Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #93 in Manchester public Top 83% UK

Birchfields Primary School

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

personMr Mike Cooke

location_onManchester, M14 6PL

language Visit Website phone 1612243892

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

664

school

Expected Standard

49%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Birchfields Primary School is a Community school primary school in Manchester, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 83% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Birchfields Primary School is a community school in Manchester, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 625 pupils on roll, of whom 58% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 49% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 1% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #93 of 127 primaries in Manchester and #10,138 of 14,143 nationally.

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 Outstanding, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.1 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

49%

LA 57%

Reading73% LA 71%

Writing63% LA 65%

Maths65% LA 70%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading66% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing58% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths60% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

54%

LA 52%England 60%

Reading69% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing62% LA 62% · Eng 71%

Maths70% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.1

Read

LA -0.3

-1.4 to 1.3

-0.6

Write

LA -1.2

-1.9 to 0.8

-0.8

Maths

LA 0.1

-2.1 to 0.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading71% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing79% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths79% LA 76% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.4

Read

LA 0.3

-1.0 to 1.8

0.5

Write

LA 0.1

-0.8 to 1.8

0.4

Maths

LA 0.6

-0.8 to 1.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 61%

Reading68% LA 72%

Writing69% LA 73%

Maths77% LA 74%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA 0.9

-3.7 to -0.9

-3.2

Write

LA 0.3

-4.5 to -1.9

-1.1

Maths

LA 1.1

-2.3 to 0.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

01 October 2024

Inspection Report

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13 March 2023

Inspection Report

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06 February 2018

Inspection Report

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08 May 2013

Inspection Report

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28 June 2010

Inspection Report

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20 June 2007

Inspection Report

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08 July 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-01

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-02-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-05-08

None Legacy

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 625 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	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	625	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	617	1	0.2%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	642	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	640	1	0.2%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	638	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	669	2	0.3%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	664	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	655	2	0.3%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	685	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	676	1	0.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	664	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	704	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	688	1	0.1%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	683	1	0.1%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	716	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	716	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	689	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	711	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	701	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	677	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	733	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	726	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	699	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	724	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	724	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	717	0	0.0%	0.5%

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

accessibility_new

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 44 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 19 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Physical Disability 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.

90.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

95.0%Positive

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

5.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree65%

agree20%

disagree10%

strongly disagree5%

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

strongly agree50%

agree40%

disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree30%

agree35%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

not applicable20%

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%

agree40%

disagree5%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree35%

disagree10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree50%

disagree5%

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

strongly agree45%

agree45%

disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree45%

agree50%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree40%

disagree15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Primary Schools in Manchester

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

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

View all schools in Manchester arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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.

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