James Watt Primary School

James Watt Primary School is currently undergoing a transition following a recent leadership change and a decade-long period of being judged as good in the previous inspections. The findings indicate that while the school maintains a supportive environment for students, with effective early reading and mathematics programs, areas of concern have arisen since the last grading. Teachers often lack clarity in delivering the curriculum, particularly in writing, which impacts students' learning experiences. Preparations for the upcoming graded inspection are in order as the school seeks to address these deficiencies.

Strengths

• Pupils are polite, friendly, and included regardless of their backgrounds.
• High expectations are set for pupils, particularly in reading and mathematics.
• Strong personal development initiatives promote fitness and mental health.
• The school effectively supports pupils with SEND to learn alongside their peers.
• Positive relationships with parents and the community enhance educational support.

Areas for Improvement

• Writing curriculum does not provide sufficient opportunities for practice.
• Inconsistent clarity in curriculum delivery among some teachers.
• Governors have limited oversight and knowledge regarding the broader curriculum.

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 James Watt Primary School attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 19.6% 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, 0.2% of pupils at James Watt 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 James Watt Primary School had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.2% 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, 15.6% of pupils at James Watt Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.7% 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 James Watt Primary School received £7,944 and spent £8,487 for each of its 404 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £343,000 (£850 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).

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What is James Watt Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for James Watt Primary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was James Watt Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

James Watt Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does James Watt Primary School have?

James Watt Primary School has 423 pupils on roll.

What age range does James Watt Primary School cover?

James Watt Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is James Watt Primary School?

James Watt Primary School is at Boulton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands, B21 0RE.