St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme

Manchester · M14 6HW

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 222 pupils, 48.2% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 5.9% on SEN support Behaviour 6.0% absence rate Staff 17.7% turnover Financials £7,494 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme

General Information

Address: Cromwell Range, Birch-in-Rusholme, Manchester, M14 6HW – View on map
Phone: 01612246173
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mr Gavin Shortall
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 33 families put it first for 30 places – 11 for every 10 places. 91% of them were offered a place. 1 of the 30 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 10 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 11
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

222 pupils out of 236 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 107
% eligible for free school meals: 48.2%
Pupil mix: 8 in 10 (more mixed than the Manchester average)
English as an additional language: 50% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 17.7% a year (Manchester 15.1%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 26% moved to another school, 74% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Manchester: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 6 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 5 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 8 (0.2 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Manchester, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 6.0%
Persistently absent pupils: 17.1%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 5.9%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 2.3%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 7 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 2 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Moderate learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Autistic spectrum disorder: 3 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

–

Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 74% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 11% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 15 percentage points above the Manchester average (59%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Above (3-year average 70% against an expected 59%)
3-year average (expected standard): 70%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 89% · Writing 78% · Maths 81% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 89%
Average test scores: reading 109, maths 107
Based on: 27 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolManchester averageEngland↗ Improving Up 11 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 15 percentage points above the Manchester average (59%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 18th of 125 junior and primary schools in the area

=18Broad Oak Primary School74%
=18Park View Community Primary Academy74%
=18St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme74%
=21Cravenwood Primary Academy73%
=21Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester73%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1St Wilfrid's RC Primary School92%
#2Brookburn Community School87%
#3Oasis Academy Aspinal86%
#4Abbey Hey Primary Academy85%
#5Chorlton CofE Primary School82%
#6Green End Primary School81%
=7Didsbury CofE Primary School79%
=7Oasis Academy Harpur Mount79%
=7Rack House Primary School79%
=10Barlow Hall Primary School77%
=10Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy77%
=10St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy77%
=13Abbott Community Primary School75%
=13Beaver Road Primary School75%
=13Ladybarn Primary School75%
=13Sacred Heart RC Primary School75%
=13St Richard's RC Primary School75%
=18Broad Oak Primary School74%
=18Park View Community Primary Academy74%
=18St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme74%
=21Cravenwood Primary Academy73%
=21Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester73%
=21Manley Park Primary School73%
=21Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School73%
=21West Didsbury CE Primary School73%
=26Cringle Brook Primary School72%
=26Seymour Road Academy72%
=26St Augustine's CofE Primary School72%
=26St Wilfrid's CofE Junior and Infant School72%
=26William Hulme's Grammar School72%
=31CofE School of the Resurrection71%
=31St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy71%
=31St Chrysostom's CofE Primary School71%
=31St Kentigern's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy71%
=31St Paul's CofE Primary School71%
=31St Willibrord's RC Primary School71%
#37St Margaret's CofE Primary School69%
=38Alma Park Primary School67%
=38Crossacres Primary Academy67%
=38Old Hall Drive Academy67%
=38Oswald Road Primary School67%
=38St Anne's RC Primary School67%
=43Crowcroft Park Primary School66%
=43Rushbrook Primary Academy66%
=45Manchester Communication Primary Academy65%
=45St Francis RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy65%
=45St John's CofE Primary School65%
=45Webster Primary School65%
=49Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester64%
=49King David Primary School64%
=49Old Moat Primary School64%
=49Rolls Crescent Primary School64%
#53Mauldeth Road Primary School63%
=54Chorlton Park Primary62%
=54Co-op Academy Broadhurst62%
=54E-ACT Blackley Academy62%
=57Bowker Vale Primary School61%
=57Briscoe Lane Academy61%
=59Benchill Primary School60%
=59Co-op Academy New Islington60%
=59Crumpsall Lane Primary School60%
=59St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester60%
=59The Willows Primary School60%
=64Haveley Hey Community School59%
=64Moston Lane Community Primary School59%
=64St Peter's Catholic Primary School59%
=67Abraham Moss Community School58%
=67Acacias Community Primary School58%
=67Higher Openshaw Community School58%
=67St Clement's CofE Primary School58%
=67St Mary's CofE Junior and Infant School58%
=72Armitage CofE Primary School57%
=72Baguley Hall Primary School57%
=72Pike Fold Primary School57%
=75All Saints C of E Primary School56%
=75Crab Lane Primary School56%
=75Sandilands Primary School56%
=75Stanley Grove Primary Academy56%
=75Wilbraham Primary School56%
=80Chapel Street Community Primary School55%
=80Cheetham CofE Community Academy55%
=80Oasis Academy Temple55%
=80St Catherine's RC Primary School55%
=80St Clare's RC Primary School55%
=85Co-op Academy Medlock54%
=85St Andrew's CofE Primary School54%
=85St Luke's CofE Primary School54%
#88Plymouth Grove Primary School53%
=89Heald Place Primary School52%
=89Longsight Community Primary52%
=89Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester52%
=89St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School52%
#93Crosslee Community Primary School50%
=94Birchfields Primary School49%
=94Button Lane Primary School49%
=94St Anthony's Catholic Primary School49%
=97Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary School48%
=97St Agnes C of E Primary School48%
=97St Brigid's RC Primary School48%
=97St James' CofE Primary School Gorton48%
#101Unity Community Primary47%
=102Irk Valley Community School46%
=102Ravensbury Community School46%
=102St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester46%
=105Holy Trinity CofE Primary School45%
=105New Moston Primary School45%
=105Saviour CofE Primary School45%
#108Lily Lane Primary School44%
=109Cheetwood Primary School43%
=109St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School Northenden43%
=111Claremont Primary School42%
=111Newall Green Primary School42%
=113All Saints Primary School41%
=113Gorton Primary School41%
=113St Ambrose RC Primary School41%
=113St Philip's Church of England Primary School41%
#117Moston Fields Primary School40%
=118Ringway Primary School39%
=118Varna Community Primary School39%
#120The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School38%
#121Charlestown Community Primary School36%
#122Ashbury Meadow Primary School32%
=123Peel Hall Primary Academy31%
=123St Mary's CofE Primary School Moston31%
#125St Bernard's RC Primary School Manchester21%

View full Ofsted inspection report

79th of 110 primary schools in Manchester for Ofsted rating

#77St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#78St James' CofE Primary School GortonGood
#79St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-RusholmeGood
#80St John's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#81St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Abbott Community Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Armitage CofE Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Cringle Brook Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Crossacres Primary AcademyOutstanding
#5Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School ManchesterOutstanding
#6King David Primary SchoolOutstanding
#7Manley Park Primary SchoolOutstanding
#8Old Moat Primary SchoolOutstanding
#9St Kentigern's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyOutstanding
#10St Mary's CofE Junior and Infant SchoolOutstanding
#11Abbey Hey Primary AcademyGood
#12Acacias Community Primary SchoolGood
#13All Saints C of E Primary SchoolGood
#14All Saints Primary SchoolGood
#15Alma Park Primary SchoolGood
#16Barlow Hall Primary SchoolGood
#17Birchfields Primary SchoolGood
#18Bowker Vale Primary SchoolGood
#19Briscoe Lane AcademyGood
#20Broad Oak Primary SchoolGood
#21Brookburn Community SchoolGood
#22Button Lane Primary SchoolGood
#23Chapel Street Community Primary SchoolGood
#24Charlestown Community Primary SchoolGood
#25Cheetham CofE Community AcademyGood
#26Cheetwood Primary SchoolGood
#27Chorlton Park PrimaryGood
#28Christ The King RC Primary School ManchesterGood
#29Claremont Primary SchoolGood
#30Co-op Academy BroadhurstGood
#31CofE School of the ResurrectionGood
#32Cravenwood Primary AcademyGood
#33Crumpsall Lane Primary SchoolGood
#34Didsbury CofE Primary SchoolGood
#35E-ACT Blackley AcademyGood
#36Gorton Primary SchoolGood
#37Higher Openshaw Community SchoolGood
#38Irk Valley Community SchoolGood
#39Ladybarn Primary SchoolGood
#40Longsight Community PrimaryGood
#41Manchester Communication Primary AcademyGood
#42Mauldeth Road Primary SchoolGood
#43Moston Lane Community Primary SchoolGood
#44New Moston Primary SchoolGood
#45Newall Green Primary SchoolGood
#46Northenden Community SchoolGood
#47Oasis Academy AspinalGood
#48Oasis Academy Harpur MountGood
#49Oasis Academy TempleGood
#50Old Hall Drive AcademyGood
#51Oswald Road Primary SchoolGood
#52Our Lady's RC Primary School ManchesterGood
#53Pike Fold Primary SchoolGood
#54Plymouth Grove Primary SchoolGood
#55Ringway Primary SchoolGood
#56Rushbrook Primary AcademyGood
#57Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#58Sandilands Primary SchoolGood
#59Seymour Road AcademyGood
#60Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#61St Agnes C of E Primary SchoolGood
#62St Ambrose RC Primary SchoolGood
#63St Andrew's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#64St Anne's RC Primary SchoolGood
#65St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall ManchesterGood
#66St Anthony's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#67St Augustine's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#68St Barnabas CofE Primary AcademyGood
#69St Bernard's RC Primary School ManchesterGood
#70St Brigid's RC Primary SchoolGood
#71St Catherine's RC Primary SchoolGood
#72St Clare's RC Primary SchoolGood
#73St Clement's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#74St Cuthbert's RC Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary AcademyGood
#75St Dunstan's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#76St Edmund's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#77St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#78St James' CofE Primary School GortonGood
#79St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-RusholmeGood
#80St John's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#81St John's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#82St Joseph's RC Primary School ManchesterGood
#83St Luke's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#84St Malachy's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#85St Margaret Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#86St Margaret's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#87St Mary's CofE Primary School MostonGood
#88St Patrick's RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyGood
#89St Paul's CofE Primary SchoolGood
#90St Peter's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#91St Philip's Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#92St Richard's RC Primary SchoolGood
#93St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School NorthendenGood
#94St Wilfrid's CofE Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#95St Wilfrid's RC Primary SchoolGood
#96St Willibrord's RC Primary SchoolGood
#97Stanley Grove Primary AcademyGood
#98The Willows Primary SchoolGood
#99Webster Primary SchoolGood
#100West Didsbury CE Primary SchoolGood
#101Wilbraham Primary SchoolGood
#102Co-op Academy MedlockRequires improvement
#103Holy Trinity CofE Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#104Park View Community Primary AcademyRequires improvement
#105St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyRequires improvement
#106St John Bosco RC Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyRequires improvement
#107St. Aidan's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary AcademyRequires improvement
#108The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary SchoolRequires improvement
#109Peel Hall Primary AcademyInadequate
#110St Francis RC Primary School, A Voluntary AcademyInadequate

Financials

Spending per pupil: £7,494 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

45th of 130 primary schools in Manchester for spending per pupil

#43St Clare's RC Primary School£7,519
#44Rack House Primary School£7,501
#45St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme£7,494
#46The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School£7,489
#47St Augustine's CofE Primary School£7,470

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1The Olive School, Manchester£12,633
#2Crown Street Primary School£11,773
#3Saviour CofE Primary School£9,806
#4Webster Primary School£9,425
#5Barlow Hall Primary School£9,376
#6Old Moat Primary School£9,077
#7St Ambrose RC Primary School£8,842
#8St Bernard's RC Primary School Manchester£8,756
#9Broad Oak Primary School£8,534
#10St Anne's RC Primary School£8,533
#11King David Primary School£8,479
#12St Philip's Church of England Primary School£8,438
#13Peel Hall Primary Academy£8,371
#14Benchill Primary School£8,178
#15Our Lady's RC Primary School Manchester£8,151
#16St Brigid's RC Primary School£8,119
#17Newall Green Primary School£8,072
#18All Saints Primary School£8,064
#19Baguley Hall Primary School£8,059
#20Rushbrook Primary Academy£8,015
#21Lily Lane Primary School£8,010
#22Chorlton CofE Primary School£7,945
#23Crowcroft Park Primary School£7,945
#24Crosslee Community Primary School£7,933
#25Claremont Primary School£7,881
#26St Willibrord's RC Primary School£7,852
#27Bowker Vale Primary School£7,851
#28St Wilfrid's RC Primary School£7,825
#29Plymouth Grove Primary School£7,816
#30Haveley Hey Community School£7,798
#31Higher Openshaw Community School£7,767
#32Ringway Primary School£7,756
#33Ashbury Meadow Primary School£7,724
#34Armitage CofE Primary School£7,721
#35Didsbury CofE Primary School£7,679
#36Button Lane Primary School£7,665
#37Abbott Community Primary School£7,663
#38Holy Trinity CofE Primary School£7,655
#39Cheetwood Primary School£7,650
#40Crossacres Primary Academy£7,642
#41St Mary's CofE Junior and Infant School£7,617
#42Crab Lane Primary School£7,558
#43St Clare's RC Primary School£7,519
#44Rack House Primary School£7,501
#45St James' CofE Primary School, Birch-in-Rusholme£7,494
#46The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School£7,489
#47St Augustine's CofE Primary School£7,470
#48St Andrew's CofE Primary School£7,456
#49Sandilands Primary School£7,454
#50Rolls Crescent Primary School£7,450
#51Charlestown Community Primary School£7,445
#52Christ The King RC Primary School Manchester£7,411
#53Holy Name Roman Catholic Primary School Manchester£7,396
#54Wilbraham Primary School£7,374
#55St Margaret's CofE Primary School£7,365
#56St John's CofE Primary School£7,348
#57CofE School of the Resurrection£7,324
#58Cringle Brook Primary School£7,324
#59Pike Fold Primary School£7,303
#60St Francis RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy£7,297
#61Birchfields Primary School£7,289
#62Moston Fields Primary School£7,288
#63All Saints C of E Primary School£7,278
#64St Wilfrid's CofE Junior and Infant School£7,270
#65Co-op Academy Medlock£7,243
#66Moston Lane Community Primary School£7,233
#67Irk Valley Community School£7,213
#68St Mary's CofE Primary School Moston£7,196
#69St James' CofE Primary School Gorton£7,186
#70St Luke's CofE Primary School£7,180
#71Manchester Communication Primary Academy£7,176
#72Green End Primary School£7,165
#73Ravensbury Community School£7,155
#74Heald Place Primary School£7,154
#75St Peter's Catholic Primary School£7,146
#76The Willows Primary School£7,145
#77St Clement's CofE Primary School£7,140
#78St Chrysostom's CofE Primary School£7,136
#79Abbey Hey Primary Academy£7,132
#80Acacias Community Primary School£7,118
#81St Anne's RC Primary School Crumpsall Manchester£7,118
#82Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Catholic Primary School£7,089
#83St Joseph's RC Primary School Manchester£7,087
#84Sacred Heart RC Primary School£7,030
#85St Kentigern's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£7,010
#86Cravenwood Primary Academy£6,992
#87Manley Park Primary School£6,980
#88Ladybarn Primary School£6,978
#89Varna Community Primary School£6,960
#90St Richard's RC Primary School£6,933
#91Longsight Community Primary£6,928
#92Crumpsall Lane Primary School£6,926
#93Briscoe Lane Academy£6,917
#94Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School£6,909
#95E-ACT Blackley Academy£6,903
#96St Paul's CofE Primary School£6,883
#97Chorlton Park Primary£6,869
#98Oasis Academy Aspinal£6,856
#99Cheetham CofE Community Academy£6,849
#100Mount Carmel RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£6,831
#101Brookburn Community School£6,800
#102Oswald Road Primary School£6,786
#103St Chad's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£6,778
#104Stanley Grove Primary Academy£6,736
#105Mauldeth Road Primary School£6,710
#106St Anthony's Catholic Primary School£6,706
#107Unity Community Primary£6,703
#108St Agnes C of E Primary School£6,689
#109Old Hall Drive Academy£6,672
#110Co-op Academy New Islington£6,667
#111Oasis Academy Temple£6,661
#112New Moston Primary School£6,648
#113Park View Community Primary Academy£6,601
#114Gorton Primary School£6,569
#115Chapel Street Community Primary School£6,545
#116St. Aidan's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£6,518
#117St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School£6,494
#118St Wilfrid's CofE Aided Primary School Northenden£6,470
#119Seymour Road Academy£6,448
#120St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy£6,440
#121Alma Park Primary School£6,310
#122Oasis Academy Harpur Mount£6,278
#123Co-op Academy Broadhurst£6,271
#124Beaver Road Primary School£6,161
#125St Catherine's RC Primary School£5,989
#126West Didsbury CE Primary School£5,718
#127St Edmund's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£3,329
#128St Patrick's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£3,071
#129St Dunstan's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£2,825
#130St Margaret Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy£2,436

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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