St James' CofE Academy is a primary school in Bedford, serving pupils aged 5 to 11. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It has a church of england religious character.

St James' CofE Academy currently has around 192 pupils on roll, which is about 91% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 56.3% boys and 43.8% girls. Around 19.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.

Overall absence at the school is 4.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 11.7%.

The student population reflects a mixed community, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 46.4%.

At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.

School Information

Address: Main Road, Bedford, MK40 4BD
Website: http://www.stjamesprimary.org.uk/
Telephone: 01234352721
School Type: Academy converter
Education phase: Primary
Local authority: Bedford
Headteacher / Principal: Mrs Alison Barden
Religious character: Church of England
Admissions policy: Not applicable
Unique reference: 148982

Map

Ofsted Inspection

  • Overall effectiveness
  • Management effectiveness

Ofsted inspection date: 21/03/2012

Safeguarding is effective

Pupils

General

Age Range: 5 - 11
Gender: Mixed
School Capacity: 210
Number of Pupils: 192
Number of Boys: 108
Number of Girls: 84

Absence

SchoolEngland state-funded schools:
Overall absence: 4.6% 4%
Persistent absence: 11.7% 8.2%

Ethnicity

White British46.40%89
Other Mixed7.80%15
White and Black Caribbean7.30%14
African6.80%13
Other Asian4.70%9
Bangladeshi4.20%8
Indian4.20%8
White and Black African3.60%7
Other White3.60%7
White and Asian3.10%6
Caribbean2.60%5
Pakistani1.60%3
Other Black1.60%3
Gypsy/Roma1.00%2
Unclassified1.00%2
Chinese0.50%1
Irish0.00%0
Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage)0.00%0
Other (any other ethnic group)0.00%0

Education - Primary

Progress scores show how pupils performed compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. Scores above 0 are better than average; below 0 are worse than average.

Reading: Well Above Average (3.7)
Writing: Average (-0.5)
Maths: Above Average (2.4)
Pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths
School
71%
Town average
50%
Local authority average
57%
England average
61%
Pupils achieving at a higher standard in reading, writing and maths
School
4%
Town average
3%
Local authority average
3%
England average
8%
Average score in reading
School
109.0
Town average
104.3
Local authority average
104.9
England average
105.1
Average score in maths
School
108.0
Town average
103.0
Local authority average
103.3
England average
104.3

Nearby Schools

Nursery

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Peter Pan Nursery School
Edward Road , MK42 9DR
4out of 4 2,897 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School
Southway Nursery School
Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE
- not rated 3,190 yd Local authority nursery school Yes Mixed More About School

Primary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
St James' Church of England VA Primary School
Main Road , Biddenham MK40 4BD
- not rated 0 yd Voluntary aided school No Mixed More About School
St James' CofE Academy
Main Road , Biddenham MK40 4BD
3out of 4 0 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School
Great Denham Primary School
Greenkeepers Road , Great Denham MK40 4GG
4out of 4 848 yd Foundation school Yes Mixed More About School
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT
3out of 4 1,026 yd Academy converter No Mixed More About School
Westfield Primary School
Chester Road , MK40 4HW
3out of 4 1,155 yd Community school Yes Mixed More About School

Secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ
3out of 4 804 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School
Bedford Free School
Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD
4out of 4 3,112 yd Free schools No Mixed More About School

Middle deemed secondary

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
St Gregory's Catholic Middle School
Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AT
- not rated 1,053 yd Voluntary aided school No Mixed More About School
St Bede's RC Middle School
112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR
- not rated 2,227 yd Voluntary aided school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Robert Bruce Middle School
Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU
- not rated 2,365 yd Academy sponsor led No Mixed More About School
Robert Bruce Middle School
Bedford Road , Kempston MK42 8PU
- not rated 2,365 yd Foundation school No Mixed More About School

16 plus

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Bedford College
Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH
- not rated 3,005 yd Further education Not Applicable Mixed More About School

Not applicable

Ofsted Overall Effectiveness Distance Establishment Type Has Nursery Classes Gender More Info
Grange School
Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU
- not rated 2,201 yd Foundation special school Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Grange Academy
Halsey Road , Kempston MK42 8AU
3out of 4 2,201 yd Academy special converter Not Applicable Mixed More About School
Polam School
45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU
- not rated 2,294 yd Other independent school Yes Mixed More About School
Rivertree Free School
Hillgrounds Road , Kempston MK42 8QP
- not rated 2,295 yd Free schools special Yes Mixed More About School
Bedford Modern School
Manton Lane , MK41 7NT
- not rated 2,296 yd Other independent school No Mixed More About School

School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.