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As we wrap up the school year, take this summer to rest, reflect, and enjoy time away from the classroom.

Our Year 7s have done a great job settling in and becoming a part of our school community—it’s been wonderful to see you grow in confidence.

Best wishes to our incoming Year 11s and Year 13s—big steps lie ahead, and we’re proud of all you’ve achieved so far. Come back recharged and ready to take on a new chapter with confidence and curiosity

Kataleen and Josephine - Head Students

The Jubilee Ambassadors travelled to Victoria to attend the Westminster Cathedral Festival of Hope.

The event featured stalls from a range of organisations connected to the core Jubilee themes: debt cancellation, social justice and solidarity, care for the planet, reconciliation, peace, and more.

The day included a moving liturgy led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, focusing on the theme of hope, followed by a beautiful time of Adoration, during which the entire Cathedral fell silent in reverence before the Lord.

We’re proud that St James’ students took part in the procession as flag bearers, representing our school with dignity and pride.

On Thursday 10th July, St James’ Catholic High School undertook something extraordinary: a Whole School Pilgrimage Day. As part of the global celebration of the Catholic Jubilee Year of Hope, every student in Years 7 to 10 — nearly 900 young pilgrims — journeyed in their form groups to visit a different parish or Catholic site across the Diocese of Westminster.

Each group travelled by foot or public transport, accompanied by staff and sixth form leaders, to make their own pilgrimage of prayer, reflection, and discovery. From historic churches to hidden chapels, from the grand and ornate to the simple and humble, students encountered the rich diversity of the Church in a way that was both deeply personal and joyfully communal.

The theme of the day was hope — hope in God, in one another, and in the future. Through lighting candles, praying together, sharing picnic lunches, and taking part in quiet liturgies, students experienced what pilgrimage is truly about: not only the destination, but the journey itself.

Each pupil received a Jubilee Year pilgrim medal, and each form left behind a small gift for the parish they visited. Some groups were warmly welcomed by parish priests, others by parish staff or even parishioners. Students had a chance to explore the common and unique features of the churches and reflect on how these communities bring hope to their local area.

Although the London Underground had its own ideas in the afternoon — with the Northern Line experiencing a temporary suspension just as everyone was returning — students and staff showed resilience and humour, and spirits remained high. As one staff member commented, “Even the travel troubles became part of the pilgrimage. It was a shared experience, and one we’ll be talking about for a long time!”

At the heart of this day was a powerful message: hope is something we carry — and something we’re called to share. We thank all the parishes who hosted our students so generously, and we celebrate this unique day in the life of our school. Pilgrimage reminds us that faith and life is a journey — and what a joy it is to walk it together.

We were delighted to welcome several primary schools to our campus for this year’s highly anticipated taster days. It was a joy to see so many enthusiastic young learners exploring what life is like at our school. Throughout their visit, the students took part in a wide range of engaging and interactive lessons, giving them a taste of the vibrant learning environment we offer.

A highlight of their day was the chance to meet our school chaplain, Holly, who introduced them of the theme of the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee. Students gained insight into the message of hope, unity, and faith that the Jubilee represents. Motivated by this message, the children then had the opportunity to express their reflections and creativity by contributing to a large, collaborative art mural centred around the Jubilee theme.

The mural, a colourful and meaningful representation of the pupils interpretations of hope and togetherness, now serves as a beautiful reminder of their visit and the values we share as a community.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the pupils who attended the taster days and played a part in bringing our mural to life.

Watch the video below to hear our school chaplain, Holly, and Mr McGovern share more about the inspiration and meaning behind the mural.

Well done to the following pupils who competed in the Barnet Champs 2025!

We’re proud to celebrate some fantastic results:

🥇 Dara Ojewole – Shot Put: 8.26m
🥈 Noor Shenwari – 2nd Place – Discus

🥉 Bryan Monipale - 3rd Place - 800M

Congratulations to all our athletes for their hard work and dedication!

Congratulations to all of our Jack Petchey Award Winners, who received awards at the Jack Petchey Awards Evening: Serena Piotrowska, Ilinca Florea, Laeticia Ngeleka, Davina Adjei Annor, Jefferey Yeboah, Tyla Regala, Hussain Alfadli, Ali Mohammed &

Kataleen Liu

The Jack Petchey Foundation was set up by Sir Jack Petchey to inspire and motivate young people across London and Essex to do their best and reach their full potential. These pupils have shown a great attitude toward learning and are resilient in all lessons. This is a real embodiment of our Veritas Values.

Congratulations again to all of our award winners - this is a fantastic achievement!

Resilience have won our Veritas Cup for 2024/25! This House received the most positive recognition throughout the year for their outstanding efforts and achievements.

Our two new Head Students, Kataleen and Josephine, proudly presented the Cup to the Resilience House students, along with Mr. Wills, who leads the House.

Congratulations to everyone in Resilience — well done!

We hosted our Sports Celebration Evening—an event dedicated to recognising and applauding the hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievements of our young athletes.

Whether it was excelling in a particular sport, making remarkable progress, or consistently demonstrating excellent sportsmanship, every student contributed something special to our sporting community.

We were especially privileged to welcome Rachel Yankey, former professional footballer and a trailblazer in women’s football. As the first registered female professional footballer in England and holder of 129 caps for the national team, her presence and words were truly inspiring.

A heartfelt thank you to all the staff who worked so hard to make this event such a success!

We held our Transition Day, offering our incoming pupils a fantastic opportunity to spend time at St James’ and begin their journey with us. The day was thoughtfully designed to help ease the transition into secondary school life by giving pupils a chance to experience the welcoming and supportive environment that St James’ is known for.

Throughout the day, pupils took part in a variety of engaging activities across different subjects, allowing them to explore their interests, build confidence, and get a taste of the exciting learning ahead.

They also had the opportunity to meet their future classmates, begin forming new friendships, and connect with members of staff who will be supporting them in the months to come.

On 16th July, pupils from Years 7, 8, 9, and 10 took part in Sports Day at the StoneX Stadium. They competed in a range of traditional athletics events, including sprints, distance running, throwing, and jumping.

Students represented their house teams, with all points contributing to the overall house scores. Congratulations to House Trust, this year’s winners!

A huge thank you to all pupils for their participation and for showing great resilience and determination throughout the day. Well done also to the PE department for their hard work and organisation in making the event a success. More photos will be available on our website

We were delighted to welcome parents, carers, and governors to join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of our pupils during our Summer Prize Giving. The evening was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the hard work, progress, and dedication shown by our pupils throughout the academic year.

Awards were presented to pupils from Years 7 to 10 in recognition of their exceptional performance across a wide range of subjects, including academic excellence, creative achievement, and personal growth. In addition to subject awards, several pupils received the prestigious Veritas Awards, which honour those who have consistently demonstrated our school’s core values.

A huge congratulations to all our award winners!

St James’ hosted our inaugural Career Spotlight Day on Friday, 11th July.

All pupil took part in a full day dedicated to careers advice and guidance. Over forty visitors generously gave their time to speak with pupils about their career journeys and the paths they took to reach their current roles.

The event featured a diverse range of professionals, including representatives from the Police, Army, Marketing, Psychology, and even Dog Grooming, among many others!

In addition to these inspiring talks, all students participated in workshops led by Middlesex University and ASK Apprenticeships, designed to help them prepare for their post-16 and post-18 study and career options.

Year 10 students have had a busy and enriching year filled with a wide range of career-focused experiences.

This culminated in July with a series of valuable opportunities, including virtual and in-person work experience, our Career Spotlight Day, ASK Apprenticeship workshops, and visits to Middlesex University.

The university visits provided students with a first-hand insight into higher education, offering a glimpse of campus life and helping them to envision the possibilities their future could hold. These experiences have played a key role in broadening their horizons and supporting their post-16 planning.

Our Year 12 Oxbridge group had an inspiring and insightful day at the Cambridge University Open Day this week. The visit gave them a valuable glimpse into life at one of the world’s leading universities, as well as the chance to explore the colleges, attend subject-specific talks, and speak directly with current students and admissions staff.

The day was a fantastic opportunity for them to deepen their understanding of what studying at such a high level entails, and to reflect on the steps they need to take in the coming months as they prepare their applications. We’re incredibly proud of their ambition and determination, and we look forward to seeing them continue to flourish as they move into Year 13.

Our Year 9 Geography students recently took part in an academic trip to Stratford, London, focusing on the theme of urban regeneration. They explored and compared two key sites—the Carpenters Estate and the Olympic Village—examining how each area has transformed over time.

As part of their fieldwork, students conducted land use surveys, environmental quality assessments, public interviews, and created detailed field sketches.

This trip provided a valuable opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning in a real-world context, gaining deeper insights into urban regeneration and its impact on local communities.

The Year 12 Geography cohort successfully completed their NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) data collection field trip. Throughout the three days, pupils engaged in hands-on fieldwork, gathering essential data and observations that will form the basis of their upcoming coursework.

This practical experience allowed them to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, developing key skills in data collection, analysis, and geographical investigation. The trip provided valuable insights into urban environments and offered an exciting start to their NEA project.

Attached is the Barnet Youth Summer Newsletter, which includes a wide range of exciting activities, events, and workshops that pupils can take part in throughout the summer break.

We encourage you to explore the opportunities available and get involved in the fun and enriching experiences on offer.