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Academy converter · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

St James' Church of England Primary Academy

  • 4–11Ages
  • 404Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 140760URN

Pokesdown Hill, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6DW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodMar 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
4.2per place
1.6 above Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

191 applications for 46 places · 4th of 52 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Every year since 2014
SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25
68%met the expected standard
Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodMar 2013
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

Inspection history

  1. 25 January 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains 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
4.2applications per place, Reception
1.6 above Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median (2.6) 2.0 above England median (2.2)

191 applications · 46 places offered · 32 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 4.2; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.6
  2. 2025 2.9; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  3. 2024 3.4; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  4. 2023 4.1; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  5. 2022 3.8; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  6. 2021 3.7; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  7. 2020 4.7; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.1
  8. 2019 4.3; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2
  9. 2018 4.0; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.3
  10. 2017 3.9; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5
  11. 2016 4.0; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5
  12. 2015 3.5; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.5
  13. 2014 4.3; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median median 2.2; as the previous school
More applications per place than the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median in 12 of 12 years.
  • This school
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median

Dashed bars: as St James' Church of England Primary School (URN 113840), the previous school.

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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 2026461914.2320.70
Sep 2025561602.9450.80
Sep 2024581993.4530.91
Sep 2023401634.1350.88
Sep 2022501923.8450.90
Sep 2021602223.7540.90
Sep 2020582714.7871.50
Sep 2019582494.3661.14
Sep 2018592374.0370.63
Sep 2017602313.9621.03
Sep 2016602374.0530.88
Sep 2015602113.5520.87
Sep 2014 *602584.3781.30

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 81% · Writing 81% · Maths 80% → all three 68% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard68%18th of 50 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Reading
Expected standard81%
Higher standard47%
Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)
Writing
Expected standard81%
Greater depth20%
Maths
Expected standard80%
Higher standard31%
Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)
  • This school
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole median
  • England median
Every year as a table
YearExpected standardHigher standardReading scoreMaths score
2024/2568%17%108106
2023/2468%10%106105
2022/2367%8%106107

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

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
URN · DfE number
140760 · 839/3678
Trust
Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
420 pupils · 404 on roll
Free school meals
16.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 April 2014
Replaced
St James' Church of England Primary School (URN 113840)
Address
Pokesdown Hill, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6DW
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

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