Lancasterian School
Ofsted: Standards maintainedCommunity special school
Manchester · M20 2XA · Manchester
Ages 3–16
- KS20%
- Absence15.7%
- FSM69.1%
0.2 miles away
OpenOfsted: GoodURN 105613
The Birches School
Community special school · Manchester · M20 2XZ
Ages 4–11 · 168 pupils · Manchester
Ofsted
Good
KS2 expected (RWM)
0%
Overall absence
9.3%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Good
Inspection date
2024-05-14
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding effective
- Yes
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence9.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)31.7%
Unauthorised2.5%
- Authorised absence
- 6.8%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 2.5%
- Enrolments in measure
- 161
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
- Pupils on roll
- 168
- Boys / girls
- 115 / 53
- Free school meals
- 60.1%
- FSM pupils
- 101
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Community special school
Age range
Ages 4–11
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
1 / 6
- Nursery
- Sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
- Governance
- Community special school
- Headteacher
- Mr Rob O'Hara
Location
- Address
- Newholme Road, West Didsbury
- Postcode
- M20 2XZ
- Town
- Manchester
- Local authority
- Manchester
- District
- Manchester
- Constituency
- Manchester Withington
- Urban/rural
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
SEN & specialist provision
As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.
- SEN types
- SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
- Special classes
- Has Special Classes
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed community special school, Ages 4–11, in Manchester, Manchester, 168 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school. Free school meals: 60.1%. SEN provision includes: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty….
Nearby schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Didsbury High School
Ofsted: OutstandingFree schools · Secondary
Manchester · M20 2ET · Manchester
Ages 11–18
- Att857.3
- P80.7
- EM5+60%
- Absence8.0%
0.2 miles away
Cavendish Primary School
Ofsted: Standards maintainedAcademy converter · Primary
Manchester · M20 1JG · Manchester
Ages 3–11
- FSM29.5%
0.3 miles away
Other independent school
Manchester · M20 2PQ · Manchester
Ages 3–11
0.3 miles away
Other independent school
Manchester · M20 2PW · Manchester
Ages 2–11
0.4 miles away
West Didsbury CE Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodFree schools · Primary
Manchester · M20 4ZA · Manchester
Ages 4–11
- KS280%
- Absence4.6%
- FSM13.4%
- Demand1.00
0.5 miles away
St Ambrose RC Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodVoluntary aided school · Primary
Manchester · M21 7QA · Manchester
Ages 3–11
- KS244%
- Absence8.9%
- FSM55.6%
- Demand1.00
0.5 miles away
Loreto High School Chorlton
Ofsted: Requires improvementVoluntary aided school · Secondary
Manchester · M21 7SW · Manchester
Ages 11–16
- Att846.2
- P8-0.1
- EM5+43%
- Absence8.9%
0.8 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Mr Rob O'Hara
- Telephone
- 01614488895