School Day

School Times

The school day is from 9.00 am to 3.30 pm. The children have  an hour for lunch, although the Infants have an hour and a quarter with group reading taking place for the first part for some children in each class. Along with daily acts of worship, registration and breaks this gives 4 hours and 45 minutes teaching time for the juniors (7-11 yrs) and 4 hours and 15 minutes for the infants (5-7 yrs).   

The school gates are open from 8.30 in the morning. Children, however, MUST be supervised by a parent or carer until 8.50 when the school will provide supervision.

Code of Conduct

Staff have high expectations of pupils both academically and socially and everyone works closely together to ensure that all the children reach their potential. The children benefit from a warm and caring, yet firm approach. All parents and children are asked to sign the school’s behaviour policy which outlines expectations and outlines the school’s approach to transgressions.

We aim to reward the achievements of our children, and to this we have a weekly “Achievement Assembly” in which children from each class are recognised. Each half-term a child from each class is presented with a “Gold Star Award”. The children are celebrated in the newsletter each week.

Outings and Journeys

St James the Great plans a very active programme of outings, experiences and events for all children. Each class plans for visits at least one per half term; children in the Early Years travel to the seaside in the summer, again the younger children visit the theatre , for example a pantomine at Christmas and the Unicorn Theatre.  Year 4 and 6 have the opportunity to experience a residential school journey to the Arethusa Venture Centre in Kent and the Isle of Wight. These trips are aimed at giving the children a learning opportunities that cannot be offered locally.

The children visit the local shops, art galleries such as the  South London Art  Gallery; museums, local such as the Horniman or Cumming Museums and the world famous central London museums and art galleries such as the V & A, Science, Natural History Museums, the National Archive at Kew, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate & Tate Modern etc.  

Children in Years 4 & 5 have a weekly swimming lesson at Peckham Pulse swimming pool.

Children in Year 5 have the opportunity to learn the basics of sailing through  a 5 week Royal Yachting Association, Learn to Sail Level 1 course.

Fund-raising activities, social evenings and school productions enable the school to recognise its sense of community and bring together staff, parents, children and other agencies to celebrate events during the academic year and the work of the school.