Voluntary aided school · Manchester

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

3–11Ages
222Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
105508URN

Cromwell Range, Birch-in-Rusholme, St James C of E Primary School, Manchester, M14 6HW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded GoodMar 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.5 below Manchester median (2.4)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Manchester

57 applications for 30 places · 106th of 125 in Manchester

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

74%met the expected standard

Manchester 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded GoodMar 2013

School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Jan 2023

Inspection history

18 January 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
5 March 2013
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.9applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Manchester median (2.4) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

57 applications · 30 places offered · 33 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.9; Manchester median median 2.4
2025 2.3; Manchester median median 2.4
2024 2.1; Manchester median median 2.4
2023 3.0; Manchester median median 2.5
2022 1.8; Manchester median median 2.6
2021 2.0; Manchester median median 1.9
2020 1.7; Manchester median median 1.8
2019 1.9; Manchester median median 1.9
2018 2.1; Manchester median median 2.0
2017 1.8; Manchester median median 2.0
2016 2.9; Manchester median median 2.0
2015 2.3; Manchester median median 2.0
2014 2.6; Manchester median median 1.9

This school
Manchester median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	30	57	1.9	33	1.10
Sep 2025	20	45	2.3	20	1.00
Sep 2024	25	53	2.1	25	1.00
Sep 2023	20	60	3.0	20	1.00
Sep 2022	30	54	1.8	31	1.03
Sep 2021	29	58	2.0	31	1.07
Sep 2020	30	52	1.7	31	1.03
Sep 2019	30	58	1.9	33	1.10
Sep 2018	30	64	2.1	30	1.00
Sep 2017	30	53	1.8	26	0.87
Sep 2016	29	83	2.9	29	1.00
Sep 2015	30	70	2.3	30	1.00
Sep 2014	30	79	2.6	36	1.20

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 89% · Writing 78% · Maths 81% → all three 74% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard74%18th of 123 in Manchester

Manchester 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard89%

Manchester 73% England 78%

Higher standard44%

Manchester 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard78%

Manchester 70% England 75%

Greater depth11%

Manchester 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard81%

Manchester 74% England 77%

Higher standard37%

Manchester 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Manchester median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	74%	11%	109	107
2023/24	73%	7%	106	106
2022/23	63%	10%	105	104

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-RusholmeThis school
This school

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Birchfields Primary School
0.8 km · Manchester

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Heald Place Primary School
1.0 km · Manchester

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.3applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
Longsight Community Primary
1.1 km · Manchester

Standards maintained2024

3.6applications per place 52%met the SATs standard
The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School
1.2 km · Manchester

Requires improvement2024

2.3applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
St Agnes C of E Primary School
1.2 km · Manchester

Good2022

2.7applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Cringle Brook Primary School
1.3 km · Manchester

Remains Outstanding2024

6.5applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
St John's CofE Primary School
1.3 km · Manchester

Standards maintained2025

2.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester
1.4 km · Manchester

Standards maintained2024

3.8applications per place 60%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 105508 · 352/3316
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 236 pupils · 222 on roll
Free school meals: 48.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Cromwell Range, Birch-in-Rusholme, St James C of E Primary School, Manchester, M14 6HW
Local authority: Manchester

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources