St James' Roman Catholic Primary School, Orpington
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is an excellent school where children thrive both academically and personally. Teachers deliver high-quality lessons with clear focus on building knowledge and developing vocabulary, which explains why pupils consistently achieve above-average results. The school creates a joyful, inclusive community built on strong values where every child - including those with additional needs - is supported to succeed.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well above average outcomes in reading, writing, mathematics and national tests
- High-quality teaching with strong focus on vocabulary development and subject knowledge
- Excellent attendance rates driven by strong leadership focus on removing barriers
- Calm, respectful behaviour throughout the school with swift action on bullying and discriminatory behaviour
- Ambitious personal development programme building character, spiritual growth and respect for diversity
Areas for Improvement
- School could measure the impact of inclusion provision more precisely to strengthen support for all pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Eco-warriors, school council, ambassadors roles, outdoor learning programme, inclusive sports opportunities, creative projects and artistic opportunities, cultural visits
St James' Roman Catholic Primary School is a high-performing school where pupils achieve significantly above national averages and benefit from a broad, ambitious curriculum. The school provides a warm, inclusive environment where safeguarding is taken seriously and pupils develop strong character and values.
At a Glance
2.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 94%. Maths has remained stable at around 97%. Writing has declined from 100% to 94%.
Class Sizes
31.1
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
7
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
216 pupils
218 capacity
2 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Orpington
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Orpington
Admissions Demand - Bromley
Places available
4,062
Applications
3,312
Got 1st preference
89.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
Primary admissions across Bromley (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.92727%
Overall absence
1.0582%
Persistent absence
189
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St James' Roman Catholic Primary School
Nearby Schools
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