St James' CofE Primary School, Malvern
St James' CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Malvern. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 3rd-highest of the 13 schools in Malvern with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 41% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Worcestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St James' CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St James' CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Worcestershire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 73% in reading and 73% 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 Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put St James' CofE Primary School as their first choice and 8 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 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' CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St James' CofE Primary School are Northleigh CofE Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 81% reading, 74% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Malvern (1 mile, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); Malvern Parish CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 74% reading, 81% maths); and Beacon View Primary School (1.3 miles).
St James' CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Northleigh CofE Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School MalvernMalvern Parish CofE Primary SchoolBeacon View Primary School
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St James' CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school and 100% say their child is happy there.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (100%); the weakest, that they would recommend the school (93%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 9 pupils (25.7%) received SEN support and 4 (11.4%) 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 autism.
Staffing
St James' CofE Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Great Malvern Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St. James's & The Abbey (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78).
Suspensions and exclusions
St James' CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St James' CofE Primary School are Dyson Perrins CofE Academy (1.6 miles) and The Chase (1.7 miles).
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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from March 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, family-like school where children thrive academically and emotionally. Teachers know pupils well and adapt learning to help every child succeed, while the strong focus on reading and phonics gets children off to an excellent start. Pupils develop resilience and wider awareness through outdoor activities, trips, and community engagement.
Key Strengths
- Pupils develop strong relationships with staff and each other, feeling safe and confident in school
- Teachers have strong subject knowledge and create interesting learning activities that encourage independent thinking
- Well-established phonics teaching and library support help pupils become fluent readers and enjoy books
- Pupils show excellent behaviour and embrace the school's high expectations for learning
- The school provides comprehensive personal development opportunities including outdoor learning, residential trips, and community involvement
Areas for Improvement
- Some inconsistency in how effectively the curriculum is delivered across lessons - occasionally information is not presented as clearly or built upon effectively
- The school needs to ensure all staff are supported to implement the curriculum consistently as intended
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff and pupils demonstrating positive attitudes and pupils confident that concerns will be addressed.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor learning, residential trips with high ropes and canoeing, sporting competitions with other schools, community fundraising, school council roles, 'When I grow up day'
St James' CofE Primary School is a friendly and welcoming school where pupils flourish and achieve well. The school has maintained the good standards identified at its previous inspection in March 2020.
At a Glance
20.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
14 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 73% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 73% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 60% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
11.7
Avg class size
12.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St James' CofE Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St James' CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St James' CofE Primary School is in Worcestershire; for families living there:
Apply to Worcestershire 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
- 0
- 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, 0 serious and 2 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 Worcestershire is 5.5 (the median across 276 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 Primary School
Will you get a place at St James' CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St James' CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St James' CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St James' CofE Primary School.
- Worcestershire publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St James' CofE Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St James' CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Worcestershire 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
41%
Available places
43 pupils
105 places
62 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Malvern
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Malvern
Across Worcestershire council
Places available
6,801
Applications
5,492
Got 1st preference
94.0%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Worcestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
37.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
35
Total Pupils
17
Boys
18
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
8.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,678
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,152
Per pupil
£373k
Total funding
£11k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
4.9%
Persistent absence
41
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 Primary School
Questions parents ask about St James' CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St James' CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St James' CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is St James' CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St James' CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St James' CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Worcestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St James' CofE Primary School?
St James' CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 41% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at St James' CofE Primary School?
Classes at St James' CofE Primary School average 11.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St James' CofE Primary School?
St James' CofE Primary School has around 35 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St James' CofE Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at St James' CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 4.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St James' CofE Primary School?
Apply through Worcestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming St James' CofE Primary School 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 Primary School?
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, 0 serious and 2 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 Worcestershire is 5.5 (the median across 276 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St James' CofE Primary School?
St James' CofE Primary School is at West Malvern Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 4BB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)