Getting a Reception place in 2026
1 place left
Last year, St James' Church of England Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 1 of 60 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in.
60places
50families put it first
189listed it at all
Year by year since 2019
It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone.
The 2019 and 2020 tables do not say which rule the last place went on, so a full school is shown by its furthest distance.
More about how places were given
60 Reception places for September 2026; 59 offered on national offer day.
50 families put it first; 189 listed it as any preference.
1 spare places after offers in 2026.
Distances change every year. Looked-after children, siblings, catchment and faith can come before distance. Check the admissions policy before you apply.
Places offered, September 2026 Reception entry, Gloucestershire County Council. Earlier years: allocation-day tables, Gloucestershire County Council. What this means
Closing date for Reception and junior applications: Midnight, 15 January 2027. Key dates
In short.
Worth knowing
- It had spare places after offer day last year.
- The distance that got a place has moved between 0.65 and 12.20 miles since 2019.
SATs: reading, writing and maths
62%
About typical (61%)
Reading, 2025
79%
About typical (80%)
Writing, 2025
79%
▲ Higher than typical (74%)
Maths, 2025
77%
About typical (77%)
Ofsted
Good
Full inspection, 2023
Class size
29
▲ Higher than typical (26)
Lessons missed
4.1%
▼ Lower than typical (4.7%)
Children per teacher
23.3
▲ Higher than typical (19.7)
Typical is the middle school when all 243 Gloucestershire primaries are lined up, half above and half below. Tap a box for the detail.
How places are given.
This school sets its own admission rules. If more families apply than there are places, it uses the order in its policy, which can include brothers and sisters, children of staff, faith or a catchment area.
Read the school's admission rules for September 2027 (PDF)
Free school transport. If this is your nearest suitable school and the walking route is more than 2 miles (children under 8) or 3 miles (8 and over), the council usually provides free transport. Families on lower incomes can get help over shorter distances. School transport
Visit the school.
We haven't found published open day dates for this school. Most primary schools are happy to show families round between November and January: check the school's website or call 01242516836 to arrange a visit. See every open day we know about.
SATs results.
−4
4 fewer children in every 100 meet the expected level than at schools in England with similar pupils. Similar pupils means a similar share from lower-income families (13% here). About 66% would be expected.
Met the expected level, each year
Each year is a different group of pupils.
Where it ranks in Gloucestershire
Positions are among Gloucestershire state primary and junior schools with a published figure. 1st means the highest results. Typical is the school in the middle when they are lined up from highest to lowest. Jargon buster.
Key stage 2 results 2024/25 and 3-year average 2023 to 2025 (revised).
Ofsted.
Ofsted
Good
Full inspection, 2023
“Pupils thrive at St James’. Relationships are warm and welcoming. Reflection is an important part of school life. The school has created a ‘Spiritual growth wheel’. This captures what the school wants for all pupils: ‘Inspiring and growing for fullness of life’. […]”
Read the full report (PDF) · Ofsted, Open Government Licence.
What parents told Ofsted.
Not enough parents filled in Ofsted's Parent View survey for this school to publish results. Ofsted only publishes a school's results once 10 or more parents have answered (November 2025 to September 2026).
See this school on Ofsted Parent View, or add your own views if your child goes there.
Day to day.
Pupils
Attendance and behaviour
Teachers and money
Behaviour policies differ between schools, so compare suspensions with care. Pupils and staff: school census and workforce census, Department for Education.
Questions parents ask.
How close do you need to live to get a place at St James' Church of England Primary School?
Last year, St James' Church of England Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 1 of 60 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in. Year by year since 2019: 2019: 1.28 miles; 2020: 0.65 miles; 2021: 12.20 miles; 2022: 0.91 miles; 2023: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2024: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2025: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2026: not full: everyone who applied got in. It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone. Distances change every year, and children in priority groups (such as looked-after children and brothers or sisters of current pupils) can get places before distance is used.
How many families applied to St James' Church of England Primary School?
For September 2026 Reception entry, 50 families put St James' Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 189 listed it as one of their choices, for 60 places. (Gloucestershire County Council)
What are St James' Church of England Primary School's SATs results?
Over the three years 2023 to 2025, 62% of Year 6 children at St James' Church of England Primary School met the expected level in reading, writing and maths. (Department for Education, key stage 2 results)
What did Ofsted say about St James' Church of England Primary School?
Rated Good by Ofsted at its last full inspection (11 October 2023).
How do I apply for a place at St James' Church of England Primary School?
You apply to your home council, not to the school. If you live in Gloucestershire, that is Gloucestershire County Council. For September 2027 entry, apply by midnight, 15 January 2027. Offers are sent on 16 April 2027.
Contact and nearby.
Merestones Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2RS
Headteacher: Mrs Caryn Smith
Run by an academy trust: The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust
Nearby primary schools
Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us
This is a guide, not an admissions decision. Figures come from the Department for Education, Ofsted and Gloucestershire County Council and were last updated 7 November 2026. Always check the school's admissions policy and the council's admissions pages before applying. How admissions work