SchoolScoresSt James and St John CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Main Street, Chackmore, Buckingham, MK18 5JE
01280 812291 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 April 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Buckingham comparisons use the 8 of its 13 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Buckingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 18% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 4% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 27% | 43% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 25 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 16% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Buckingham. Higher than 28% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Buckingham figures pool parents at the Buckingham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
16 pupils in this year group.
69% — 4 points above the Buckinghamshire average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Buckinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 69% | 65% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 19% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 80% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 75% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Buckinghamshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 15 |
| Of those, offered a place | 15 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 37 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Buckinghamshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.2% | 17.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 3.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 14.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 12th highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 21.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Lower than 70% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Lower than 83% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Lower than 47% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 23% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.0 | 19.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 13 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 37% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.0 | 9.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Buckingham. Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.0% | 14.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Maids Moreton CofE School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Buckingham Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- George Grenville Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bourton Meadow Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lace Hill Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roundwood Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James and St John CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St James and St John CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 April 2024.
How did St James and St John CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St James and St John CofE Primary School?
84% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St James and St John CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St James and St John CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 15 families put St James and St John CofE Primary School as their first choice for 16 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 15 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 110410.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.