St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme, Manchester
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Manchester. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 46th-highest of the 258 schools in Manchester with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Manchester (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme in detail
Results
In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 74% in Manchester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 83% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme as their first choice and 57 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme are Birchfields Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 65% maths); Heald Place Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 68% reading, 68% maths); Longsight Community Primary (0.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 61% maths); and The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 65% reading, 65% maths).
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Birchfields Primary SchoolHeald Place Primary SchoolLongsight Community PrimaryThe Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School
Who goes there
48.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 49.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (50%), other ethnic groups (15%) and White British (11%).
In 2026, 13 pupils (5.9%) received SEN support and 5 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Levenshulme Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cromwell Range (near), 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme are Manchester Enterprise Academy Central (0.5 miles), Manchester Academy (1 mile) and Dean Trust Ardwick (1 mile).
Manchester Enterprise Academy CentralManchester AcademyDean Trust Ardwick
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a warm, welcoming environment where children love to learn and strong friendships thrive. Teachers are knowledgeable about their subjects and use excellent reading teaching so pupils make good progress. The school goes the extra mile to support all learners, including those with additional needs, ensuring every child has access to the full range of activities.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between pupils and staff with a great sense of togetherness and belonging
- Excellent reading programme with consistent phonics teaching and well-matched books that help struggling readers catch up
- Effective support for pupils with SEND who have full access to the curriculum and all activities
- Well-designed curriculum with clear essential knowledge and logical progression from early years through Year 6
- High staff morale with leaders being mindful of workload and well-being
Areas for Improvement
- Leaders do not evaluate pupils' learning in sufficient detail in a few subjects, which sometimes hinders achievement
- Occasional inconsistency in how well some pupils develop deep subject knowledge across all curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with all staff and governors receiving updated training, weekly safeguarding meetings, good working relationships with external agencies, and pupils taught about internet safety.
Extracurricular Activities
Sporting events, library visits, visits to places of historical interest, residential trips with team building and outward-bound activities, pupil parliament, themed special days, charity work
St James' CofE Primary School continues to be a good school with a welcoming atmosphere where pupils of all backgrounds thrive. Leaders have created a curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils and staff demonstrate strong subject knowledge.
At a Glance
48.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 83% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
24.3
Infant (KS1)
30.8
KS2
8
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Before and after school care
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Manchester
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme.
- The Den Holiday Club Ltd440m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is in Manchester; for families living there:
Apply to Manchester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Will you get a place at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Manchester, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Manchester got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
199 pupils
210 places
11 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Manchester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Manchester
Across Manchester council
Places available
7,530
Applications
5,736
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Manchester council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
8.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
222
Total Pupils
111
Boys
111
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
17.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,093
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,244
Per pupil
£1446k
Total funding
£130k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
17.1%
Persistent absence
187
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Questions parents ask about St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
What are SATs results like at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
Of the pupils at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 89% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
No fixed boundary. When St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is oversubscribed, Manchester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
Classes at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme average 27.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme has around 222 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
6% of sessions were missed at St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme in 2024/25. 17.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
Apply through Manchester's coordinated admissions process, naming St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme: The Den Holiday Club Ltd (440m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Manchester is 22 (the median across 222 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme?
St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme is at Cromwell Range, Birch-in-Rusholme, Manchester, M14 6HW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)