St James' Church of England Primary School, Rochdale

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St James' Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance rates are generally close to the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders make careful checks on teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders' well-thought-out curriculum ensures that staff know what children should learn."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders make sure that everyone is welcomed and included at school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff have established a purposeful programme to foster pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should build on the recent improvements to the mathematics curriculum and the way that it is taught so that all pupils, especially disadvantaged pupils, achieve as well as they should in this subject"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen their use of the information that they hold about pupils' barriers to regular attendance at school, so that rates of persistent absence reduce, especially for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils"; "The trust and local governing body should increase its oversight and challenge of the school's work to further support leaders in their drive to bring about improvement at the school".

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at St James' Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Rochdale and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 86% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put St James' Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 70 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St James' Church of England Primary School are St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 84% maths); Kentmere Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Outstanding, 76% reading, 80% maths); St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (1.2 miles); and Alice Ingham Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (1.3 miles, Good, 65% reading, 65% maths).

St James' Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

St James' Church of England Primary School is one of 9 schools run by Watergrove Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 34 pupils (16.2%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Smithy Bridge Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brook Street (near), 110 metres away.

In 2024/25, St James' Church of England Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.