St James Church of England Primary Academy
90%
Capacity
190
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About St James Church of England Primary Academy
St James Church of England Primary Academy is a state-funded Church of England primary school serving the Medway community, welcoming children from age 3 to 11. The school has 190 pupils on roll and is well-filled (90% of 210 places). Nursery provision is also available on site.
Ofsted has rated St James Church of England Primary Academy "Good", the school is led by headteacher Fay Cordingley, it falls under Medway local authority.
In terms of academic performance, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths at KS2 — well above the national average. Additionally, placing it in the top 25% nationally. Additionally, ranked 2490th out of 13,686 schools in England. Additionally, 9th out of 55 in Medway.
St James Church of England Primary Academy is a popular choice with families — it received 25 applications for 18 places, making it 1.4x oversubscribed. Of these, 18 were first-preference applications.
St James Church of England Primary Academy has mixed reviews on SchoolParrot (2.8/5 from 1 parents).
For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 5 areas, including Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health, Speech, Language & Communication and 2 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.
On-site facilities at St James Church of England Primary Academy include Art Studios, Music Rooms, Outdoor Playground, Library, Forest School, Gymnasium, Dining Hall, Chapel.
Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Cricket, Athletics, Rounders, Tennis and 1 more, as well as clubs including Gardening, Coding, Art Club, Book Club and 2 more.
The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 31.2%, which is above the national average for primary schools in England.
For families exploring primary schools in Medway, St James Church of England Primary Academy is one of the options available in the South East region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | High Street, Rochester, Medway, ME3 0BS |
| Headteacher | Fay Cordingley |
| Local Authority | Medway |
| Number of Pupils | 190 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.2% |
| School Capacity | 190 / 210 (90% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (24 May 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 Mar 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (76%)
2490th of 13,686
Nationally
341st of 2,034
In South East
9th of 55
In Medway
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
76%
Expected Standard
4%
Higher Standard
'22/23
55%
'23/24
76%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed18
25
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
18 families put this school as their 1st choice (72% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Frequently Asked Questions About St James Church of England Primary Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
High Street, Rochester
Medway, ME3 0BS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
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