St James' CofE Junior School, Whitehaven

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades St James' CofE Junior School on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders' dedication to promoting pupils' personal development permeates through all aspects of the school's work."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have established highly successful systems and processes to ensure that pupils attend school as much as they can."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils access a broad and ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that there is a robust transition process in place for pupils joining the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There have been changes to the leadership of the school since the last inspection."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen the precision of support plans for pupils who face barriers to their learning so that the curriculum delivery consistently and closely aligns to individual needs and targets"; "Leaders should ensure that the activities that pupils complete consistently enable them to deepen their understanding and build a detailed knowledge across the curriculum".

In its own words: "St James' Church of England Junior School is situated on the west coast of Cumbria in the picturesque town of Whitehaven. It caters for both boys and girls aged 7 to 11 years of age."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:40am and after-school care, from £4.00 per session.

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St James' CofE Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Cumberland and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 83% in reading and 95% in maths in 2024.

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

Across Cumberland, 98% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 100% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Cumberland lodged 13 appeals against primary school offers; 7 reached a hearing and 3 succeeded (42.9% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to St James' CofE Junior School are St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Bransty Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 52% maths); St Begh's Catholic Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 79% reading, 66% maths); and Jericho Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 91% reading, 91% maths).

St James' CofE Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

14.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 14 pupils (9%) received SEN support and 12 (7.7%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Whitehaven Rail Station, about 320 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tangier Street (outside), 270 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St James' CofE Junior School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 4th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 111 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cumberland (22), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St James' CofE Junior School issued 5 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St James' CofE Junior School are St Benedict's Catholic High School (1 mile) and The Whitehaven Academy (1.3 miles).