Secondary school

St James Academy

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Dudley
  • DY1 3JE
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Jun 2024

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,944 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 90%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 95%95%2016/17: top 97%2017/18: top 98%2018/19: top 96%2021/22: top 91%2022/23: top 85%85% · 2022/232023/24: top 86%2024/25: top 90%No exams

Against West Midlands

Attainment 836.8 · West Midlands 44.12/10 Well below West Midlands
Grade 5+ English and maths37.3% · West Midlands 39.3%5/10 Middle+23.2 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score3.32 · West Midlands 3.813/10 Below+12 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.11 · West Midlands −0.105/10 Middle+29.6 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 40.6 · 111 pupils · West Midlands 49.92016/17: 34.1 · 146 pupils · West Midlands 45.32017/18: 32.2 · 112 pupils · West Midlands 44.62018/19: 34.1 · 105 pupils · West Midlands 45.12021/22: 38.4 · 124 pupils · West Midlands 47.12022/23: 38.4 · 125 pupils · West Midlands 44.52023/24: 38.1 · 163 pupils · West Midlands 442024/25: 36.8 · 153 pupils · West Midlands 44.1540.632.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 21% · 146 pupils · West Midlands 37%2017/18: 17% · 112 pupils · West Midlands 37%2018/19: 19% · 105 pupils · West Midlands 38%2021/22: 34% · 124 pupils · West Midlands 46%2022/23: 38% · 125 pupils · West Midlands 40%2023/24: 38.7% · 163 pupils · West Midlands 41%2024/25: 37.3% · 153 pupils · West Midlands 39.3%38.7%17%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in97.8%
136 of 139 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 97.8%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st139136
2nd9838
3rd432

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2024

  1. 2005Goodas predecessor
  2. 2008Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2012Satisfactoryas predecessor
  4. 2013Requires improvementas predecessor
  5. 2016Requires improvementas predecessor
  6. 2022Requires improvement
  7. 2024Good

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026867
Free school meals (past 6 years)51.0%
First language not English34.7%
SEN support11.8%
EHC plan2.0%
Absence (sessions missed)11.5%
Persistently absent pupils35.2%

Girls 48.9%Boys 51.1%

96.3% full · 900 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 50 responses (5.8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school50% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school58% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved36% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 50% not applicable40% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year30% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 12% not applicable38.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed10% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child62% agree
  • My child does well at this school48% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing36% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school54% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school70% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development32% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent44% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher20.3
Pupils per adult13.4
  • Classroom teachers 36.8
  • Leadership 6
  • Teaching assistants 16.3
  • Other support 25.9

Teachers 42.8 FTE · Whole workforce 85 · 101 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£9,219
Spend per pupil£7,700
Staff spend per pupil£5,902
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£1,311,000in-year balance

Grants £8,969 · self-generated £250 · premises £267 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: DUDLEY ACADEMIES TRUST (6 academies) · trust reserve £2,065,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

163 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained80.4%
  • Education79.1%
  • Apprenticeship0%
  • Employment1.2%
  • Not sustained11.7%
  • Unknown8%