St James' Church of England Primary School
St Helens, WA11 0NL · St. Helens · primary school
Check the area around this school
24th of 52 primary schools in St. Helens we can score, 54 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 — 5.9/10 against 1,550 of them, against 4.7/10 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 | 65.0 · 52 | 40% | 2.07 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 5.0 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
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, 65.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 5.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 161 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 after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating in the coming years?
What Ofsted said about St James' Church of England Primary School
Overview
St James’ Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school, where pupils enjoy attending and feel safe within a calm atmosphere. Leaders have driven "vast improvements in the quality of education," fostering a strong sense of teamwork and high expectations for every pupil. The school is praised for its effective safeguarding arrangements and the positive personal development of its students.
Strengths
- Pupils are described as "kind and respectful," with a "strong sense of teamwork" permeating the school community.
- Leaders have created an "ambitious curriculum" that is "progressive and clearly ordered in most subjects," helping pupils "know more and remember more."
- The new early reading programme ensures pupils learn to read with "fluency and confidence," becoming "joyful readers."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well, with staff identifying needs early and making necessary adaptations.
- Staff morale is high, with "robust procedures" in place to hold leaders to account and strong relationships with parents.
Areas to improve
- In some subjects, teachers must identify and overcome gaps in pupils’ prior learning before introducing new content, as some pupils struggle to recall previous learning.
- Subject leaders must ensure teachers are clear about the essential knowledge and its teaching order in a small number of subjects where this is currently not made clear enough.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and working effectively with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 52% |
| 2023/24 | 40% |
| 2024/25 | 65% |
| 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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