St James Church of England Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 May 2023

A warm welcome awaits everyone entering this thriving school. Pupils greet adults with a smile, always holding doors open for others. Relationships are kind, polite and respectful. Expectations are high, and pupils are proud to meet them. Pupils vote for ambassadors who take their roles seriously to improve school life. They sold poppies in a local supermarket to raise money for a charity. Leaders work with local businesses to help improve the school grounds. A recent project led to the creation of a wonderful outdoor music garden. Money awareness sessions from a local charity were enlightening. Pupils learned how to look after finances and manage a budget. The 'farm to fork' programme inspires pupils to plant, grow and understand healthy food. Teachers plan exciting trips on the minibus to enrich learning and boost aspirations. Highlights have included visits to museums, the Tower of London and a steam boat. Pupils enjoy representing the school at sports events, such as the tag rugby festival. Visitors from the emergency services teach pupils about important roles in the community. Clubs are diverse, accessible and inclusive. There is something for everyone, including dance, football, cookery and mindfulness. Pupils loved performing in a ukulele concert at a large theatre.

What the school should improve

• The achievement of pupils in phonics was lower than national averages last year, so some pupils are not fully secure in early reading. Leaders and teachers are rightly prioritising this with targeted support for pupils. This action must ensure that pupils achieve success with phonics and reading.
• Pupils do not always know and use the correct vocabulary they need for their learning. As a result, pupils may not be able to understand and explain what they know and remember in all subjects. Teachers should extend their work to ensure that vocabulary is precisely taught and embedded across the curriculum.
• Some pupils have been persistently absent since the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that they are missing out on learning time in school. Leaders' efforts have proved successful to improve attendance, and this work must continue further to ensure high attendance for all pupils.

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