I cannot think of any past pupils teaching at St. James who are not
in the SES. In fact the overwhelming majority of teachers are in the
SES.
It is true that to teach overseas in the affiliated schools you must
be in the SES Youth Group. I have certainly never heard of any other
gap year student being given the opportunity to do so.
Mr. Boddy (and presumamby he speaks for both St. James' schools and
the SES) does not merely mask the connections between two, he calls
them separate organisations....
...seems a ridiculous claim to me as I've said.

On the subject of meditation, I would say that it can be most
beneficial, although I confess, I don't really practice. The way I'd
come at it would be slightly different from the philosophical- seeing
it more as a mental discipline than a way of reaching enlightenment,
although maybe I am just saying the same thing a different way.
I don't know about everyone else, but I often have problems with
getting my thoughts to quieten and stop disturbing me when I need to
concentrate. I think meditation would help me, just give me more
control over my mind when I needed to focus in everyday situations,
like remembering things I need to do.
I do think that meditation is taught the wrong way at St. James
however. Children are given the opportunity to recieve the 'gift' as
they are entering the senior school. Too young to understand
meditation in my experience, and see it's beneficial potential, also
perhaps to be aware of it's dangers. I do not claim to really
understand it myself. It becomes for most pupils a daily chore, an
oddity descended from the SES.
Meditation sessions, a chance to meet with a 'tutor' from SES, will
occur once a term or so. These included readings from scriptures
highlighting the spiritual aspects of meditation. (I feel this
provides a one sided veiw of meditation, but again I am no expert)
Many pupils will not really discuss it, just try to 'blag' their way
through, in order to get out as soon as possible. Some are honest and
say they don't meditate, they are usually met with gentle
encouragement if there seems to be hope, or a 'well it's always there
if you change your mind' attitude. There is no extreem pressure,
although the meetings are understood to be compulsory and various
evasion techniques are used!
Think I've waffled on for quite enough now!
Would love some feedback, sorry there's so much to get through!