St James CofE Primary School

St James CofE Primary School is a highly inclusive and nurturing Church of England primary school that is performing securely at the expected standard overall. Safeguarding standards are met, and the school's strongest features are its inclusive culture and personal development, both graded strong. Leaders know pupils and families extremely well, use funding effectively for disadvantaged pupils, and provide well-designed support such as the hub and 'stepping stones' provision. Pupils feel safe, behave well and are well prepared for life beyond school. Achievement is broadly in line with national averages in mathematics and writing despite low starting points, and work in books shows improvement over time. Reading outcomes in 2025 were below average, largely because many pupils joined mid-year and did not catch up with peers, and some higher-attaining pupils are not consistently stretched. Attendance and behaviour are positive overall, with a calm and purposeful environment, but persistent absence remains above national averages, although leaders' renewed approach is already reducing it rapidly. The curriculum is broad, well sequenced and typically delivered well, with effective phonics and support for pupils with SEND. Early years provision is ambitious and children, including those in the hub, make good progress, though outdoor learning areas are less well developed than indoor areas. Leadership and governance are effective and strategic, staff feel well supported, and parents describe the school as nurturing and inclusive. The main next steps are to stretch higher attainers more precisely, continue improving attendance and persistent absence, and ensure consistently high-quality early years provision across all areas.

Strengths

• Highly inclusive school culture where all pupils are supported to achieve and thrive
• Strong personal development and wellbeing provision that prepares pupils well for the future
• Effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
• Positive behaviour and calm, purposeful learning environment
• Broad, balanced and well-sequenced curriculum
• Effective phonics teaching and early reading support
• Strong pastoral support, including the wellbeing hub
• Supportive staff culture with good professional development and workload consideration
• Strategic and well-informed governors who challenge and support leaders effectively
• Parents value the school as nurturing and inclusive

Areas for Improvement

• Some higher-attaining pupils are not consistently stretched to achieve all that they can
• Persistent absence remains above national averages, despite recent improvements
• Early years outdoor learning areas are less well developed than indoor areas
• Reading outcomes in 2025 were below average, partly due to pupils joining mid-year
• Disadvantaged pupils' performance gaps persist in reading and mathematics
• Overall absence is above the national average

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St James CofE Primary School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.0% of pupils at St James CofE Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St James CofE Primary School had 28.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 18.7% of pupils at St James CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St James CofE Primary School received £7,927 and spent £7,719 for each of its 435 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £354,000 (£814 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Oldbury · Sandwell local authority: places and applications

What is St James CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St James CofE Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in June 2026.

When was St James CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St James CofE Primary School was last inspected in June 2026.

How many pupils does St James CofE Primary School have?

St James CofE Primary School has 449 pupils on roll.

What age range does St James CofE Primary School cover?

St James CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are St James CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St James CofE Primary School?

St James CofE Primary School is at Wolverley Crescent, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 1BG.