Catholic Education
"Core of the core curriculum"
Pope Saint John Paul II
Founded in 1894, St James's has an established history of providing high quality Catholic education in Twickenham. As a Catholic school, we are part of the wider Catholic Church, and one of over 2000 Catholic schools across England and Wales.
The Catholic faith is at the center of all that we do, and our aim is summarised in our school mission statement:
► "St James's is a Catholic school in which each individual grows in the Knowledge and love of Christ. In partnership with parents and the whole community, our purpose is to provide a high standard of education, giving the maximum opportunity to realise each person's potential."
Why is Religious Education important in Catholic Schools?
Religious Education is the "core of the core curriculum" in a Catholic school (Pope St John Paul II). Placing RE at the core of the curriculum in Catholic schools helps the school to fulfill its mission to educate the whole person in discerning the meaning of their existence, since "Religious Education is concerned not only with intellectual knowledge but also includes emotional and affective learning. It is in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of what it is to be human truly becomes clear.
Without religious education, pupils would be deprived of an essential element of their formation and personal development, which helps them attain a vital harmony between faith and culture." (Religious Education Curriculum Directory p4). Furthermore, religiously literate children and young people are able to engage in a fully informed critique of all knowledge, "leading, for example, to an understanding of the relationship between science and religion or history, and between theology, sport and the human body." (Religious Education Curriculum Directory p4).
Who inspects Catholic schools?
All Catholic schools are subject to a diocesan inspection (which for maintained schools is also a section 48 inspection) at least every five years. These inspections will be carried out by diocesan inspectors appointed by the bishop in whose diocese the school is situated. (Education Act 2005).
Catholic schools are inspected using a national framework overseen by the Catholic Schools Inspectorate.
All maintained Catholic schools are also subject to Ofsted inspections at the intervals prescribed by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector.
Section 48 - RE Inspection Report: St James's was inspected in March 2019
St James’s is an outstanding Catholic school because:
