Orchard Primary School

Orchard Primary School is performing strongly across all areas. Inspectors found that pupils achieve highly in reading, writing and mathematics, with outcomes above national averages, and disadvantaged pupils outperform non-disadvantaged pupils nationally. Attendance is strong, behaviour is excellent, and classrooms are calm and focused. The curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced from Nursery to Year 6, teaching is effective, and early years provision gives children a strong start, including those with lower starting points. The school is inclusive and supports disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities well. Leadership and governance are strong, staff feel well supported, and the rich personal development offer, including enrichment and community activities, prepares pupils well for life beyond school. Safeguarding standards are met. The school is part of The Viridis Federation and serves a community with high levels of disadvantage and free school meals; these contextual challenges are handled well. Leaders report considerable improvement since the last inspection. No significant weaknesses were identified in the report. The next step is for leaders and governors to sustain effectiveness and continue improving for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve highly in reading, writing and mathematics, with above-average national outcomes.
• Disadvantaged pupils outperform non-disadvantaged pupils nationally.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils develop secure knowledge and progress well from their starting points.
• Attendance is strong, supported by rigorous procedures and effective work with parents.
• Pupils behave very well, classrooms are calm, disruption is rare, and bullying is not tolerated.
• The curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced across all subjects from Nursery to Year 6.
• Teachers are well trained, assess skilfully and address misconceptions in the moment.
• Early years provision is highly engaging and builds strong foundations in reading, phonics, writing and number.
• The school is inclusive, identifies needs quickly and provides effective support, including for pupils with the highest levels of need.
• The strong pastoral offer particularly benefits disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Leaders and governors have an insightful understanding of the school, clear systems and fulfil their statutory duties.
• Staff are positive, well supported and report considerable improvement since the last inspection.
• The personal development offer is rich, well considered and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.
• Enrichment includes trips, cycling, gardening and community activities that deepen learning.
• Safeguarding standards are met through an open and positive culture.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Orchard Primary School attended 94.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.2% of pupils at Orchard Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Orchard Primary School had 16.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.8% of pupils at Orchard Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Orchard Primary School received £10,638 and spent £9,819 for each of its 1,186 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,983,000 (£1,672 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). This school files a single return with the other schools in its federation, so the figures are for the whole federation.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Orchard Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Orchard Primary School is Strong standard, from an inspection in January 2026.

When was Orchard Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Orchard Primary School was last inspected in January 2026.

How many pupils does Orchard Primary School have?

Orchard Primary School has 518 pupils on roll.

What age range does Orchard Primary School cover?

Orchard Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Orchard Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Orchard Primary School?

Orchard Primary School is at Holcroft Road, Hackney, London, E9 7BB.