Schools by area › Somerset › St James Church School
St James Church School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Sponsored academy
Cranmer Road, Taunton TA1 1XU · stjamessch.co.uk · 01823 272553
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Nov 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 49%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Somerset 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 479
- 59 over 420 places · 114%
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 21.3%
- First language not English
- 52.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 39 families put the school first and 44 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 44 | 39 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 44 | 43 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 46 | 45 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 55 | 48 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 41 | 36 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 3% the higher standard. Across Somerset it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼49% | 62% | ||
| ▼3% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼103 | 106 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St James Church School on 26 November 2024 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 26 Nov 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Dec 2018
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Dec 2018Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (82 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 79%
- Replies
- 82
- 17% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 51% who had a child bullied
based on 19 parents (23%) with SEND