St James Infant School
94%
Capacity
199
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About St James Infant School
St James Infant School in West Northamptonshire is a state primary for children aged 3 to 8, currently home to 199 pupils against a capacity of 212. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 83 applications for 54 places, with 41 of those coming as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 1.54 tells you this is a school local families are actively choosing. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 23.5%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a genuinely mixed catchment. It’s a non-religious, mixed-gender setting with a nursery provision attached, so it covers the very earliest years through to the end of Key Stage 1.
Academically, St James Infant School holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in February 2024, a grade it has maintained consistently across both its 2013 and 2024 inspections. The early years provision was singled out as Outstanding, which is a strong signal for families considering the nursery intake. The quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all rated Good. Because this is an infant school, there are no published Key Stage 2 SATs results to compare against the local authority average of 63% reaching the expected standard, but the Ofsted breakdown provides a solid picture of a school that is performing well across the board. Leadership and management also earned a Good, suggesting stability under headteacher Sarah O'Shea.
The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, playing fields, and a sensory room, which ties into its SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health support. Sports on offer include swimming, netball, tennis, and athletics, while clubs such as Book Club, Eco Club, and Film Club give children low-cost ways to explore interests beyond the classroom. With oversubscription at 1.54, families should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded local infant school with strong early years provision, a diverse intake, and a clear focus on inclusion and pastoral support.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 8 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 90 St James Street, Daventry, West Northamptonshire, NN11 4AG |
| Headteacher | Sarah O'Shea |
| Local Authority | West Northamptonshire |
| Number of Pupils | 199 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.5% |
| School Capacity | 199 / 212 (94% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed54
83
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
41 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British56.8%
- White (other)20.6%
- Asian9.5%
- Mixed6.0%
- Black0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About St James Infant School
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
90 St James Street, Daventry
West Northamptonshire, NN11 4AG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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