I have just read the recent spate of posts (since Alex posted his St
Vedast testimony) with interest. In an attempt to pour some oil over
troubled waters, I think a few things need to be made clear here. We
have absolutely no dispute whatsoever with the current St James
school or any of it's pupils. Nor do we have absolutely no interest
whatsoever in ruining the reputation of the current St James school.
St James' name is only mentioned because of it's origins i.e. St
Vedast, and because the headmaster and certain past abusers from St
Vedast are still being employed there (although I am well aware of Mr
Debenham's imminent retirement). It's name is also mentioned because
of it's obvious SES connections. For all these reasons, the name of
St James will inevitably be tarred with the same brush up to a
point. However this particular issue is strictly between former St
Vedast pupils and the past abusers, and nobody else.

Of course what happens today matters, and we are definitely not just
living in the past. But what some people need to appreciate, and
which has already been eloquently discussed in previous postings, is
that it doesn't matter how long ago an injustice took place. It's
not possible for any of these issues to go away until they have been
fully faced up to and acknowledged. I would add that closure on this
is just as crucial for the perpetrators of these abuses as it is for
those subjected to them. I am as pleased as anyone to see that the
St James of today bares very little resemblance to the St
James/Vedast of the past. I assume they must have learnt from past
mistakes. I would also suggest that perhaps the only reason they
stopped administering corporal punishment was because it was
outlawed by the government, and not because of any deliberate and
progressive change in policy. Otherwise perhaps it would still be
taking place today. Having said that, the testimonies of former
pupils make it perfectly clear that what took place at St Vedast
went far above and beyond standard corporal punishment.

And as for this individual who names himself "i90210i", I have to
say that any credibility your postings may once have had, you have
successfully succeeded in ruining, by your recent series of highly
rude and abusive messages. These do not serve you or anyone else
wishing to contribute to serious and intelligent discussion on this
forum.

As for our aims, we are currently in talks with SES and St James
hierarchy in an attempt to resolve this issue. It is in the
interests of all concerned to put this behind us and move on. For
obvious reasons I cannot disclose details of these discussions on
this public forum, but hopefully once a resolution has been arrived
at, then an appropriate statement can be posted on here.

But finally I must reiterate, we have no issue at all with today's
St James, or in no way wish to harm it's reputation.

Best wishes to you all