The Birches School
Newholme Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Birches School is a special school in Manchester for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 209 schools in Manchester. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 May 2024, report published 30 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 May 2024
Pupils are met each day by staff who know them well and support them into school. Staff forge positive and trusting relationships with pupils. This helps pupils to feel safe. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils' confidence, resilience and independence grow as they move through the school. They achieve well from their individual starting points. Pupils play happily together in the playground, and they eat sensibly together in the dining hall. They are respectful to each other and towards adults. Pupils behave well during lessons and when moving around the school. Staff are well trained to respond calmly to some pupils who may be in crisis. Staff use the school's behaviour systems effectively in order to address any incidents of inappropriate behaviour. Pupils' behaviour improves over time. Pupils enjoy taking part in sports, such as swimming in the on-site pool and football. They recently participated in a table-top cricket competition. Pupils spoke positively about their visits to an art gallery and a zoo. They enjoy learning outside in the woodland area on the school site. Pupils value opportunities to take on responsibilities, such as being school councillors. They learn to help others. For example, pupils raise money for charities through the 'Birches Bake Off' event.
What the school should improve
- In a few subjects, the school is refining what pupils should learn and the order in which it should be taught. This hinders some pupils from learning as well as they should. The school should ensure that the curriculum identifies the knowledge that pupils should learn clearly.
- A small number of staff do not implement the phonics programme consistently well. This hinders how quickly some pupils learn to read. The school should ensure that staff receive the necessary training to implement the phonics curriculum effectively.
- Some pupils do not have a sufficient understanding of different religions, faiths and cultures. As a result, these pupils are not as prepared as they could be for life in modern Britain. The school should ensure that the curriculum enables pupils to develop their knowledge about different faiths and beliefs so that they are better prepared for their future lives.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
28 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
168 pupils on roll
Schools near The Birches School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancasterian School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| The Watkin Centre | 1 mile | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Pioneer House High School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 0.4 |
| Southern Cross School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St John Vianney RC School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 2.4 |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mr Rob O'Hara
- Phone
- 01614488895
- Address
- Newholme Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XZ
- Local authority
- Manchester
- URN
- 105613
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.