St James' Roman Catholic Primary School, Orpington

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades St James' Roman Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve extremely well as they move through the curriculum, sustaining secure progress across year groups and key stages."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders place a relentless focus on attendance and drive improvement in this area of the school's work with determination and clarity."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a precise and insightful understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Strong standard. "The school provides an early years environment where children flourish socially, emotionally and academically."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders, governors and trustees work together with clear purpose, ambition and unity."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have created a highly ambitious personal development programme that nurtures pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders take a caring and systematic approach to identifying and assessing pupils' individual needs."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should review the impact of inclusion provision more closely to ensure that support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is effective and consistent across all subjects".

In its own words: "At St. James’ we believe that our values, as illustrated in our Mission Statement , fully encompass what the Government calls the ‘British Values’. The DFE reinforces the promotion of ‘British values’ in schools, as vital in ensuring that children grow up free from bullying and discrimination. At St. James’ any form of bullying is not tolerated."

From the headteacher's welcome: "St James’ Primary is a successful school that is at the heart of its community. There are strong links with the parish church and these enhance the spiritual and moral development of the people we serve. At St James’ we are committed to providing a high standard of Catholic education for all pupils in a friendly and welcoming environment."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, cross-country, yoga, dance, drama, choir, chess and cheerleading.

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

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 9.15am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at St James' Roman Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Bromley and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (97% in reading, 97% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put St James' Roman Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 134 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St James' Roman Catholic Primary School are Southborough Primary School (0.4 miles); Crofton Junior School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 94% reading, 93% maths); Crofton Infant School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); and Trinity Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 76% reading, 69% maths).

St James' Roman Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

St James' Roman Catholic Primary School is one of 16 schools run by St Oscar Romero Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.

93 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St James' Roman Catholic Primary School (as of April 2026): 93% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

2.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 11 pupils (5.1%) received SEN support and 5 (2.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

St James' Roman Catholic Primary School had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Petts Wood, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crescent Drive, 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St James' Roman Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 94 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bromley (188).

St James' Roman Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St James' Roman Catholic Primary School are Bishop Justus CofE School (1.1 miles), Orion Coopers (1.3 miles), Newstead Wood School (1.6 miles) and Darrick Wood School (1.7 miles).