Schools by area › West Northamptonshire › St James Church of England Primary School
St James Church of England Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Harlestone Road, St James, Northampton NN5 7AG · stjamesnn5.org.uk · 01604 751475
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 69%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. West Northamptonshire 63%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 445
- 99% of 450 places
- Local authority
- West Northamptonshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 25.9%
- First language not English
- 58.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 60 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 98% 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 | 59 | 60 | 1▲ | 98% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 50 | 50 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 60 | 61 | 1▲ | 97% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 59 | 67 | 1.1▲ | 87% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 40 | 40 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 19% the higher standard. Across West Northamptonshire it was 63%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲69% | 62% | ||
| ▲19% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●106 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St James Church of England Primary School on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected 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
- 20 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected 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: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 122035), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jan 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 122035)
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (66 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Positive
- 89%
- Replies
- 66
- 15% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 92% who raised concerns
based on 22 parents (33%) whose child was bullied
based on 17 parents (26%) with SEND