St James' Church of England Primary School
Merestones Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2RSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St James' Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Cheltenham for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 329 schools in Gloucestershire. It ranks 22nd of 40 primary schools in Cheltenham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in October 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 October 2023, report published 16 November 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 11 October 2023
Pupils thrive at St James'. Relationships are warm and welcoming. Reflection is an important part of school life. The school has created a 'Spiritual growth wheel'. This captures what the school wants for all pupils: 'Inspiring and growing for fullness of life'. The school has thoughtfully weaved this vision through its ambitious curriculum. As a result, pupils blossom. Behaviour is exemplary. Pupils have strong attitudes to their learning. This is because all staff model the behaviours they expect to see. Pupils say, 'We hold doors open for each other here.' This encapsulates the school's culture. Central to school life are links with the church. Pupils lovingly call the local church 'Pip and Jim's', which shows the strong connections they have to St Philip and St James' church in the local area. The array of opportunities for pupils to widen their experiences are vast. Pupils get to 'find their thing' here. Clubs are well attended. Pupils enjoy taking real ownership of the school, such as through the 'Think tank' group. The school is aspirational for all. This extends to families and the wider community. For example, there are workshops on offer for parents. Everyone is part of the St James' family.
What the school should improve
- In recent years, pupils have had limited time to develop their spelling, handwriting and stamina. This has caused published writing outcomes to dip. The trust should ensure that the new writing curriculum is consistently and securely embedded so that all pupils achieve well over time.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
61 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
408 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near St James' Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warden Hill Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 73% met the expected standard |
| Greatfield Park Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Leckhampton Church of England Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| Dean Close Airthrie | 0.8 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Naunton Park Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 76% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Caryn Smith
- Phone
- 01242516836
- Address
- Merestones Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2RS
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire
- URN
- 144089
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.