Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School
Bartholomew Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3QHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Oxford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 359 schools in Oxfordshire. It ranks 36th of 46 primary schools in Oxford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 March 2018, report published 1 May 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 19 September 2023
'Strength to do right' is the deeply embedded motto of this school. This is a school that wants the very best for its pupils. There is a culture of high ambition for all, and most pupils are achieving well by the time they move on to secondary school. Pupils consistently display the shared values of 'tolerance, respect, moral courage and compassion' towards each other, staff and visitors. Pupils are very happy at this inclusive school. They know their views matter and feel valued. They learn how to look after their physical and mental well-being. Opportunities for pupils to talk to a trusted adult about their feelings are always available. They know how to keep themselves safe, including when online. A wide range of clubs, trips and experiences ensure that pupils get the chance to foster their interests and talents. Pupils are very proud to belong to this school and enjoy celebrating their own and others' success. The safety of pupils is top priority. Parents and carers appreciate the care taken to get to know each child as an individual and to help them flourish. As one parent said, 'This is a great school which puts pupils' needs and development first.'
What the school should improve
- In a small number of subjects, the curriculum is not yet taught consistently well. As a result, some pupils do not always learn and remember important knowledge. The school should ensure that all staff understand what is expected in every subject so that pupils can achieve highly across all subjects.
- In some areas of the curriculum, a small group of pupils, including some disadvantaged pupils, do not get the support they need to catch up with their peers quickly. This means they do not achieve as well as they could at the end of each stage. The school should continue to implement the improvements that are planned to ensure that these pupils are well prepared for the next phase of learning.
- Too many pupils do not attend school as often as they should. This means that they frequently miss important learning. The school should work strategically to review attendance procedures and then implement them robustly to reduce pupil absence.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
56 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
459 pupils on roll, with places for 480
Schools near Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Littlemore | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| St Christopher's Church of England School, Cowley | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| Orchard Meadow Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 56% met the expected standard |
| Emmanuel Christian School | 0.7 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Stephen Dew
- Phone
- 01865778484
- Address
- Bartholomew Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 3QH
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- URN
- 123139
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.