How many pupils attend St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has 629 pupils on roll.

How do I apply to St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.

Does St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have a religious character?

Yes — St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How close do you need to live to get into St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was 0.55 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Reception places decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

When St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked-after children — A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This criterion also covers children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Residence within defined area — Children who physically reside within the area described in Annex A to the SIF (copy attached) – Residency must be both on the closing date for applications and on the date on which places are offered; 3. Practising member of St James' Church — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who is a practising member of St James' Church - See note (ii) below. A practising member is defined as attending at least twice per month for a minimum of one year prior to application which would need to be verified by the vicar. It is alternatively defined as someone included on the church electoral roll of the parish of St James', Tunbridge Wells at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the calendar year before the child could start school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 90 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are too many fulfilling any one of the oversubscription criteria, children will be ranked in accordance with proximity to the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

What is the largest ethnic background at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 60.3% of pupils at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

How close did you need to live?

0.55miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2026-27 (Reception). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, year by year →

How places are decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked-after children — A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This criterion also covers children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Residence within defined area — Children who physically reside within the area described in Annex A to the SIF (copy attached) – Residency must be both on the closing date for applications and on the date on which places are offered.
3Practising member of St James' Church — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who is a practising member of St James' Church - See note (ii) below. A practising member is defined as attending at least twice per month for a minimum of one year prior to application which would need to be verified by the vicar. It is alternatively defined as someone included on the church electoral roll of the parish of St James', Tunbridge Wells at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the calendar year before the child could start school.
4Sibling within 2 miles — Children who will have a brother or sister at this school at the time of admission while living within a 2 mile radius of the school – Under this criterion 'brothers and sisters' are defined as children living under the same roof who are 'natural brothers and sisters, adopted brothers and sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters, stepbrothers and stepsisters, foster brothers and foster sisters or children who live as siblings.' If the family are living outside a 2 mile radius of the school then the sibling link no longer applies.
5Regularly attends a local church (Churches Together or Evangelical Alliance) — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who regularly attends a local church that is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or the Evangelical Alliance – A reference will be required from the minister confirming that one or both parents are on the membership list of that church (as appropriate) since at least 1 April in the calendar year before the start of the academic year in which the child would be admitted (see note viii). Our definition of a local church is one within a two-mile radius of the school.
6All other children

If two applications tie: Where there are too many fulfilling any one of the oversubscription criteria, children will be ranked in accordance with proximity to the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.

Applicants must complete both the Kent County Council Reception Common Application Form (RCAF) and the school's own Supplementary Information Form (SIF). The sibling criterion (rank 4) only applies if the family lives within a 2-mile radius of the school.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in March 2024, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has 629 pupils on roll.
What ages does St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School take?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School admits pupils aged 4 to 11.
Where is St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School located?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is located in Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR, Kent.
How do I apply to St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
Does St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have a religious character?: Yes — St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was 0.55 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Reception places decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: When St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked-after children — A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This criterion also covers children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Residence within defined area — Children who physically reside within the area described in Annex A to the SIF (copy attached) – Residency must be both on the closing date for applications and on the date on which places are offered; 3. Practising member of St James' Church — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who is a practising member of St James' Church - See note (ii) below. A practising member is defined as attending at least twice per month for a minimum of one year prior to application which would need to be verified by the vicar. It is alternatively defined as someone included on the church electoral roll of the parish of St James', Tunbridge Wells at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the calendar year before the child could start school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 90 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are too many fulfilling any one of the oversubscription criteria, children will be ranked in accordance with proximity to the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.
What is the largest ethnic background at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 60.3% of pupils at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How close did you need to live?

0.55miles

Last distance offered at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, year by year →

How places are decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Reception), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked-after children — A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This criterion also covers children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Residence within defined area — Children who physically reside within the area described in Annex A to the SIF (copy attached) – Residency must be both on the closing date for applications and on the date on which places are offered.
3Practising member of St James' Church — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who is a practising member of St James' Church - See note (ii) below. A practising member is defined as attending at least twice per month for a minimum of one year prior to application which would need to be verified by the vicar. It is alternatively defined as someone included on the church electoral roll of the parish of St James', Tunbridge Wells at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the calendar year before the child could start school.
4Sibling within 2 miles — Children who will have a brother or sister at this school at the time of admission while living within a 2 mile radius of the school – Under this criterion 'brothers and sisters' are defined as children living under the same roof who are 'natural brothers and sisters, adopted brothers and sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters, stepbrothers and stepsisters, foster brothers and foster sisters or children who live as siblings.' If the family are living outside a 2 mile radius of the school then the sibling link no longer applies.
5Regularly attends a local church (Churches Together or Evangelical Alliance) — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who regularly attends a local church that is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland or the Evangelical Alliance – A reference will be required from the minister confirming that one or both parents are on the membership list of that church (as appropriate) since at least 1 April in the calendar year before the start of the academic year in which the child would be admitted (see note viii). Our definition of a local church is one within a two-mile radius of the school.
6All other children

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in March 2024, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has 629 pupils on roll.
What ages does St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School take?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School admits pupils aged 4 to 11.
Where is St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School located?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is located in Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3PR, Kent.
How do I apply to St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for primary places is 15 January.
Does St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have a religious character?: Yes — St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has a religious character of Church of England. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.
How close do you need to live to get into St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: On offer day for 2026-27 (Reception), the furthest place offered at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was 0.55 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Reception places decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: When St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked-after children — A child under the age of 18 years for whom the Local Authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents or carers (under Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under part IV of the Act. This criterion also covers children who were adopted (or subject to child arrangements orders or special guardianship orders) immediately following having been looked after and those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Residence within defined area — Children who physically reside within the area described in Annex A to the SIF (copy attached) – Residency must be both on the closing date for applications and on the date on which places are offered; 3. Practising member of St James' Church — Children who have a parent/foster parent/guardian who is a practising member of St James' Church - See note (ii) below. A practising member is defined as attending at least twice per month for a minimum of one year prior to application which would need to be verified by the vicar. It is alternatively defined as someone included on the church electoral roll of the parish of St James', Tunbridge Wells at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the calendar year before the child could start school, and 3 further criteria. The school offers 90 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are too many fulfilling any one of the oversubscription criteria, children will be ranked in accordance with proximity to the school, measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. In the unlikely event that two or more children in all other ways have equal eligibility for the last available place at the school, the names will be issued a number and drawn randomly to decide which child should be given the place.
What is the largest ethnic background at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 60.3% of pupils at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Same phase, ranked by distance and how closely they match.

Explore nearby

See every school within walking distance, ranked by distance and inspection grade.

Schools near Tunbridge Wells station

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Separately-registered childcare operating at this school's site, each with its own Ofsted record.

SJOut

Wraparound club

Links are derived from Ofsted registration addresses and published admission arrangements. Always confirm current arrangements with the school.

Interested in this school?Register interest and we'll pass your details on if it joins School Atlas.Register interest

This school hasn't claimed its profile yet, so it can't receive enquiries here. Leave your details and we'll pass them on if the school joins School Atlas.

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Nearby schools within 5 km

How close did you need to live?

How places are decided at St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School: key facts

Similar schools nearby

Explore nearby

Connected nurseries & schools

On-site nursery & childcare

Nearby schools within 5 km