Birches Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Birches Primary School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 November 2024, 20 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: Clonmakate Road, Clonmakate, Portadown, BT62 1LR
How it compares in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
That puts Birches Primary School among the 1,451 places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon holding top marks, 83% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,451 | 83% | ← Birches Primary School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 211 | 12% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 64 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 4 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 145 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Birches Primary School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Birches Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Drop Retailers - other | 424 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 December 2022 |
| Peatlands Playgroup Ltd Caring Premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 February 2022 |
| Back Yard Bears Caring Premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 May 2025 |
| Rodina Retailers - other | 0.8 miles away | 4 - Good | 29 January 2025 |
| Ithiel Farm Other catering premises | 0.8 miles away | 5 - Very good | 9 October 2023 |
| Pin Box Farm Manufacturers/packers | 0.9 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 November 2024 |
Questions about Birches Primary School
What is Birches Primary School's food hygiene rating?
Birches Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council on 7 November 2024.
Is Birches Primary School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Birches Primary School last inspected?
Birches Primary School was last inspected on 7 November 2024, 20 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Birches Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Birches Primary School compare to other places in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon?
83% of the 1,738 rated food businesses in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon hold the top rating of 5, and Birches Primary School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council inspects Birches Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Birches Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Birches Primary School is one of 871 rated food businesses in Armagh. See every hygiene rating in Armagh →
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon inspects and rates 1,883 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →