St James' CofE Academy
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St James' CofE Academy is a converter academy in Bedford for boys and girls aged 5 to 11. It has 194 pupils and room for 210. About 18 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 37 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 40% of the 50 schools most like it.
Main Road, Biddenham, Bedford, MK40 4BD01234 352721stjamesprimary.org.ukMrs Alison Barden head teacherAll details
Ofsted
Ofsted hasn't published an inspection for this school yet.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
28 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019† | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 28 | 31 | 28 | 24 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 54% | 52% | 71% | 58% | 56% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 6% | 4% | 17% | 3% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 105.0 | 104.0 | 109.0 | 106.0 | 104.7 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 103.0 | 102.0 | 108.0 | 106.0 | 103.2 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 104.0 | 102.0 | 107.0 | 107.0 | 104.0 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 79% | 61% | 93% | 79% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 64% | 65% | 86% | 75% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 61% | 65% | 82% | 75% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +3.7 | +2.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +2.4 | +0.4 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 14% | 14% | – | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 67% | 63% | – | – | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for St James' Church of England VA Primary School, the school this one replaced in June 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At the end of primary school, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
About 14 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up.
The last child to get a place lived 1.3 miles away in 2026. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 1.3 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 30 | 32 | 30 | 1.3 miles | LA |
What a home within 1.3 miles of the school costs
Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 29.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 26.8 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (7), language and communications needs (6), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (5), Specific learning difficulty (3), Other difficulty or disability (2), Autistic spectrum disorder (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 194 | 192 | 201 | 200 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 18% | 19% | 17% | 15% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 11% | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 12% | 8% | 8% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22† | 2020/21† | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.9% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 1.7% | 2.5% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 12.5% | 11.7% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 2.6 | 2.5 | 0.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for St James' Church of England VA Primary School, the school this one replaced in June 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Denham Primary School | Foundation | 780 m | 677 | Outstanding 2024 | 83 | Compare |
| St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School | Academy | 940 m | 271 | Good 2023 | 14 | Compare |
| Westfield Primary School | Council | 0.7 miles | 298 | Good 2022 | 25 | Compare |
| Queen's Park Academy | Academy | 0.8 miles | 446 | Good 2022 | 67 | Compare |
| Great Ouse Primary Academy | Free school | 0.8 miles | 455 | Report card 2026 | 64 | Compare |
| Bromham CofE Primary School | Church of England | 1.3 miles | 496 | Good 2023 | 78 | Compare |
| Livingstone Primary School | Foundation | 1.4 miles | 457 | Good 2023 | 40 | Compare |
| Priory Primary School | Foundation | 1.4 miles | 214 | No overall grade 2024 | 27 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St James' CofE Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St James' CofE Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickhill Primary School | Council | 2.5 miles | 209 | Good 2024 | 44 | Compare |
| Eynesbury CofE C Primary School | Church of England | 11.7 miles | 209 | Good 2024 | 48 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 37 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 37% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 15 to 67. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.04 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 28 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 0% | no data | – | |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.09 | DfE progress measure; 28 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well below | -0.17 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | +0.02 | 2024/25; 176 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | below | -0.06 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 28 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is St James' CofE Academy a good school?
It is about average. St James' CofE Academy scores 37 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 40% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 15 to 67, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.
How good are St James' CofE Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 54% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 11% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does St James' CofE Academy have?
194 pupils aged 5 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 92% full.
Is St James' CofE Academy oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 1.3 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.
What is attendance like at St James' CofE Academy?
Pupils were in school 95.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 13% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St James' CofE Academy?
The average class had 27.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Main Road, Biddenham, Bedford, MK40 4BD
- Telephone
- 01234 352721
- Website
- www.stjamesprimary.org.uk
- Head Teacher
- Mrs Alison Barden
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 5-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of St Albans
- Multi-academy trust
- Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust (15 schools)
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Ward
- Biddenham
- Constituency
- North Bedfordshire
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 June 2022 (academy converter)
- URN
- 148982 · LAESTAB 8223300 · UKPRN 10090173
- Formerly
- St James' Church of England VA Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Bedford council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- House prices: HM Land Registry price paid data, December 2023 to December 2025, placed by postcode.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.