Much Birch CofE Primary School
Catchment Area, Reviews and Key Information

Primary
PUPILS
179
AGES
5 - 11
GENDER
Mixed
TYPE
Voluntary controlled school
SCHOOL GUIDE RATING
unlock
UNLOCK

Can I Get My Child Into This School?

Enter a postcode to see where you live on the map
heatmap example
Sample Map Only
Very Likely
Likely
Less Likely

This pupil heat map shows where pupils currently attending the school live.
The concentration of pupils shows likelihood of admission based on distance criteria

Source: All attending pupils National School Census Data, ONS
01432 260926 (primary) 01432 260925 (secondary)

This School Guide heat map has been plotted using official pupil data taken from the last School Census collected by the Department for Education. It is a visualisation of where pupils lived at the time of the annual School Census.

Our heat maps use groups of postcodes, not individual postcodes, and have naturally soft edges. All pupils are included in the mapping (i.e. children with siblings already at the school, high priority pupils and selective and/or religious admissions) but we may have removed statistical ‘outliers’ with more remote postcodes that do not reflect majority admissions.

For some schools, the heat map may be a useful indicator of the catchment area but our heat maps are not the same as catchment area maps. Catchment area maps, published by the school or local authority, are based on geographical admissions criteria and show actual cut-off distances and pre-defined catchment areas for a single admission year.

This information is provided as a guide only. The criteria in which schools use to allocate places in the event that they are oversubscribed can and do vary between schools and over time. These criteria can include distance from the school and sometimes specific catchment areas but can also include, amongst others, priority for siblings, children of a particular faith or specific feeder schools. Living in an area where children have previously attended a school does not guarantee admission to the school in future years. Always check with the school’s own admission authority for the current admission arrangements.

3 steps to help parents gather catchment information for a school:

  1. Look at our school catchment area guide for more information on heat maps. They give a useful indicator of the general areas that admit pupils to the school. This visualisation is based on all attending pupils present at the time of the annual School Census.
  2. Use the link to the Local Authority Contact (above) to find catchment area information based on a single admission year. This is very important if you are considering applying to a school.
  3. On each school page, use the link to visit the school website and find information on individual school admissions criteria. Geographical criteria are only applied after pupils have been admitted on higher priority criteria such as Looked After Children, SEN, siblings, etc.

How Does The School Perform?

Good
NATIONAL AVG. 2.09
Ofsted Inspection
(08/11/2018)
Full Report - All Reports
50%
NATIONAL AVG. 60%
% pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics



Unlock The Rest Of The Data Now
We've Helped 20 Million Parents
  • See All Official School Data
  • View Catchment Area Maps
  • Access 2024 League Tables
  • Read Real Parent Reviews
  • Unlock 2024 Star Ratings
  • Easily Choose Your #1 School
£19.95
Per month

Progress Compared With All Other Schools

UNLOCK Well Below Average (About 9% of schools in England) Below Average (About 9% of schools in England) Average (About 67% of schools in England) Above Average (About 6% of schools in England) Well Above Average (About 9% of schools in England) UNLOCK Well Below Average (About 10% of schools in England) Below Average (About 9% of schools in England) Average (About 67% of schools in England) Above Average (About 6% of schools in England) Well Above Average (About 8% of schools in England) UNLOCK Well Below Average (About 10% of schools in England) Below Average (About 11% of schools in England) Average (About 59% of schools in England) Above Average (About 11% of schools in England) Well Above Average (About 9% of schools in England)
Much Birch
Hereford
HR2 8HL
01981540254

School Description

The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. You have addressed successfully those areas for improvement identified in the previous inspection report, and others you found when you arrived at the school. You presented strong evidence that when you took up your post in September 2015, there was plenty of work to do to secure consistently high academic standards. You have used your own evaluations and those of independent consultants very well to identify priorities and to check on their effectiveness. As a result, the school is improving steadily, although the impact of your actions on published outcomes is clearer in the lower years than it is at key stage 2. Leaders and governors set high expectations for pupils and staff alike. You have introduced major initiatives to improve the quality of teaching, for example in phonics and in mathematics. You are developing the use of the forest school, so that pupils have the opportunity to learn a wide range of subjects outdoors. Published outcomes and inspection evidence both show that these initiatives are proving successful. However, some inconsistencies remain. You are rightly seeking to ensure that through careful monitoring and further training, all teaching is as confident and skilled as that of the school’s best practitioners. Pupils, parents, carers and staff with whom I spoke said that the school is like a family. People know each other well, and I was given clear examples of how pupils’ individual academic and social needs are met effectively. The school is also an inclusive community that welcomes new members. The school is outward facing and looks for strong practice and good ideas wherever they may be found. Leaders and governors also ensure that pupils learn about religions and cultures other than their own, which helps them to develop respect and tolerance. Pupils enjoy school. The playground provides them with a good range of play equipment, and pupils told me that, typically, whole classes play happily together. Pupils are well behaved and enthusiastic in lessons, and value the school’s system of rewards. There is a strong sense of fairness. All the workbooks that I saw were well presented. On the rare occasions when incidents of poor behaviour do occur, records show that you make pupils reflect on what they have done and its impact on others. Pupils have good opportunities to take on responsibilities. Through the school council, they are able to contribute ideas for the improvement of the school. Pupils’ attendance is consistently above the national average. You are now also acting as executive headteacher for another local school. You and other school leaders explained the opportunities that the link provides. Teachers are able to draw on strong practice in the other school, for example in the teaching of mathematics. Your teachers have the corresponding opportunity to demonstrate what they do well. At the same time, you wisely recognise the need to ensure that other leaders in Much Birch Church of England Primary School have the confidence and the skills to contribute fully to all aspects of the school’s management and development. The governing body is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a formal federation of the two schools. Assessment is an important strength of the school. I saw records that demonstrated how effectively leaders use information about pupils’ attainment and progress to identify those at risk of falling behind. You also use the information to help you make judgements on the quality of teaching, and on the effectiveness of particular strategies. For example, you recently changed the ways in which you support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) because their progress had not been as strong as you would have liked. Pupils receive detailed feedback from both teachers and their peers. Teachers make sure that pupils understand how to use that feedback to improve their work, and check that they have done so. Governors provide effective oversight of the school, including its safeguarding arrangements. They use their expertise well in their service of the school. Safeguarding is effective. There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school. All arrangements are fit for purpose. Staff know their pupils and the community well. Leaders have made sure that staff are thoroughly trained to identify any problems that pupils may face, and are alert to signs that they may not be safe. The school’s records show that on the relatively rare occasions when a risk to pupils arises, leaders work effectively with parents and other agencies to protect children. The school site is secure, and leaders have worked hard with the local community to minimise the risks posed by the proximity to major roads. Pupils told me that they feel entirely safe in school. They said that bullying occurs very rarely, if at all. They placed great confidence in the ‘worry box’ that allows pupils to express an anonymous concern. Pupils were able to recall in good detail the advice that they have received on how to stay safe online. They also know in detail about road safety. Inspection findings Children in their Reception Year have good opportunities to develop their early writing, and over time, they make strong progress. In recent years, a high proportion of children have attained the early learning goal in writing. In 2018, key stage 1 pupils’ attainment in writing was well above the national average. As pupils progress up the school, their writing develops well. Leaders have set the same high standard for writing in all subjects. Teachers provide pupils with varied and imaginative writing tasks. They give pupils detailed guidance about how to improve their work in response to feedback. In your development planning, you have prioritised increasing the proportions of pupils who attain at greater depth. This places a helpful emphasis on high standards and the setting of challenging work. For example, in mathematics, teachers require all pupils to reason mathematically and to apply their learning in practical ways. In the key stage 2 lessons that I observed, pupils responded well to demanding tasks and the teachers’ use of ambitious subject-specific vocabulary. Leaders have ensured that the curriculum engages pupils’ interest and allows them to develop a suitably wide range of skills. Pupils benefit from trips to relevant places, and from visitors to the school. For example, on the day of the inspection, a former soldier and amputee discussed his experience with Year 6 pupils, and some older pupils were on a residential visit to the Isle of Wight. The school provides a diverse range of extracurricular activities, which pupils and their parents greatly appreciate. These have included fencing, pottery, singing and coding. In planning pupils’ work, teachers give due regard to developing pupils’ skills and understanding in foundation subjects over time. In science, pupils learn how to work scientifically, as well as learning the knowledge associated with each topic. Work scrutiny showed me that attainment in foundation subjects is generally high, in part because teachers expect work to be of the same standard as pupils’ work in English and mathematics. Pupils learn the importance of health and fitness. All pupils complete a daily mile, and those I spoke with explained to me in detail the benefits of healthy eating. The strengths of the curriculum are not apparent from the school’s website. The school works effectively with parents. In Reception Year, parents contribute significantly to children’s learning, by recording what their children have done. Leaders hold meetings at which they explain how the school approaches particular topics, such as the teaching of phonics or online safety. The school regularly provides parents with details of the themes that pupils are studying. From time to time, the school surveys parental opinion, and endeavours to address any concerns that are raised. Some parents expressed concerns about the time and energy that leaders have expended in working with another school. However, a large majority of respondents to Parent View, and all those that I spoke with, expressed strong appreciation and support for the school.

Much Birch CofE Primary School Parent Reviews



unlock % Parents Recommend This School
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>70, "agree"=>28, "disagree"=>3, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>73, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>3, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>43, "agree"=>50, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>70, "agree"=>25, "disagree"=>3, "strongly_disagree"=>3, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>50, "agree"=>45, "disagree"=>5, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>40, "agree"=>43, "disagree"=>13, "strongly_disagree"=>5, "dont_know"=>0} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>40, "agree"=>40, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>5} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>33, "agree"=>38, "disagree"=>3, "strongly_disagree"=>8, "dont_know"=>20} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>48, "agree"=>30, "disagree"=>5, "strongly_disagree"=>10, "dont_know"=>8} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>53, "agree"=>28, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>5, "dont_know"=>8} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know {"strongly_agree"=>38, "agree"=>48, "disagree"=>10, "strongly_disagree"=>3, "dont_know"=>3} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019
Yes No {"yes"=>88, "no"=>13} UNLOCK Figures based on 40 responses up to 03-02-2019

Responses taken from Ofsted Parent View

Your rating:
Review guidelines
  • Do explain who you are and your relationship to the school e.g. ‘I am a parent…’
  • Do back up your opinion with examples or clear reasons but, remember, it’s your opinion not fact.
  • Don’t use bad or aggressive language.
  • Don't go in to detail about specific staff or pupils. Individual complaints should be directed to the school.
  • Do go to the relevant authority is you have concerns about a serious issue such as bullying, drug abuse or bad management.
Read the full review guidelines and where to find help if you have serious concerns about a school.
We respect your privacy and never share your email address with the reviewed school or any third parties. Please see our T&Cs and Privacy Policy for details of how we treat registered emails with TLC.


News, Photos and Open Days from Much Birch CofE Primary School

We are waiting for this school to upload information. Represent this school?
Register your details to add open days, photos and news.

Do you represent
Much Birch CofE Primary School?

Register to add photos, news and download your Certificate of Excellence 2023/24

*Official school administrator email addresses

(eg [email protected]). Details will be verified.

Questions? Email [email protected]

We're here to help your school to add information for parents.

Thank you for registering your details

A member of the School Guide team will verify your details within 2 working days and provide further detailed instructions for setting up your School Noticeboard.

For any questions please email [email protected]