Re: End of 2020/21 Academic Year
Dear St. James’ School Parents and Guardians,
Today marks the end of our academic year, a year unlike any other. We have endured significant restrictions to our lifestyles and have had to become comfortable with uncertainty and change. We have adapted to new ways of learning and mastered new technology. We have missed our friends and family and lost out on opportunities to visit our favourite places and to pursue our hobbies and interests. Members of our community have been very ill, and tragically, we most probably all know of someone that COVID has prematurely taken from us.
Across this year I have repeatedly spoken of hope. I believe that hope does spring eternal. I find myself coming back again and again to the mantra of a Growth Mindset. I see how we, but particularly our children have been resilient, how they have worked together (team work), how they have had to become more independent and to take more responsibility for themselves and their learning, and how they have been creative in both solving problems or producing their work. I am buoyed with the progress of the national vaccination programme, believing that we may be able to break the chain of infection and transmission, and therefore hopeful that when children return in September, things will be much closer to ‘normal’.
Of course, with our exciting changes afoot for September, it will not be business as usual. Whilst we bid a fond farewell to Prep aged pupils on the traditional grounds of St. James’, our coming together with St. Martin’s is an opportunity to build on the strong foundations of both schools. With increased numbers and the retention of small class sizes, learning and staff/pupil relationships will continue to be strong. Pupils will enjoy new friendships and experience new perspectives. Team sports will begin to feature more prominently due to our ability to consistently field teams and to be competitive; this is a watershed moment. Consider the etymology of our new owner: Alpha Schools. I have written a good deal about vocabulary, reading, and considering the origins of words this year, and alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet, refers to ‘the beginning’. September will bring new beginnings for us all, and like replacing our favourite pair of shoes, our new (combined) school will soon feel very comfortable and quickly become our new favourite.
Nationally there continues to be some furore surrounding ‘lost learning’ and the need for ‘catch up learning’. Whilst I firmly believe face-to-face learning is far superior to online learning, this is not to say that the latter cannot be effective. Our Year 11 and Year 13 students are a true testament to this. Their education has been the most significantly disrupted due to COVID, with their two-year courses containing two significant periods of online learning and a heavily restricted term of opening sandwiched between.
We have been rigorous and robust in gathering our evidence, and upon submission their grades look extremely pleasing. We are confident that the Quality Assurance process will confirm our grades as fair, in which case over 50% of GCSEs will be awarded grades 9-7, and over 60% of A-Levels either A* or A. Our small, non-selective school punches well above its weight academically, and so whilst we have worried this past year for our children’s futures, trusting the path of St. James’ will help lead your children safely through. I am so proud of these students, of their tenacity, bravery, and commitment. We should not consider this our darkest hour, but instead their (and our) finest achievement.
Today we said goodbye to our Year 6 leavers, as always, a bittersweet occasion. We are thrilled that so many secured places at grammar schools and we wish them every fulfilment and happiness in their future studies. However, we shall miss them dearly, for this is an exceptionally aimable and talented group. I have looked forward to my Headmaster’s Lessons each week as they have always been up for the challenge. As the sun sets on our Prep Department, this group, and our team, are a magnificent vision to hold as our memory of St. James’.
Earlier this year we announced the departure of Mrs Boardman, Head of Prep.
Heather became Head of the Prep School at St James’ three years ago having taught and been an acting Headteacher in the state sector for thirty years. She has made a significant and most positive contribution to the education of so many students with her creative and active approach to teaching fuelling so much enjoyable learning. Heather may be small in stature, but she is blessed with huge intellect, great empathy for others and always leads by example. Her consistently friendly and approachable manner really has made prep school life so much more enjoyable for everyone involved. These qualities have endeared her to so many, especially the staff in the Prep who have appreciated the sensitivity she has consistently shown as they have faced up to so many personal and professional challenges in recent years. It is such a loss to the school and teaching that Mrs Boardman is hanging up her whiteboard marker, but she has certainly earned the right to do so.
It is, of course unlikely that she will be taking it easy as she has recently become a very proud grandmother so her nurturing skills will continue to be in demand.
We hope Heather realises just how warmly she is regarded by the Prep parents, children, and staff at St James’. We wish her a very long and happy retirement with her family from all her many St James’ friends.
A valedictory for Mrs Heather Boardman, Head of Prep, by Meirion Yeoman.
Today we also bit farewell to our temporary teachers; Mrs Dennett (Biology), Mr Pinder (Maths), and Mr Walsh (Physics). Their contributions to the completion of A-Level and GCSE courses this term have been invaluable; they leave St. James’ with our most grateful thanks.
We are also indebted to Miss Love who has most ably completed the GCSE and A-Level Chemistry courses. I am sure this is not the last time we shall have the privilege of Miss Love’s teaching at St. James’, and I most warmly thank her for all her hard work in the laboratory.
I am delighted to confirm the permanent appointment of Miss Wells, who joined us at Easter to help complete the teaching of Year 6, to the staff of St. Martin’s from September. Miss Wells will move to teaching the Reception Class, and I wish her every success as she begins her career in teaching.
This term, after hours, Mr Townend has expertly guided our Year 11 Computer Science students to the completion of their GCSE course. I am grateful to Mr Townend for his loyalty to the students, for his flexibility in delivering these lessons, and we wish him every success in his new role beyond teaching.
I am full of admiration for the entire staff of St. James’; they have been heroic throughout this and previous years. To our campus and domestic staff – thank you for keeping us safe. With enhanced levels of cleaning and maintenance a necessity, your carefulness has helped prevent the transmission of COVID between members of our community. To our catering staff – thank you for keeping our souls warm and full. To our administrative staff, the engine room of any school – thank you for all of the unseen, but essential work you do on behalf of us all. Finally, to our boarding and teaching staff – thank you for the care you have taken of our children this year, and despite a global pandemic, you have helped them all realise and exceed their ambitions.
As I too bid farewell to both Grimsby and St. James’, I wish every member of our community every future fulfilment and happiness. My family and I have loved our time in Lincolnshire, I will always cherish my time leading this incredible school, but our future lies along a different path. I am greatly looking forward to celebrating with our Year 11 and Year 13 students on Results Day, and I remain fully engaged and committed to St. James’ until the commencement of the new academic year.
Having worked closely with Miss Harris, Mr Rose, and Mr Thompson this year, I know the school is in good hands and, with hope you will join with me in wishing them every success and enjoyment in leading the school forward into its new, exciting future.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer and are able to make some long overdue memories. Stay safe St. James’. Adieu.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Murray
Headmaster
