Syresham St James CofE Primary School and Nursery

About Syresham St James CofE Primary School and Nursery

Syresham St James CofE Primary School and Nursery is a Church of England primary in West Northamptonshire that currently has 124 pupils on roll, which is 19 above its official capacity of 105. That oversubscription is no accident: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 41 applications for just 15 places, with 18 families listing it as their first preference and 14 of those receiving offers. That works out at nearly three applicants per place. The school’s free school meal rate sits at 5.6%, well below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively affluent intake. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age two, so families can join well before reception. With a Church of England character and a headteacher in Katherine Clough, the school draws from a wide rural catchment in the South Northamptonshire area.

Academically, Syresham St James performs strongly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, comfortably above the West Northamptonshire local authority average of 63%. Reading was a particular strength, with every single pupil hitting the expected standard and 38% reaching the higher standard. In maths, 75% met expectations and 25% achieved the higher benchmark. Writing saw 88% at expected and 13% at greater depth. The school’s overall KS2 score of 75 places it in the top 25% nationally and 28th out of 134 primary schools in the local authority. Its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2013 rated the school Good overall, with Good leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in December 2022 confirmed the school remains Good, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2011.

The school is well equipped for a village primary, with a library, ICT suite, gymnasium, playing fields, a sensory room and a forest school area. Sports provision includes swimming, netball, athletics, tennis and rounders, while after-school clubs cover film, drama, coding and art. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is oversubscribed and selective in practice, so early application is essential. It suits families who value a Church of England ethos, strong academic outcomes in a small rural setting, and a school that has clearly turned around its performance since its previous Requires Improvement rating.

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