St James Church of England Primary Academy, Rugeley
St James Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Rugeley, part of St Chad's Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 14 schools in Rugeley with published results, and 7,071st of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Staffordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St James Church of England Primary Academy in detail
St James Church of England Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "'Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish.' Psalm 92:13 Our values underpin the ethos of the Academy and how we conduct ourselves daily, respecting each other, our differences and helping each other."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at St James Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 77% in Staffordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 80% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St James Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put St James Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 26 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St James Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St James Church of England Primary Academy are The Croft Primary School (1 mile, Good, 86% reading, 83% maths); Hayes Meadow Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 60% reading, 47% maths); Hob Hill CE/Methodist (VC) Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 76% maths); and Henry Chadwick Primary School (2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths).
St James Church of England Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
The Croft Primary SchoolHayes Meadow Primary SchoolHob Hill CE/Methodist (VC) Primary SchoolHenry Chadwick Primary School
The trust
St James Church of England Primary Academy is one of 19 schools run by St Chad's Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
8.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 14 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Staffing
St James Church of England Primary Academy had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rugeley Town Rail Station, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Croft (adjacent), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 20 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, public order offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).
Suspensions and exclusions
St James Church of England Primary Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils attend this happy village school readily and regularly. They are greeted warmly by staff, who know and respond to their individual needs in a highly effective way. This helps them feel safe in school.
Staff look out for pupils. Pupils look out for each other. Play ambassadors support younger children on the playground, but all pupils like to support those younger than them as a matter of routine. Pupils showing a high level of care for each other adds to the family feel in the school. This is particularly true of how pupils support those with additional needs. It is impressive, and adds to its truly inclusive nature.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is highly ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It places a high priority on reading. This starts as soon as children enter school. Staff quickly set about teaching phonics in a highly skilled and effective way. This leads to the vast majority of pupils being able to read well for their age. Older pupils relish being able to independently choose books matched to their stage of learning, adding to a sense of enjoyment and developing a love of reading. Staff read books from different cultures that expose pupils to circumstances and experiences that are different to their own. Pupils enjoy receiving 'rainbow badges' for reading widely and regularly. They wear them with pride.
From Ofsted's July 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its April 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
8.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 80% to 91% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 90% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 90% to 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St James Church of England Primary Academy
Term dates
St James Church of England Primary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Staffordshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St James Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St James Church of England Primary Academy is in Staffordshire; for families living there:
Apply to Staffordshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St James Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at St James Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St James Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St James Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St James Church of England Primary Academy.
- Staffordshire publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St James Church of England Primary Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St James Church of England Primary Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Staffordshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
97%
Near capacity
95 pupils
98 places
3 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rugeley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rugeley
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
10,768
Applications
8,344
Got 1st preference
95.1%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
13.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
103
Total Pupils
46
Boys
57
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
14.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,601
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,957
Per pupil
£586k
Total funding
£8k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
7.1%
Persistent absence
84
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St James Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at St James Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at St James Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 91% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.
What is St James Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St James Church of England Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St James Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St James Church of England Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St James Church of England Primary Academy?
St James Church of England Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St James Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at St James Church of England Primary Academy average 25.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St James Church of England Primary Academy?
St James Church of England Primary Academy has around 103 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St James Church of England Primary Academy?
3.8% of sessions were missed at St James Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 7.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St James Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming St James Church of England Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St James Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St James Church of England Primary Academy?
St James Church of England Primary Academy is at Brook End, Longdon, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4PL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)