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As the season of Advent began at St James', we entered a time of waiting, watching, and preparing our hearts. Advent invited us to pause amid the busyness of daily life and to remember that even in the darkest or most ordinary moments, God’s light was coming. It was a season of hope, peace, joy, and love, a time to reflect on the ways God had been present in our lives and to notice the ways we could share that presence with others.

This month House Council focused on extra-curricular activities, particularly the benefits of consistent participation in clubs. Mrs Appiah, who oversees this area, joined us to introduce a new reward system. We built on her ideas by discussing their potential impact and suggesting additional proposals of our own.

It was encouraging to see everyone actively engaged, with thoughtful contributions that developed the original concept. As the new year begins, this felt like a positive and motivating way to move forward. We are confident that recognising commitment in this way will increase engagement across the school, and we look forward to seeing how these ideas develop further in the coming months.

Kataleen Liu & Josephine Atuahene-Kwakye

Head Pupils

Advent is a very special season in the life of the Church: a time of waiting, watching and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. It invites us to slow down, to reflect, and to look forward with hope — not only to the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but also to how God continues to come into our lives today. At St James’, Advent is a season we truly throw ourselves into, embracing the purple, the prayerfulness, and the sense of joyful anticipation that marks these weeks.

As a Dominican school, Advent provides a wonderful opportunity to live out our Dominican values of Study, Prayer, Community and Mission, and to put Catholic Social Teaching into action — especially the call to solidarity, dignity of the human person, and care for those most in need. This term, students and staff have engaged wholeheartedly in a range of meaningful and joyful Advent activities that have helped us to prepare together for Christmas.

As a Dominican school, our identity is rooted in the pursuit of truth (Veritas) and the pillars of study, prayer, community and mission, all while praising, preaching and blessing. We were delighted to welcome members of the Dominican Associates - lay men and women who live out the Dominican way of life — to St James’ this Advent.

Inspired by their visit, a group of five fantastic St James' students planned, recorded and produced our very first St James' Faith Podcast (a new, jazzier name is in the works!). Created as an Advent reflection for the Associates, Reflection Around the Wreath explores the themes of hope, peace, joy, love, and the challenge of waiting well. The students worked incredibly hard, and we hope this will be the beginning of an ongoing series exploring faith through student voices. The link can be found below, and all St James' families are warmly invited to listen and prepare together for this holy season.

Over the coming weeks, our pupils lit the Advent candles, each one marking a step along this journey of waiting and preparing. As we watched these flames, we were invited not only to remember the stories of long ago but also to consider our own lives: where hope was needed, where peace could grow, where joy could be discovered, and where we could make room for God to be born a new.

Pupils also made two beautiful Advent wreaths for use in our Celebration of the Word assemblies. Rich in symbolism, the circular shape and evergreen leaves remind us of God’s never-ending love and faithfulness, helping to focus our prayer as we journey together through the season of Advent.

✨ The Candle of Hope

In lighting the first candle of Advent, we are reminded of the prophets who held onto God’s promise even when the world felt uncertain. Their hope invites us to look for the light, even in small and ordinary moments.

🕊️ The Candle of Peace

The second candle reflects the angels’ message of peace—a peace that isn’t just calmness, but a deep sense of knowing we are held by God. As our students lit this candle, we prayed that peace may grow in our school, our homes, and our world.

💗 The Candle of Joy

Gaudete Sunday invites us to rejoice, like the shepherds who were surprised by joy in the middle of an ordinary night. As our students lit the rose candle, we remember that joy can be quiet, gentle, and found in unexpected places.

⭐ The Candle of Faith

The fourth candle leads us to Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph trust in God one step at a time. As our students light this candle, we are invited to make space—however imperfect—for Christ to be born again in our lives.

What small act of faith could help you prepare room for God this week?

A central theme of Advent is preparation — preparing not just our classrooms and homes, but our hearts. The Church invites us during this season to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a beautiful and often misunderstood sacrament that offers healing, renewal and a fresh start.

We were very grateful to Fr John and Fr Brian, who generously gave their time to hear confessions during lunchtime in the second week of Advent. The response from students and staff was incredibly encouraging, with queues forming each day in the chapel. It was a powerful witness to the importance of prayer and reflection in school life, and a reminder that God’s mercy is always freely offered.

As Advent draws to a close and we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we give thanks for the many ways our community has lived out faith, generosity and hope this term. May this Christmas be a time of peace, joy and renewal for you and your loved ones.

We wish all St James families a happy, holy and blessed Christmas, and every blessing for the New Year.

We are proud to highlight the dedication of Year 8 pupils David and Wojciech, who joined a volunteer team on Sunday to help clean up around St James' School. This was part of a wider community project organised by MP, David Pinto-Duschinsky, as part of a large Hendon litter-picking initiative.

Spending their free time helping the community, even in chilly weather, these pupils demonstrated great commitment and set a wonderful example for others. Well done!

Congratulations to all our talented pupils who took part in this year’s Christmas Card Competition! We were thrilled to see so many creative and festive entries, each showcasing the artistic skills and holiday spirit of our school community.

A special congratulations goes to our winners: Czarina (Year 13), Alesha (Year 13), and Kaarunya (Year 9)

A big well done to our Sixth Formers, who were treated to a well deserved bowling trip! These pupils have stood out as the hardest working, most consistently attending, and politest members of our Sixth Form.

Congratulations to our Year 11 students for their excellent performance in the English Language and Literature mocks! These awards recognise their hard work, dedication, and impressive achievements. Well done to all!

Pupils who earned an Academic Award or a Pastoral Award this term were treated to a special screening of Elf during the Film Reward Morning. They enjoyed plenty of snacks and had a fantastic time celebrating their hard work and dedication.

Well done to 7M, 8A, 9J, 10C, and 11M for winning the Termly Form Time Competition!

Forms compete each term to achieve the best attendance, punctuality, and House Points, with a prize awarded to the top performers.

This term’s winning forms enjoyed Breakfast with the Best — hot waffles and pancakes - relaxing with friends and ending the term on a high.

On Thursday 4 December, we hosted our annual party for senior citizens from our local community. As our guests arrived, they were warmly welcomed by our volunteer sixth-form pupils, dressed in festive outfits, who guided them to their tables.

As everyone settled in, our staff ensured the wine was flowing, and our younger students delighted the room with a selection of Christmas carols and songs. Their performances were wonderful and quickly filled the hall with festive cheer.

Our kitchen team prepared a beautiful meal, which was served by the sixth-form pupils. After the meal came the excitement of the raffle. Thanks to generous donations from staff and several partner companies, every guest went home with a lovely prize.

To view more photos from the evening please click here

Following Staff and Companies who donated:

Black & Cook

Zen Educate

Teach London

Mrs. K. Cremin

Thornton Electrical

Karen Walsh

Emma Bunning

Carmen DeLucia

Mags Mcguinness

Betty Turner

William Waters

Sharon McGovern

Holly Graham

Sara Magee

Michelle Murphy

We gathered for what has become a highlight of the school calendar: the Christmas Concert. Throughout the evening, the audience enjoyed a vibrant array of musical and theatrical performances, all admirably delivered by St James' pupils.

The programme included a variety of musical pieces and even a sneak peek of our upcoming musical production. From classical piano recitals and impressive solo performances to a festive finale of Christmas carols featuring our school band, the night showcased an exceptional breadth of talent.

Special thanks go to Ms Williams and Mr Howlett-Reeves for generously giving their time and expertise to help the pupils prepare for such an outstanding showcase of creativity.

We welcomed our Art Alumni back to St James’ for a special showcase celebrating the wonderful artwork they have produced since leaving the school. It was inspiring to see the diverse range of creative journeys our former pupils have taken, and to share their achievements with our current students. A thank you to the Art Department for organising such a memorable occasion as well as to the former members of the Art department for their support.

"We, the alumni artists of St James' Catholic High School, extend our deepest gratitude for the privilege of having been taught by Mrs. Orly Smetana. Her vision, dedication, and encouragement shaped the foundations of our creative journeys. She nurtured curiosity, instilled the courage to experiment, and reminded us that art is a non-verbal universal language—open to interpretation, dialogue, and discovery. Through her guidance, she fostered a community of makers who continue to carry forward the values of exploration and expression she so generously imparted.

Mrs. Smetana challenged each of us to strive for our best. When asked what she hoped for beyond teaching, she would reply: “To have a gallery of all my students’ works.” After retiring as Head of the Art Department, she pursued her own path of study, completing an MA in Fine Art at UAL Central St Martin's.

Reflecting on this chapter, she wrote:

Her transition from teaching to her own practice inspired the vision of a space where learning and creating could coexist. From this dream, the OSM Collective was born. This debut exhibition, returning to where it all began, marks the first step in a new movement. Though her aim is to step back and let her former pupils shine, we acknowledge with heartfelt appreciation the legacy that has brought us together and continues to guide us forward.

The OSM Collective extends immense gratitude to St James' Catholic High School for letting us reunite on school property for our first ever debut show. We would like to extend our thanks to all members of staff who have helped this ideal come to fruition, especially, Mr McGovern and Wendy who have worked really hard to make this all possible. "

OSM Collective

Click on the link below to view the full showcase

We had the pleasure of hosting the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge Workshop for our Year 10 pupils who are approaching their 60th anniversary! The pupils were fully immersed in an engaging and practical speech writing experience, learning essential skills that will benefit them.

A special congratulations goes to the four pupils who stood out during the workshop. They will now go on to compete internally for the exciting opportunity to represent our school at the regional level.

We can’t wait to see how they shine in the next stages of the competition!

We were delighted to celebrate this year’s Prize-Giving Evening, held on 18th December 2025. The event was a wonderful opportunity to welcome back our Year 13 students who completed their Sixth Form studies in the summer and to hear about their experiences at university or in their chosen careers.

Prizes were awarded to recognise outstanding achievement across both the Year 11 and Year 13 cohorts (2024/2025), and Veritas Awards were presented to pupils who have exemplified our values throughout their time at St James’.

A special thank you to Jade Foley, a former pupil, who joined us as our guest speaker for the evening, sharing her insights and inspiring the audience. We are also grateful to our talented musical acts, whose performances were beautifully received and added a memorable touch to the celebrations.

The House Council visited the Houses of Parliament, giving pupils the opportunity to see where the country’s laws are made and to understand how these decisions impact their daily lives. Students took part in an interactive workshop on creating effective petitions, supporting them in their roles on the House Council.

The local MP for Hendon, David Pinto-Duschinsky, also met with students to explain the role of an MP, discuss how young people can get involved in politics, and listen to students’ views on local and national issues affecting young people.

Over the past four weeks, our Year 10 students participating in the Future Frontiers programme have been visiting the offices of UHY Hacker in Tower Hill.

During these visits, they received one-to-one mentoring from employees across a wide range of professions, gaining valuable guidance to help plan their next steps after Year 11.

Great work from Year 10 as they tackled the topic of completing the square with Ms Irish. Students demonstrated focus and determination as they worked through a variety of examples, applying the method to quadratic equations with increasing confidence. - Ms King

Year 8 pupils worked on the Perspective and the Built Environment project by creating and polyprinting their own designs. Pupils explored perspective, structure, and pattern, translating their ideas into bold prints. - Ms Pearce

Our Year 13 Politics students have been hitting the books — and the high notes!

They have explored how a bill becomes a law in U.S. politics with a creative twist, enjoying a brilliant performance of “I’m Just a Bill” by Mateusz, Joshua, Kwabena, Jamari and Samuel. Learning has never sounded so good! - Mrs Begum

In STEM Club, students explored the fascinating concept of density! We created a colorful density column using different liquids to see which floated or sank. Then, we tested various solids in the column to estimate and compare their densities. - Miss Morgan

In STEM Club, our pupils had a blast experimenting with chemistry by inflating balloons using a simple but exciting reaction between vinegar and baking soda. As the baking soda reacted with the vinegar, carbon dioxide gas was produced, causing the balloons to expand right before their eyes! - Miss Morgan

During lunch times, a few dedicated pupils have been helping out with props for our upcoming school Musical. Their efforts behind the scenes are bringing the production to life and making sure everything runs smoothly on stage.

We wish all parents, pupils, and staff a restful and peaceful Christmas holiday, filled with joy, love, and time together. May this Advent season be a time of reflection and renewal, and may the Christmas period bring happiness, warmth, and blessings to you all.