St James' CofE Primary School
About St James' CofE Primary School
St James' CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in Malvern Hills, with just 41 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, meaning the school is operating at under half its potential size. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.1%, which is above the national average for primary schools and suggests a more diverse intake than its rural location might imply. Despite the spare capacity, the school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 6 applications for just 3 places, with all 3 first-preference applicants offered a spot. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2:1, a clear signal that local families are keen to secure a place here. The school is mixed-gender and non-selective, serving children from age 4 to 11, and is led by headteacher Jen Alford. It has a religious character as a Church of England school, though the data does not specify any particular admissions criteria beyond the standard local authority process.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 14 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 May 2025Latest monitoring visit (7 May 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:15
After-school care
15:15-17:15
Source: stjames.worcs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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