Southam St James CofE Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 15 July 2025

St James is a school where everybody feels included. The school's 'shine values' support pupils to be kind and nurturing towards each other. Staff and pupils develop warm relationships. Pupils typically behave well. Their behaviour has improved since the last inspection. The school's clear expectations of behaviour help pupils to stay focused on their learning. Pupils understand how to keep themselves safe and know that if they have any worries, staff will help and support them. Pupils develop a sense of responsibility through roles, such as becoming house captains or a member of the pupil council. Older pupils are positive role models for younger children, supporting them in their learning. Pupils are active members of the community through events, such as helping the local parish church or singing in the local care home. Pupils visit a wide range of different places linked to their learning. Such experiences help pupils to gain a deeper understanding of life outside of their community. The school has designed an ambitious curriculum. However, the school has not ensured that the curriculum is delivered as intended. This means that pupils do not achieve as well as they could in some aspects of their learning.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured that teachers have a consistently effective approach to delivering the revised curriculum. This limits pupils' achievement in some subjects. The school should ensure that teachers deliver the intended curriculum, so that pupils build on their prior learning and make connections between what they have been taught.
• The school does not check pupils' understanding effectively. This means that pupils' misconceptions in learning are not picked up and addressed swiftly. The school should ensure that staff check that pupils have a secure understanding of what they have been taught so that they are ready for the next stage of their learning.
• The school's expectations about pupils' handwriting and accuracy in recording are not sufficiently high. This reduces pupils' ability to write fluently and record mathematical calculations accurately. The school should raise expectations about the quality of pupils' writing and ensure accurate recording in mathematics.
• Some parents lack confidence in the school's ability to deal with issues that they raise. They feel that their concerns about their children's education are not fully addressed. The school should extend its work with parents to help them better understand how their concerns are dealt with.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)