St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme
Voluntary aided primary school in Manchester (Manchester).
KS2 RWM expected
74%
▲ 12pp England 2024/25: 62%
2024/25
Reading expected
89%
▲ 14pp England 2024/25: 75%
2024/25
Maths expected
81%
▲ 7pp England 2024/25: 74%
2024/25
Writing expected
78%
▲ 6pp England 2024/25: 72%
2024/25
Attendance rate
94.0%
▼ 1pp England 2024/25: 94.8%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
19.1
▼ 1.6 England 2025/26: 20.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
48.2%
▲ 23pp England 2025/26: 24.9%
school census 15/01/2026
Capacity
94%
222 / 236 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
St James started its TFGM School Streets Project on Driving down Cromwell Range is restricted to Blue Badge holders, access to the gym and residents. Please think about walking down Cromwell Range!
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
10 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Athletics
- Climbing
- Computing
- Dance
- Gymnastics
- Music
- Swimming
- Yoga
- Mandarin
- Forest School
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
Key facts
- URN
- 105508
- Type
- Voluntary aided school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- Has Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Manchester
- Constituency
- Manchester Rusholme
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Governing body (9 current, 4 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jess Kippen | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2026 · until 2030 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Lynda Newton | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Andrew Gait | Governor | Persons who are appointed by the foundation body or sponsor (if applicable) | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Janet Batsleer | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Sandy Radford | Governor | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2026 |
| Mr Babatunde Sekoni | Governor | Persons who are appointed by the foundation body or sponsor (if applicable) | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Rita Kumar | Governor | Nominated by LA and appointed by GB | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Gavin Shortall | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2023 |
| Mrs Joanna Gait | Governor | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2023 |
| Mr Mohammed Ahmed Syed Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · term ended 2026 |
| Caroline Whelan Former | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2023 · term ended 2025 |
| Mrs Deborah Coey Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Hilary Jones Former | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record