The Birches School
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 4-11 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Newholme Road West Didsbury Manchester M20 2XZ |
| Phone | 01614488895 |
| Reference Number | 105613 |
The Birches School is a good educational institution that provides support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff build strong relationships with pupils, fostering a safe environment where they can thrive. The school's curriculum is aimed at enhancing communication skills and is delivered effectively in most subjects, allowing pupils to progress from their individual starting points. However, the report notes that the school is currently working on refining aspects of the curriculum in a few subjects and ensuring that the phonics program is implemented consistently to enhance pupils' reading skills.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 170 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 67.65%
Girls: 32.35% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 60% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 55.3% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 2 | 12 | 9 | 21 |
| 3 | 19 | 6 | 25 |
| 4 | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| 5 | 29 | 10 | 39 |
| 6 | 20 | 8 | 28 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pakistani | 25.9% |
| African | 18.2% |
| White, British | 15.9% |
| Unclassified | 7.1% |
| White & Asian | 3.5% |
| Asian, Other | 3.5% |
| White & Black (African) | 2.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.4% |
| White, Other | 1.2% |
| Indian | 1.2% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.6% |
| Caribbean | 0.6% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 14 May 2024 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 14 May 2024 | School inspection: |
| 11 Jul 2023 | School inspection |
| 01 Nov 2016 | Short inspection |
| 11 Jul 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 08 Jul 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Feb 2009 | Monitoring visit |
| 25 Jun 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 05 Oct 2004 | Inspection |
Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils
- Effective communication skills development
- Pupils demonstrate confidence and resilience
- Good behaviour and positive attitudes among pupils
- Ambitious curriculum pathways for pupils with SEND
- Well-trained staff who effectively address behaviour issues
- Variety of extracurricular activities to promote engagement
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of the phonics program by some staff
- Few subjects lacking clarity on curriculum knowledge progression
- Limited understanding of different religions and cultures among some pupils
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 0% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -3 | ||
| Writing | -1.6 | ||
| Maths | -1.5 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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