Schools by area › Sandwell › St James CofE Primary School
St James CofE Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Voluntary controlled
Wolverley Crescent, Oldbury B69 1BG · stjamesprimary.co.uk · 0121 552 5491
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 59%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Sandwell 61%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.42 mi
- 0.67 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Sandwell Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 449
- 90% of 500 places
- Local authority
- Sandwell
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 48.6%
- First language not English
- 29.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.42 mi (671 m) from the school. Source: Sandwell Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 62 families put the school first and 60 places were offered; 94% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 60 | 62 | 1▲ | 94% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 46 | 43 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 60 | 59 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 60 | 67 | 1.1▲ | 87% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 63 | 1.1▲ | 95% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.42 mi0.67 km | |
| September 2024 | 1.42 mi2.29 km | |
| September 2025 | All | |
The council gives N/A for the furthest distance: no distance was needed (the school was not over-subscribed).
Results
In 2024/25, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 12% the higher standard. Across Sandwell it was 61%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼59% | 62% | ||
| ▲12% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St James CofE Primary School on 12 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 12 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Mar 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Feb 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2011Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Early years Requires improvement
What parents said
90% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (91 replies, to 2 January 2023).
- Recommend
- 90%
- Replies
- 91
- 19% · 2 Jan 2023
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 43% who had a child bullied
based on 21 parents (23%) with SEND