Academy sponsor led · Somerset

St James Church School

3–11Ages
479Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
139324URN

Cranmer Road, Taunton, TA1 1XU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.4 below Somerset median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Somerset

63 applications for 44 places · 98th of 130 in Somerset

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

49%met the expected standard

Somerset 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 26 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Reception

0.4 below Somerset median (1.8) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

63 applications · 44 places offered · 39 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.4; Somerset median median 1.8
2025 1.6; Somerset median median 1.7
2024 1.8; Somerset median median 1.7
2023 1.5; Somerset median median 1.8
2022 1.8; Somerset median median 1.8
2021 1.6; Somerset median median 1.7
2020 1.7; Somerset median median 1.8
2019 1.9; Somerset median median 1.8
2018 1.5; Somerset median median 1.8
2017 2.1; Somerset median median 1.9
2016 1.9; Somerset median median 1.9
2015 1.5; Somerset median median 1.9
2014 1.4; Somerset median median 1.8

This school
Somerset median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	44	63	1.4	39	0.89
Sep 2025	44	68	1.6	43	0.98
Sep 2024	46	84	1.8	45	0.98
Sep 2023	55	81	1.5	48	0.87
Sep 2022	41	74	1.8	36	0.88
Sep 2021	50	81	1.6	49	0.98
Sep 2020	53	88	1.7	45	0.85
Sep 2019	60	112	1.9	59	0.98
Sep 2018	60	89	1.5	60	1.00
Sep 2017	37	76	2.1	33	0.89
Sep 2016	60	112	1.9	69	1.15
Sep 2015	59	90	1.5	50	0.85
Sep 2014	49	68	1.4	41	0.84

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 68% · Writing 62% · Maths 66% → all three 49% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard49%119th of 148 in Somerset

Somerset 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard68%

Somerset 75% England 78%

Higher standard19%

Somerset 31% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard62%

Somerset 73% England 75%

Greater depth10%

Somerset 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard66%

Somerset 73% England 77%

Higher standard16%

Somerset 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Somerset median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	49%	3%	103	101
2023/24	43%	4%	103	100
2022/23	22%	5%	100	99

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St James Church SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.4applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
0.4 km · Somerset

Good2023

2.3applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
St George's Catholic School
0.7 km · Somerset

Remains Good2023

2.1applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
North Town Academy
1.0 km · Somerset

Remains Good2023

1.8applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Richard Huish College
1.1 km · Somerset

Not yet inspected
St Andrew's Church School
1.1 km · Somerset

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 47%met the SATs standard
Minerva Primary School
1.1 km · Somerset

Requires improvement2022

1.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Priorswood Primary School
1.2 km · Somerset

Good2022

1.6applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Holway Park Community Primary School
1.2 km · Somerset

Some aspects not as strong2025

1.7applications per place 39%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139324 · 933/2002
Trust: The Bath and Wells Diocesan Academies Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 420 pupils · 479 on roll
Free school meals: 21.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Replaced: Archbishop Cranmer Church of England Community Primary School (URN 123824)
Address: Cranmer Road, Taunton, TA1 1XU
Local authority: Somerset

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources