St James School

About St James School

St James School sits within Devon’s secondary landscape, one of 43 state schools of its type in the local authority. It is not among the county’s top-ranked peers — those positions are held by Colyton Grammar School, Chulmleigh Community College, and The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy — but it occupies a solid middle ground as a Good-rated, non-selective 11-16 mixed school in Exeter. Headteacher Emily Harper leads a school of 989 pupils, making it a reasonably large secondary for the area. The school has no religious character, which may appeal to families seeking a secular environment. While Devon has only two Outstanding-rated secondaries, St James holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection, a grade that places it in the majority of the county’s schools. Its position in Exeter gives it a distinctly urban feel compared with many of Devon’s more rural secondaries, and its size suggests a broad curriculum offer is likely.

Academic outcomes at St James are not directly available in the data, but the local context provides a useful benchmark. Devon’s average Progress 8 score for all secondary schools is -0.09, which is slightly below the national average of zero. Without St James’s own Progress 8 figure, it is impossible to say whether it outperforms or underperforms the LA average, but its Good Ofsted rating suggests that teaching and pupil progress are at least satisfactory. The school’s facilities — including science labs, an ICT suite, music rooms, and a theatre — hint at a curriculum that supports both academic and creative subjects. The range of clubs on offer, such as Debate, Young Enterprise, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, indicates that enrichment is taken seriously, which can indirectly support academic motivation. For a clearer picture of exam performance, parents would need to check the school’s most recent published results or ask at open events.

For families considering St James, the practical offering is strong. The school boasts an impressive list of facilities: a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, playing fields, and a theatre, which are not always standard in state secondaries. Sports provision covers football, rugby, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, and rounders, so there is variety for both team players and individual enthusiasts. The club list is equally broad, with options from gardening to film club to orchestra, suggesting that the school tries to cater to different interests. There is no mention of SEND provision in the data, so parents with children who have additional needs should enquire directly. The school is likely to suit families who want a large, well-equipped secondary in an urban setting, with a Good rating and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, but who are not aiming for the selective or Outstanding tier that Devon’s top few schools represent.

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