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catchment.school

St James School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

St James School is an academy converter secondary school in Exeter, Devon , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 989 pupils, and a capacity of 980 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-16

Age range

989

Pupils

980

Capacity

101%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2015

St James School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for St James School?

The catchment area for St James School is the geographic zone Devon uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Devon publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, St James School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Devon. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 989 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 980 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Devon publishes the 2027 St James School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Devon before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Devon catchment area documents →

St James School: at or above its 980 place limit

St James School has a published admission number of 980 places. 989 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 101%. The school is at or above its published limit of 980 places. Devon allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 25% of pupils at St James School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Devon.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Devon publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Devon Council school admissions (official) →

St James School: School Information

Full address
Summer Lane, Exeter, EX4 8NN
Local authority
Devon
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
25% of pupils
DfE URN
142805

Other Secondary Schools in Exeter

If St James School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Exeter are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to St James School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: St James School

What is the catchment area for St James School?

The catchment area for St James School is the geographic zone Devon uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Devon publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is St James School oversubscribed?

Yes, St James School currently has 989 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 980 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for St James School?

Admission to St James School is managed by Devon. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does St James School cover?

St James School is a secondary school in Exeter, Devon, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for St James School?

St James School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2015. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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