St James Academy
St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 3JEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St James Academy is a secondary school in Dudley for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 116 schools in Dudley. It ranks 7th of 8 secondary schools in Dudley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 4 June 2024, report published 30 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 4 June 2024
St James Academy is an inclusive and welcoming school. Pupils are courteous and polite. They are rewarded for showing good manners and they warmly welcome visitors to the school. Pupils who require English language support receive this through a specialised programme. Pupils who are new to the school are supported to quickly feel part of the school community. Prejudice is unacceptable to everyone. As a result, pupils feel they can be themselves in a safe environment. The majority of lessons are calm and orderly. Pupils know how to report any concerns about other pupils or about their feelings. Those pupils who were spoken to by inspectors could all name a trusted adult who would help them. Bullying is rare and, if issues do arise, pupils are confident that staff will resolve their concerns. The careers programme is a strength of the school and reflects the school's ambition of 'dreaming big'. Pupils are well prepared for life after Year 11. There are clubs and activities on offer, such as law competitions and basketball. However, there is more work to do to ensure that a greater number of pupils benefit from this extra- curricular offer.
What the school should improve
- Some pupils do not attend school as often as they should. As a result, they have gaps in their learning. The school should further consider how to reduce absence across the school and how best to support pupils to address gaps in their knowledge when they return.
- On occasions, the school does not ensure that the work given to pupils is well matched to their needs. When this happens, it sometimes results in low-level disruption and pupils becoming distracted. The school should continue to develop and embed its work on ensuring that work is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils to improve their engagement in lessons.
- Many pupils choose not to engage in extra-curricular activities. As a result, not all pupils benefit from the breadth of opportunities across the school. The school should review and evaluate the current activities, while also seeking the views of pupils to strengthen the existing programme of wider curriculum experiences.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
153 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
867 pupils on roll, with places for 900
Schools near St James Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priory Park Community School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 6.6 |
| Bishop Milner Catholic College | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.9 |
| Pegasus Academy | 0.8 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 44.4 |
| The Link Academy | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 40.4 |
| Beacon Hill Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.0 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- DUDLEY ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Moore
- Phone
- 01384685200
- Address
- St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 3JE
- Local authority
- Dudley
- URN
- 144657
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.