St James' CofE Academy, Bedford
St James' CofE Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Bedford, part of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 29th-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 9,801st of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bedford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St James' CofE Academy in detail
St James' CofE Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome to St James' Primary School. I am very proud to be the Headteacher at St James', where you will find dedicated, innovative and skilled teachers, happy, successful and enthusiastic children alongside supportive and proud parents. St James' Primary is proud to be part of The Diocese of St. Albans Multi-Academy Trust."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at St James' CofE Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 61% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St James' CofE Academy
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put St James' CofE Academy as their first choice and 124 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St James' CofE Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St James' CofE Academy are Great Denham Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 80% reading, 84% maths); St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School (0.6 miles, Good, 67% reading, 63% maths); Westfield Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 60% maths); and Queen's Park Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 84% reading, 79% maths).
St James' CofE Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Great Denham Primary SchoolSt Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-SchoolWestfield Primary SchoolQueen's Park Academy
The trust
St James' CofE Academy is one of 15 schools run by Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
71 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St James' CofE Academy (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
10.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (48%), Mixed (23%) and Asian (12%).
In 2026, 21 pupils (10.8%) received SEN support and 3 (1.5%) 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.
Staffing
St James' CofE Academy had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedford Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Merril's Field (adjacent), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 90 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St James' CofE Academy issued 5 suspensions, 2.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; 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 agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
St James' CofE Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in June 2022. Before that, as St James' Church of England VA Primary School (URN 109614), it was rated Good in March 2012.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St James' is a caring, inclusive school where children genuinely enjoy learning. The school has a strong ethos of "flourishing together" with excellent behaviour and a broad curriculum that makes learning interesting and relevant. Pupils with additional needs receive strong personalised support, and all children are encouraged to become responsible, engaged citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong behaviour and respect throughout the school with a clear behaviour code that is consistently promoted
- Well-designed curriculum with cross-curricular links that help pupils apply their learning across different subjects
- Excellent provision for pupils with SEND, with high expectations and personalised support helping them to succeed
- Effective early years teaching that ensures youngest pupils master fundamental knowledge in English and mathematics
- Strong focus on pupil well-being and creating a caring environment where pupils feel happy and safe
Areas for Improvement
- Some younger pupils are not receiving sufficient extra help and expert guidance from trained teachers to develop fluency and confidence in reading, despite learning phonics sounds
- Need to ensure all pupils who require additional reading support are identified quickly and receive consistent expert guidance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Pupil governors, school council, agents for change group promoting equality and diversity, fundraising activities
St James' CofE Academy has successfully maintained the standards from its previous good inspection. The school provides a caring, nurturing environment where pupils enjoy learning through a broad and stimulating curriculum.
At a Glance
18.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
71 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 61% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 65% to 61% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St James' CofE Academy
Term dates
St James' CofE Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bedford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St James' CofE Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St James' CofE Academy is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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' CofE Academy
Will you get a place at St James' CofE Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St James' CofE Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St James' CofE Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St James' CofE Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bedford, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St James' CofE Academy for 2023 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bedford 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
93%
Near capacity
196 pupils
210 places
14 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,655
Applications
1,990
Got 1st preference
93.4%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
21
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
12.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
194
Total Pupils
109
Boys
85
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
14.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,304
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,331
Per pupil
£1158k
Total funding
£47k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
12.5%
Persistent absence
176
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St James' CofE Academy
Questions parents ask about St James' CofE Academy
What are SATs results like at St James' CofE Academy?
Of the pupils at St James' CofE Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.
What is St James' CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in June 2022. Before that, as St James' Church of England VA Primary School (URN 109614), it was rated Good in March 2012.
What is the catchment area for St James' CofE Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St James' CofE Academy is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St James' CofE Academy?
St James' CofE Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St James' CofE Academy?
Classes at St James' CofE Academy average 27.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St James' CofE Academy?
St James' CofE Academy has around 194 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St James' CofE Academy?
4.9% of sessions were missed at St James' CofE Academy in 2024/25. 12.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St James' CofE Academy?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming St James' CofE 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' CofE Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St James' CofE Academy?
St James' CofE Academy is at Main Road, Biddenham, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4BD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)