St James School
Exeter, EX4 8NN · Devon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 40 secondary schools in Devon we can score, 41 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 — 7.4/10 against 839 of them, against 6.1/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.5 · 64 | 30% | 1.91 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.09 · 57 | 25% | 1.41 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.2 · 67 | 10% | 0.67 |
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 School overview
How it's doing
St James School is rated Good by Ofsted, with its last inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 53.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 985 pupils against a stated capacity of 980. 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
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the school ensure equitable access to its extracurricular clubs for all students?
What Ofsted said about St James School
Overview
St James School continues to be a good school, characterised by an inclusive culture built on "warm, respectful relationships" where pupils feel safe and supported. The school maintains high expectations for behaviour, creating a "calm and purposeful environment" that enables pupils to focus on their learning. Leaders have planned an ambitious curriculum with deliberately sequenced subject areas to help pupils retain knowledge over time.
Strengths
- Pupils behave well and are taught to understand why certain behaviours are unacceptable, with clear consequences for disruption.
- The school offers an extensive range of creative, active, and service electives, fostering a strong sense of community and allowing pupils to develop their talents.
- Teachers accurately identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and support them effectively to access the curriculum.
- The ‘St James canon’ ensures pupils read a wide range of books representing diverse authors and cultural experiences, with targeted support for weaker readers.
- Staff workload and well-being are considered, with new teachers well supported and staff feeling "invested in" through trust-wide professional development.
Areas to improve
- The trust should ensure that the implementation of the curriculum across all subject areas supports pupils to achieve well, as some areas are not currently implemented effectively.
- Outcomes are not consistently high across all subject areas, and disadvantaged pupils do not achieve as well as their peers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.3 |
| 2024/25 | 46.9 |
| 2025/26 | 49.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 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
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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