The academy is relatively small, with a polite and friendly atmosphere noticeable in the corridors and classrooms. There is also a strong caring ethos, which ensures high levels of support for students and creates a culture of mutual respect. Ofsted found the school to be a harmonious community in which students learnt well in lessons, and our learner survey indicates that the school is well liked. St James operates a special Year 7 programme, Literacy for Life (L4L). L4L is run by a small team of teachers who get to know the learners individually and understand how to help them progress; it teaches skills that learners can use across all of the different subjects for many years to come, and it gives children an enthusiasm for learning by teaching a series of interesting topics in an exciting way. In 2019, St James increased its GCSE Attainment and Progress scores, and produced some outstanding results for individual subjects. Learners achieved 100% in Biology at grades 5-9, 100% in Physics and 89.5% in Chemistry. Results were up in Combined Science and English. The academy has a strong track record of success in the arts subjects.