St James' Church of England Primary School
Rochdale, OL12 9JW · Rochdale · primary school
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42nd of 55 primary schools in Rochdale we can score, 69 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.5/10 against 2,414 of them, against 3.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 57.0 · 32 | 40% | 1.29 |
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.34 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 7.0 · 51 | 25% | 1.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St James' Church of England Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 7.0% of pupils, matching the national median of 7%. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.9 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in April 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Larks & Owls club, with both a breakfast club and an after-school club available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 210 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific activities take place during the Larks & Owls club sessions? How does the new inspection framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about St James' Church of England Primary School
Overview
The inspection found that St James' Church of England Primary School meets the "Expected standard" across all key areas, including achievement, attendance, curriculum, and leadership. Leaders have established a "nurturing and caring" environment where pupils are "safe and feel safe," with a strong focus on inclusion and personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils "achieve well" and are "well prepared for the next stage in their education," with reading being "prioritised and taught effectively."
- Staff follow the behaviour policy "consistently well," ensuring pupils "play well together" and negative incidents are "dealt with swiftly."
- The curriculum is "well designed" so pupils can "build on what they learned before," with teachers adapting learning for those with special educational needs.
- Leaders have created an "open culture" for safeguarding where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Parents and carers are "very positive about the school," appreciating the impact of the new leadership team.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should build on recent improvements to the mathematics curriculum so that all pupils, "especially disadvantaged pupils," achieve as well as they should.
- Leaders should strengthen their use of attendance data to reduce persistent absence, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils.
- The trust and local governing body should increase oversight and challenge of the school’s work to further support improvement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 77% |
| 2023/24 | 62% |
| 2024/25 | 57% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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