Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #14 in Manchester public Top 24% UK

St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Gavin Shortall

location_onManchester, M14 6HW

language Visit Website phone 1612246173

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

229

school

Expected Standard

74%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Manchester, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 24% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is a voluntary aided school in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 215 pupils on roll, of whom 45% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 11% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #14 of 127 primaries in Manchester and #1,536 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.1:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 57%

Reading89% LA 71%

Writing78% LA 65%

Maths81% LA 70%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading83% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing77% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths80% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 52%England 60%

Reading83% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing67% LA 62% · Eng 71%

Maths70% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.3

Read

LA -0.3

-1.1 to 3.8

0.3

Write

LA -1.2

-2.0 to 2.6

0.4

Maths

LA 0.1

-1.9 to 2.7

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

74%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading74% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing77% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths81% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.2

Read

LA 0.3

1.9 to 6.6

1.2

Write

LA 0.1

-0.9 to 3.4

3.4

Maths

LA 0.6

1.4 to 5.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

81%

LA 61%

Reading87% LA 72%

Writing84% LA 73%

Maths87% LA 74%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

8.8

Read

LA 0.9

6.5 to 11.1

Write

LA 0.3

-0.2 to 4.2

7.2

Maths

LA 1.1

5.2 to 9.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 January 2023

Inspection Report

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01 October 2020

Inspection Report

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10 October 2017

Inspection Report

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05 March 2013

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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28 April 2009

Inspection Report

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24 June 2008

Inspection Report

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05 July 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-10-10

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-03-05

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-06-24

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 215 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	215	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	222	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	219	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	219	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	226	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	229	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	229	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	227	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	227	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	230	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	229	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	236	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	235	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	236	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	237	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	237	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	235	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	236	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	238	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	237	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	236	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	235	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	234	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	231	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	234	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	236	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree67%

agree30%

disagree3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree61%

agree33%

disagree5%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree47%

agree18%

disagree2%

not applicable33%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree50%

agree35%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree32%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree67%

agree30%

don't know3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree30%

disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree33%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know11%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes100%

Top Primary Schools in Manchester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Rack House Primary School

Good

location_on Manchester, M23 0BT

emoji_events #1 in LA

Green End Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M19 1DR

emoji_events #2 in LA

Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Outstanding

location_on Manchester, M9 8BG

emoji_events #3 in LA

Oasis Academy Harpur Mount

Good

location_on Manchester, M9 5XR

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Malachy's RC Primary School

Good

location_on Manchester, M40 7RG

emoji_events #5 in LA

Abbey Hey Primary Academy

Good

location_on Manchester, M18 8PF

emoji_events #6 in LA

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Manchester

Rack House Primary School

Green End Primary School

Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Oasis Academy Harpur Mount

St Malachy's RC Primary School

Abbey Hey Primary Academy