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

Manchester, M14 6HWPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
KS2 Results
73%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
20 1st-choice / 20 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#3392 of 13,686 nationally

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

St James' CofE Primary School in Birch-in-Rusholme is a Church of England state primary for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It currently has 215 pupils against a capacity of 236, so there is some headroom, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 45 applications for just 20 places, with all 20 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That works out at 2.25 applications per place, a strong signal of local popularity. The school serves a notably diverse catchment — 46% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and significantly higher than the Manchester local authority average of roughly 30%. This suggests a genuinely inclusive intake, and the school’s Church of England character may be a draw for families seeking a values-based education in a mixed community.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressCromwell Range, St James C of E Primary School, Manchester, Manchester, M14 6HW
HeadteacherGavin Shortall
Local AuthorityManchester
Number of Pupils215
Free School Meals (FSM)46.0%
School Capacity215 / 236 (91% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

18 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (18 Jan 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 27 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Sports HallOutdoor PlaygroundGymnasiumICT SuiteDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

AthleticsDanceRoundersNetballCricketCross CountryTennis

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaFilm ClubChoirChess

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:30

Source: stjamesmanchester.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme

St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.