Year Groups

Welcome to Year 7

I am thrilled to serve as the Head of Year 7, entrusted with guiding our students through this important stage of their education. In this role, I am dedicated to providing support, encouragement, and guidance to help our Year 7 students thrive academically and personally.

I am eager to work closely with each student to help them realise their full potential. I expect them to uphold high standards of behaviour and maintain a strong enthusiasm for learning as they face new and exciting challenges ahead.

As part of a larger support network, I collaborate with a team of form tutors who serve as the primary point of contact for Year 7 students. Together, we aim to create a positive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and understands our collective responsibility in nurturing their academic, emotional, and social growth to prepare them for successful futures as young adults.

Our school's Catholic ethos and core values are central to our mission, and I encourage Year 7 students to embody these values through their actions. I am excited to celebrate the accomplishments of Year 7 students both inside and outside the classroom, and I hope that your child will take full advantage of the diverse opportunities available at St. James' School.

Our Assistant Head of Year, Ms McKenzie will also be instrumental in ensuring that all students settle in smoothly and thrive at St. James' School. 

Mr Knibb

Head of Year 7

Welcome to Year 8

It is a privilege to be the Head of Year for this talented year group, and I am delighted to welcome our pupils and parents to Year 8.

Our pupils made a very encouraging start to their secondary education last year. They developed their academic skills, grew in confidence and began to understand and embrace the high expectations we have at St James with regards to behaviour, conduct and learning. I am very much looking forward to building on this strong foundation throughout the year ahead.

Year 8 is an exciting and important stage in our pupils' secondary education. No longer the newest members of the school, pupils are expected to take greater responsibility for their learning, behaviour and personal development. This is an opportunity for them to further develop their strengths and interests, become increasingly independent and begin to think more carefully about their future aspirations. Throughout the year, pupils will be encouraged to challenge themselves academically, seek support when needed and take pride in their achievements. With the guidance and support of the Year 8 form tutors, Mr Haffner as SLT link and myself, we will work closely with pupils to ensure that they remain focused, motivated and on track to achieve their potential.

We expect Year 8 to continue demonstrating the excellent standards of behaviour and conduct that they established during their first year. Through high-quality teaching, intervention and mentoring programmes, we aim to support every pupil in achieving excellent academic outcomes while also encouraging them to develop their gifts, talents and interests through our wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.

We want every pupil to make the most of their time at St James and to approach Year 8 with enthusiasm, resilience and ambition. We will work closely with each pupil throughout the year, providing the support and guidance they need while also encouraging them to take ownership of their progress and make positive choices.

Parents and carers are an essential part of this partnership, and we look forward to working closely with you throughout the year. Regular communication between home and school will help us to ensure that every pupil is supported to succeed both academically and personally.

I am supported by our dedicated team of Year 8 form tutors, who are always on hand to discuss any queries or concerns you may have.

I look forward to working with you and your children throughout what I hope will be a happy, successful and rewarding Year 8.

Mr Vercuiel

Head of Year 8

Welcome to Year 9, 

I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Head of Year 9. I feel incredibly privileged to be leading such a talented and ambitious group of pupils, supported by Mr Faucher as our Assistant Head of Year. Together, we are committed to building on the strong foundations already in place and creating a community of success.

In Year 9, we want every pupil to feel part of something bigger — a culture where kindness, resilience, aspiration, and excellence guide everything we do. Success doesn’t look the same for everyone, but what matters is the effort, the positive choices, and the determination to keep improving.

We will continue to promote excellent behaviour, positive friendships, and respectful communication as the foundations of our year group. By working closely with parents and carers, we will support every child to thrive academically, socially, and personally — not just this year, but well into the future.

During this year, pupils will be making their option choices for their GCSE courses, which they will undertake starting in Year 10. This is an important step in a pupil's journey to identify what subjects inspire them, motivate them, and ultimately help them to achieve their full potential, and this is not a decision taken lightly. Our team of form tutors and I will be on hand to support them along the way and ensure that they make the decisions which are most suitable for them. If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

Mr Linale 

Head of Year 9

Welcome to Year 10

I am delighted to continue working with this year group as they move into Year 10, having worked with them through Year 9 as their Head of Year. It is a real privilege to continue supporting such a talented and ambitious group of pupils as they begin their GCSE journey. I am supported by Mr Faucher as our Assistant Head of Year and Mr Mullarkey as our SLT link, alongside our fantastic team of form tutors.

Our Community of Success remains at the heart of everything we do. In Year 9, we focused on building strong relationships, positive routines and a culture where pupils could thrive. Now, as pupils begin their GCSE courses, our focus moves towards academic excellence.

We want every pupil to make the most of every lesson, take pride in their work, respond positively to feedback and develop the resilience and independence needed to achieve their very best. Academic excellence is not just about grades; it is about effort, ambition, high standards and a determination to keep improving.

Alongside this academic focus, we remain committed to supporting pupils' wellbeing and personal development. We encourage pupils to speak to a member of the year team whenever they need support, and we will continue to work closely with parents and carers to help every pupil thrive.

Year 10 is an exciting and important year, and I look forward to seeing our pupils continue to grow, achieve and become the very best versions of themselves.

Head of Year 10

Welcome to Year 11

The Year 11 team is made up of myself, Miss C Williams (Assistant Head of Year 11), Mr Wills (Assistant Headteacher) and Ms Magee (Senior Assistant Headteacher), along with all of the form tutors and morning intervention staff. 

Year 11 is a crucial year for our pupils, and we are all working tirelessly to get the best results possible for them. We are proud of our students, and grateful for all of the hard work parents and guardians put in at home to support them. 

Our key focus this year is exam readiness, and the number one thing that you can do to prepare for your exams is attend school. Attendance is the clearest indicator of success, so please ensure you send your child to school on time every single day. 

The year team is best contactable by email, and we endeavour to respond to all queries within 48 hours. Please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Mr Howlett-Reeves

Head of Year 11

Year 11 Information Evening 2026