Saint James’ Church of England Primary School in West End, Southampton, has been evaluated as a good school overall, with outstanding ratings in behavior and attitudes, as well as personal development. The inspection took place on April 30 and May 1, 2024, and the school has maintained its good status since the previous inspection in November 2018. The school serves a diverse population of 590 pupils aged 5 to 11 and is part of the Church of England Diocese of Winchester.
Pupils at Saint James’ are described as confident, resilient, and caring, demonstrating impeccable conduct and a strong sense of pride in their school. The school’s values of love, respect, and courage are deeply understood by both pupils and staff, fostering exceptionally strong relationships within the school community. Pupils actively contribute to each other’s well-being through various responsibilities, such as being part of the Christian values team and other leadership roles. The school has high expectations for behavior, and incidents of bullying are addressed promptly and effectively, ensuring that pupils feel safe and happy.
The quality of education is rated as good, with pupils achieving well and demonstrating readiness for the next stage of their education by the end of key stage two. The school effectively identifies and supports pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as disadvantaged pupils, ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed. Attendance is prioritized, and the school promotes good attendance and punctuality effectively.
The teaching of phonics and early reading is exemplary, with staff well-trained in a systematic approach that closely matches reading materials to the sounds pupils know. This enables early readers to catch up quickly if they fall behind. The curriculum is ambitious, with thoughtful adaptations made for disadvantaged pupils, ensuring that all students can access the learning opportunities provided. In subjects like mathematics and geography, the curriculum is well-structured, allowing pupils to build their knowledge and skills cumulatively over time.
However, the school recognizes the need for improvement in certain areas. In some subjects, the curriculum has not been fully developed to identify the specific knowledge and vocabulary that pupils need to learn. This has resulted in a small number of pupils not achieving their full potential. The school is working to ensure that knowledge and skills are effectively built across all subjects. Additionally, assessment practices need to be more precise to identify gaps in pupils’ subject-specific knowledge, allowing for more effective learning progression.
The early years provision is strong, with children engaging positively in their learning and developing essential social and emotional skills. Activities are carefully planned to enhance language development and social understanding, fostering confidence and independence among young learners. The school offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities, including clubs and trips that enrich the curriculum and support pupils’ wider development.
Governance at the school is effective, with governors sharing an ambitious vision and engaging closely with staff. They provide high-quality challenge and support, contributing to the overall success of the school. Parents express overwhelming support for the school, appreciating the dedication of the staff and the positive ethos that permeates the school environment.
The safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring that pupils’ welfare is prioritized. The school is committed to continuous improvement and is actively addressing areas for development to enhance the educational experience for all pupils.
