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OpenPrimaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 103401

St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth

Voluntary controlled school · Birmingham · B21 8NH

Ages 4–11 · 409 pupils · Birmingham

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

67%

Overall absence

7.3%

Admissions demand

0.98 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-09-08

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)67%
Higher standard (RWM)5%
Avg scaled score — reading
107.0
Avg scaled score — maths
104.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
107.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.3%
Unauthorised2.3%
Authorised absence
4.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
373

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.98 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

42

Places offered

43

1st-preference offers

42

Total preferences (any rank)
117
Preferred offers (top 3)
43
Applications from outside LA
6
Offers to outside-LA applicants
5

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill97%

409 pupils · 420 places

Pupils on roll
409
Boys / girls
237 / 172
School capacity
420
Capacity fill
409 / 420 (97%)
Free school meals
53.1%
FSM pupils
217
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary controlled school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of Birmingham
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary controlled school
Headteacher
Mrs Sarah Smith

Location

Address
Sandwell Road
Postcode
B21 8NH
Town
Birmingham
County
West Midlands
Local authority
Birmingham
District
Birmingham
Constituency
Birmingham Perry Barr
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary controlled school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Birmingham, Birmingham, 409 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 53.1%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of Birmingham.

Open schools in Birmingham
526
Primary schools in Birmingham
304
Academies among open schools in Birmingham
48% (254)
Open schools in B21
17
Primary in B21
10
Open schools in Birmingham LA
521
Primary in Birmingham LA
295

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BirminghamNear B21

  • Oasis Academy Wattville

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 0DP · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • FSM62.2%

    0.5 miles away

  • Rookery School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 9PY · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS251%
    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM55.9%
    • Demand0.98

    0.5 miles away

  • William Murdoch Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 9NT · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS266%
    • Absence6.4%
    • FSM47.8%
    • Demand0.98

    0.5 miles away

  • Oasis Academy Boulton

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 0RE · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS279%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM58.9%
    • Demand0.88

    0.7 miles away

  • Grove School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 9HB · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS262%
    • Absence6.2%
    • FSM58.1%
    • Demand0.98

    0.7 miles away

  • James Watt Primary School

    Ofsted: Some aspects not as strong

    Community school · Primary

    Birmingham · B21 0RE · Birmingham

    Ages 3–11

    • KS260%
    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM53.0%
    • Demand0.94

    0.7 miles away

  • Galton Valley Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Smethwick · B66 1BA · Sandwell

    Ages 3–11

    • KS271%
    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM48.6%
    • Demand1.05

    1.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Sarah Smith
Telephone
01215235861
Website
www.stjamesce.bham.sch.uk/

Official links