Classpot

St James' Church of England Primary School

Cheltenham, GL50 2RSPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
KS2 Results
65%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
48 1st-choice / 60 places
Ranking
#5,994
of 13,686 nationally

About St James' Church of England Primary School

St James' Church of England Primary School in Cheltenham is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 204 applications for just 60 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 3.4. Of those applications, 48 were first-preference offers, which means that while the school is oversubscribed, a significant number of families who put it as their top choice were successful. This level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the community, though the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage in the data. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with a Church of England character, and is led by headteacher Caryn Smith. With 409 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, it is operating very close to full, which reinforces the sense of a school that is well-regarded and in high demand.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressMerestones Road, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, GL50 2RS
HeadteacherCaryn Smith
Local AuthorityGloucestershire
Number of Pupils409
Free School Meals (FSM)7.1%
School Capacity409 / 420 (97% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 16 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibraryDining HallPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

7

Sports

GymnasticsRoundersCross CountryDance

Clubs & Activities

CodingChessGardening

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:25 – 15:00

Source: stjamescofeprimary-dgat.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St James' Church of England Primary School

St James' Church of England Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.