Ofsted: Good

The Birches School

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

personMr Rob O'Hara

location_onManchester, M20 2XZ

language Visit Website phone 1614488895

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

164

school

Expected Standard

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Age Range

4-11

summarize

The Birches School is a Community special school school in Manchester, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

The Birches School is a community special school in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 170 pupils on roll, of whom 62% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 7.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

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

LA 57%

Reading0% LA 71%

Writing0% LA 65%

Maths0% LA 70%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 54%England 61%

Reading0% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 52%England 60%

Reading0% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 62% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.0

Read

LA -0.3

-6.3 to 0.3

-1.6

Write

LA -1.2

-4.7 to 1.6

-1.5

Maths

LA 0.1

-4.6 to 1.6

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 65%

Reading0% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.6

Read

LA 0.3

-6.8 to -0.3

-3.0

Write

LA 0.1

-5.9 to 0.0

-2.5

Maths

LA 0.6

-5.3 to 0.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading0% LA 72%

Writing0% LA 73%

Maths0% LA 74%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.4

Read

LA 0.9

-2.2 to 3

0.4

Write

LA 0.3

-2.1 to 2.9

-0.5

Maths

LA 1.1

-2.8 to 1.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 May 2024

Inspection Report

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11 July 2023

Inspection Report

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01 November 2016

Inspection Report

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11 July 2012

Inspection Report

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08 July 2009

Inspection Report

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10 February 2009

Inspection Report

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25 June 2008

Inspection Report

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05 October 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-05-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-11-01

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-07-11

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2009-07-08

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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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: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

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: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 170 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 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	170	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	169	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	169	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	169	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	169	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	165	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	164	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	166	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	157	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	156	0	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	155	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	155	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	155	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	156	0	0.0%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	153	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	153	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	154	0	0.0%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	150	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	150	2	1.3%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	153	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	143	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	143	1	0.7%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	144	3	2.1%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	140	1	0.7%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	142	1	0.7%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	143	1	0.7%	3.1%

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.

Severe Learning Difficulty 93 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 57 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 6 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.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

77.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree44%

agree33%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree43%

agree33%

disagree17%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree33%

agree20%

disagree6%

strongly disagree13%

not applicable28%

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

yes100%

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

strongly agree56%

agree20%

disagree15%

strongly disagree7%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree37%

agree30%

disagree13%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree31%

disagree7%

strongly disagree11%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree33%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree41%

agree39%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree30%

agree26%

disagree13%

strongly disagree19%

don't know13%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree28%

disagree13%

strongly disagree9%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes81%

no19%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

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.

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

Staffing

Teacher Turnover