St James's Catholic Primary School

About St James's Catholic Primary School

St James's Catholic Primary School is a large Roman Catholic primary in Richmond upon Thames, currently home to 665 pupils against a capacity of 689, meaning it is very close to full. The school serves a notably affluent intake: just 1.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, far below the national average of around 23% and well under the Richmond upon Thames average of roughly 10%. Demand is exceptionally high. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 222 applications for 89 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.49, with 96 families listing it as their first preference and 87 of those receiving offers. This level of competition signals a school that local parents are actively prioritising, and the numbers suggest securing a place is far from guaranteed. The school also offers nursery provision, which may give some families an early foot in the door.

Academically, St James's performs at a very high level. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Richmond upon Thames local authority average of 76%. The school ranks 4th out of 38 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 5% locally, and 271st nationally out of 13,686 schools — the top 2% of all primary schools in England. Average scores in reading and maths both sit at 109, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading (52%), writing (46%) and maths (46%) is strong across the board. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, the school was judged Outstanding across all graded areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This continues a track record of Outstanding ratings, as the school also received the top grade in its previous inspection in 2015.

The school is well equipped, with facilities including a library, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, art studios, a chapel and a forest school area. Clubs include eco club, drama and choir, and sports on offer range from athletics and gymnastics to netball, football and cricket. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder, and it also has a resourced provision. Parent feedback is very positive: 87% of respondents would recommend the school, and 94% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy here. The school is a strong fit for Catholic families in the area who prioritise academic rigour and a well-resourced environment, but given the oversubscription, early and careful attention to the admissions process is essential.

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