The Birches School
Community special school in Manchester, Manchester.
School details
| Type | Community special school |
|---|---|
| Age range | 4 to 11 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Pupils on roll | 168 (school census 15-01-2026) |
| Free school meals | 60.10% |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Address | Newholme Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2XZ |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Website | www.thebirchesschool.org |
| Telephone | 01614488895 |
| URN | 105613 |
Ofsted inspection
Latest graded inspection under the previous framework (Education Inspection Framework), started 14 May 2024, 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 effective | Yes |
Latest ungraded inspection: 12 July 2023, outcome: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next.
Read the Ofsted reports for this school
Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall effectiveness grades in September 2024 and introduced report cards from November 2025. Older grades are shown with their dates and may not reflect the school today.
Nearby schools
- Lancasterian School (special school, about 0.2 km)
- Pioneer House High School (special school, about 2.5 km)
- Southern Cross School (special school, about 3.1 km)
- St John Vianney RC School (special school, about 3.4 km)
- Longford Park School (special school, about 3.9 km)
- Manchester Hospital School (special school, about 4.1 km)
- Heaton School (special school, about 4.1 km)
- Ashgate Specialist Support Primary School (special school, about 4.7 km)
Browse: Special schools in Manchester
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. School data: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (downloaded 11 October 2026). Inspection data: Ofsted, state-funded schools inspections and outcomes management information (as at 31 August 2026). Last updated 2026-10-11.