SchoolScoresSt James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Cromwell Range, Birch-in-Rusholme, St James C of E Primary School, Manchester, M14 6HW
0161 224 6173 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2013.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 January 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
27 pupils in this year group.
74% — 16 points above the Manchester average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 74% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 89% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 81% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Manchester. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (91%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 57 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Manchester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 92nd highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 45.1% | 48.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 124th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 4.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 129th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 15.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 57th highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 43.7% | 45.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 81st lowest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 86th lowest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester. Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 17.1% | 15.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 92nd highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 33% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.1 | 20.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 31st highest of 132 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 62% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 130 state primary schools in Manchester. Higher than 97% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 41.9% | 13.6%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Birchfields Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Heald Place Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longsight Community Primary 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Agnes CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cringle Brook Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2024 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wilbraham Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Claremont Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 January 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 105508.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.