Schools by area › Devon › St James School
St James School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Summer Lane, Exeter EX4 8NN · stjamesexeter.co.uk · 01392 209922
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Nov 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Devon 45.4, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 1.13 mi
- 1.81 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Category 10 · Devon Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 985
- 5 over 980 places · 101%
- Local authority
- Devon
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 28.2%
- First language not English
- 18.5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Category 10” went to a home 1.13 mi (1.81 km) from the school. Source: Devon Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 189 families put the school first and 191 places were offered; 96% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 191 | 189 | 1 | 96% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 187 | 220 | 1.2▲ | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 182 | 235 | 1.3▲ | 75% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 177 | 227 | 1.3▲ | 73% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 192 | 210 | 1.1▲ | 83% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 – Category 10 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1.13 mi1.81 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.9, and 53% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Devon it was 45.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲53.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲69.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲61.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.42 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 113507)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 2.6 | −0.1 |
| Further education | 81.3 | +7.8 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.6 | −3.4 |
| Employment | 4.1 | −3.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.2 | −1.8 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | +1.5 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 15 November 2023, Ofsted’s outcome for St James School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 14 Nov 2023
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2015
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Nov 2009Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
80% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (171 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 80%
- Replies
- 171
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on the 48% who had a child bullied
based on 50 parents (29%) with SEND