SchoolScoresSt James CofE Primary School, Handsworth
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Sandwell Road, Birmingham, B21 8NH
0121 523 5861 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 April 2015.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 10 July 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Birmingham comparisons use the 162 of its 301 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 139 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 | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 64th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 74th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 86% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 11 parents who had raised a concern Joint 22nd highest of 145 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 76% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 39th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94%said yes | 85% | 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. Birmingham figures pool parents at the Birmingham 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
59 pupils in this year group.
71% — 8 points above the Birmingham average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 75% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 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 Birmingham. 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 | 31 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 30 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 67 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 178th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 48.3% | 48.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 160th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 2.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 118th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.9% | 16.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 56th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 67.0% | 43.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 268th lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 6.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 262nd lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 6% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 23.8% | 16.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 154th lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 120th lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 186th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 37% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.5 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 244th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.2 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 262nd highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 15.0%* | 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
- St Augustine's Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Wattville 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion)
- Rookery School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Murdoch Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Boulton 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grove School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- James Watt Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), some aspects weaker 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Galton Valley Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Philip's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oasis Academy Foundry 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth's Ofsted rating?
St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 10 July 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth?
94% of the 17 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 30 families put St James CofE Primary School, Handsworth as their first choice for 31 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 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 103401.
- 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.