.com/1/hi/england/tees/3088444.stm

sugarloaf
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Postby sugarloaf » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:15 pm

Mike wrote:
why keep things secret? Why not be honest? Why not tell 'the truth' up front, before people start asking questions?


That same old question again...

Looking at the Alcuin school leeds website - http://www.alcuinschool.co.uk/
they do list 'sister' schools around the world. But absolutely no description of SES, or the fact that it runs the school.

Just the usual obtuse fudge:
The Alcuin school is part of an international movement in education. This movement was established as an educational charity teaching philosophy for over 60 years, and now has associated charities which run day schools for children. Besides Alcuin there are currently nine day schools throughout the world in London, Dublin, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Johannesburg and Trinidad. A new school is soon to open in Durban and a pilot school is running near Manchester.

The aim of the day schools is to put the great spiritual teachings of the world at the heart of the curriculum for teaching children. The school believes in a "unity of faiths" approach, being non-denominational, and is open to children of all races, creeds and cultures.


On their Links page, they have a link to the website of the SES run ERT and local branch of the SES... under the title "educational resources", along with the good schools guide, and schoolzone websites.

Being that deceptive doesnt happen by accident...must take some considerable effort to be so opaque. Its odd - if the SES influence is so great, and so benign, why do they make such an effort to hide it?..

sugarloaf
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Postby sugarloaf » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:21 pm

Oh...

and the alcuin school motto?

Veritas in omnibus.... Truth in all things.

sugarloaf
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Postby sugarloaf » Sun Apr 02, 2006 12:29 pm

Oh and the alcuin school also happens to be run by the brother of one of the current St james teachers imlicated in mistreating children. Not saying that in anyway reflects on his own competence, but just another example of what a small incestuous world the SES inhabit.

In my view part of the inward looking, unhealthy, undemocratic structure that allowed decades of abuse to go unchecked.

Shout
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Postby Shout » Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:36 pm

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