Sandwell Academy vs St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in West Midlands, England, 1.3 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Sandwell Academy
West Bromwich · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,463 students
St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth
Birmingham · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
409 students
| Measure | Sandwell Academy West Bromwich, West Midlands | St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth Birmingham, West Midlands |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 60 Top 50% | 47 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #126 of 493 | #868 of 1,690 |
| National rank | #1485 of 4,090 | #8717 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Academy | Local authority |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 11–18 | Ages 4–11 |
| Students | 1,463 | 409 |
| Pupils on roll | 1,463 | 409 |
| Free school meals | 32.5% | 53.1% |
| Capacity filled | 117% | 97.4% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | 71% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | 5% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 49.1 | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 52% | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 72.3% | – |
| EBacc average points | 4.44 | – |
| A level points per entry | 34.7 | – |
| town | West Bromwich | Birmingham |
| region | West Midlands | West Midlands |
| Website | www.sandwellacademy.com/ | www.stjamesce.bham.sch.uk/ |
The verdict
- •Sandwell Academy scores higher on the Success Index (England) (60.0 vs 46.8).
- •Sandwell Academy is the larger school with 1,463 students compared with 409.
- •Sandwell Academy is a academy school while St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth is a local authority school, so fees and admission rules differ.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Sandwell Academy better than St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth?
On the Success Index (England), Sandwell Academy ranks higher (60.0 vs 46.8 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Sandwell Academy and St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between West Bromwich and Birmingham in West Midlands.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Sandwell Academy: 1,463. St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth: 409. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Sandwell Academy and St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth rank in West Midlands?
Sandwell Academy is 126th of 493 and St James Church of England Primary School, Handsworth is 868th of 1,690 among secondary schools in West Midlands on the 2025 Success Index (England).