St James' Church of England Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Old Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, London, SE16 4SUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St James' Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Southwark for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 115 schools in Southwark. It ranks 34th of 62 primary schools in Southwark. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2014.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 19 November 2014, report published 11 December 2014

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 16 July 2024

This school, on either side of St James's Church and Gardens, is a welcoming place where pupils' well-being thrives in a happy and supportive environment. Staff and parents and carers work closely together to ensure that pupils achieve their best. Pupils feel safe at school, knowing they are supported by a dedicated staff team. The broad and balanced curriculum develops pupils' knowledge and 'grit'. Pupils achieve well and show enthusiasm for learning and interacting with each other. High expectations are set for all pupils, especially those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These pupils receive support to access the curriculum and meet classroom expectations, allowing them to work well alongside their peers. Pupils are well prepared for each stage of their education, including moving from the Reception class to Year 1. Pupils behave well in lessons, around the school, and in the playground. They are motivated, kind, and respectful to each other. They often resolve disagreements independently but knowing that they can rely on adults when needed. The school fosters pupils' 'social intelligence' and character, with opportunities for leadership roles such as house captains and buddies. Older pupils relished sharing their solar system projects with younger children, discussing their models and what they had learned. Pupils enjoy being part of a vibrant and inclusive community that fosters both academic and personal growth.

What the school should improve

  • Revisions and refinements to the curriculum have not embedded fully in some subjects. At times, what needs to be taught and when is not identified as consistently as it could be. In these subjects, this means that there are instances where pupils' knowledge and understanding of subject content is not secure. The school should continue its work to refine and embed its curriculum to ensure that, across all subjects, pupils consistently achieve highly. This includes supporting staff's understanding of what needs to be taught and why.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

56 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths68%

68%, 6 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths16%

16%, 8 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score105

105, the same as the England average.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

403 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals72.7%

72.7%, 46.2 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language25.1%

25.1%, 3.5 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support19.9%

19.9%, 5.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan8.2%

8.2%, 2.2 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near St James' Church of England Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School0.1 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standard67% met the expected standard
Riverside Primary School0.2 milesOfsted: Good76% met the expected standard
Boutcher Church of England Primary School0.5 milesOfsted: Outstanding84% met the expected standard
Tower Bridge Primary School0.5 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding59% met the expected standard
Southwark Park Primary School0.5 milesOfsted: Good76% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Voluntary aided school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mr Michael Oliver
Address
Old Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, London, SE16 4SU
Local authority
Southwark
URN
100829

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.