Schools by area › Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole › St James' Church of England Primary Academy
St James' Church of England Primary Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Academy
Pokesdown Hill, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH7 6DW · stjamescebournemouth.com · 01202 426696
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 68%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 63%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2025 entry · Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 404
- 96% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Nursery class
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.6%
- First language not English
- 23%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2025, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 32 families put the school first and 46 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 | 46 | 32 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 56 | 45 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 58 | 53 | 0.9 | 94% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 40 | 35 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 50 | 45 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 17% the higher standard. Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲68% | 62% | ||
| ▲17% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 25 January 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St James' Church of England Primary Academy was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 24 Jan 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Feb 2010Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (79 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 79
- 19% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 16 parents (20%) with SEND