St James' CofE Academy
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 5–11 · Bedford
Last distance offered · Reception 2026
1.32 miles
Published by Bedford Borough Council · offers on 16 April 2026
2025 figure 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
St James' CofE Academy is a primary school in Bedford for ages 5–11 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Standards maintained, from the inspection on 5 February 2025. Bedford has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2025 to 2026 entry.
St James' CofE Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2026 | 1.32 mi |
| Reception 2025 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In 2024/25, 54% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), while 11% reached the higher standard (England 8%).
- The 2026 Reception last distance offered, 1.32 miles, was nearer than in 2025 and 3rd longest of the 10 Bedford primary schools with a published Reception 2026 last distance.
- Reception 2026 had 28 first-choice applications for 30 offers; 27 offers went to first-choice families and 1 first-choice family (4%) was not offered a place.
- Free school meal eligibility is 18% and there are 19.8 pupils per teacher, against middle figures of 26.2% and 23.5 across the 8 nearest primary schools in Bedford.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Bedford schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Main Road, Biddenham, Bedford, MK40 4BD
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 5–11
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Council
- Bedford
- Pupils on roll
- 194 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 18% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 19.8
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Standards maintained Inspected 5 February 2025
Strengths
- “Pupils enjoy attending St James’ Church of England Academy.”
- “The school places a high value on everyone’s well-being.”
- “The school’s strong ethos of flourishing together is visible in every aspect of school life.”
To improve
- “However, this is not the case for all pupils.”
- “There are cases where some pupils do not receive the extra support and expert guidance they require to become fluent and confident readers.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 24 March 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 54% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 28 first-preference applications, 30 offers in total, 27 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Bedford.
- Great Denham Primary School 0.5 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School 0.6 mi Good Last distance published
- Westfield Primary School 0.7 mi Good Last distance published
- Queen's Park Academy 0.8 mi Good Last distance published
- Great Ouse Primary Academy 0.8 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Bromham CofE Primary School 1.3 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Livingstone Primary School 1.4 mi Good Last distance published
- Priory Primary School 1.4 mi Not judged Last distance published