St James School
Summer Lane, Exeter, EX4 8NNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St James School is a secondary school in Exeter for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 416 schools in Devon. It ranks 2nd of 8 secondary schools in Exeter. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 March 2015, report published 27 April 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 November 2023
The school motto of 'work hard, be kind' is lived by the pupils and staff at St James School. It is an inclusive school built on warm, respectful relationships. Pupils feel safe and supported by adults. Pupils are proud of their school and welcome visitors with enthusiasm. They enjoy being members of Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Goldsmiths houses. Pupils collect house points for their work and conduct, in good natured competition with each other. The school has high expectations for behaviour. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. The school teaches pupils to understand why certain behaviours are unacceptable. When disruption does occur, there are clear consequences. Those pupils are supported to help them behave well in the future. The calm and purposeful environment enables pupils to focus on their learning. The school provides opportunities for pupils to have new experiences and develop their talents. All pupils take part in an extensive range of weekly creative, active and service electives. For example, pupils learn about bike maintenance, sign language and sea safety while others prepare for the school show, learn to knit and create artwork inspired by performance poetry. Pupils enjoy physical challenges such as taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Pupils in different year groups work together well, along with staff and volunteers. This adds to the sense of community at the school.
What the school should improve
- Some areas of the curriculum are not implemented effectively to ensure that all pupils are able to learn as well as they might. The trust should ensure that the implementation of the curriculum across all subject areas supports pupils to achieve well.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
198 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
985 pupils on roll, with places for 980
Schools near St James School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Luke's Church of England School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.3 |
| St Peter's Church of England Aided School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 53.0 |
| Exeter School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 22.8 |
| The Maynard School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 60.5 |
| Exeter Mathematics School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE TED WRAGG MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Miss Emily Harper
- Phone
- 01392209922
- Address
- Summer Lane, Exeter, EX4 8NN
- Local authority
- Devon
- URN
- 142805
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.