The Orchard School

The Orchard School is currently undergoing improvements with new leadership aiming to stabilize the institution after a period of upheaval. While safeguarding standards are met and leaders are making efforts to enhance the educational experience, there are significant concerns regarding pupil achievement and attendance. Many students arrive with considerable gaps in foundational knowledge which hinder their progress, and attendance has declined, affecting educational continuity for several pupils. The school recognizes these challenges and is implementing strategies to address them.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe
• Varied curriculum extending beyond the classroom
• Opportunities for pupils to develop resilience and independence through trips
• Effective strategies to support pupils with emotional needs
• Positive relationships fostered between staff and pupils

Areas for Improvement

• Too many pupils not achieving as well as they should
• Declining attendance rates impacting education
• Inconsistent application of behavior expectations
• Lack of precision in leaders' understanding of teaching quality

In 2024–25 pupils at The Orchard School attended 73.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 58.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 40.0% of pupils at The Orchard School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 The Orchard School had 5.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 The Orchard School had 119 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Orchard School received £29,381 and spent £31,439 for each of its 119 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £211,000 (£1,776 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Canterbury · Kent local authority: places and applications

The Orchard School is part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (Ksent), which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• The Beacon Folkestone Folkestone
• Elms School Dover
• Laleham Gap School Ramsgate
• Foreland Fields School Ramsgate
• St Anthony's School Margate
• Stone Bay School Broadstairs
• Five Acre Wood School Maidstone
• Ifield School Gravesend
• Nexus Foundation Special School Tonbridge
• Broomhill Bank School Tunbridge Wells

What is The Orchard School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Orchard School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was The Orchard School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Orchard School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does The Orchard School have?

The Orchard School has 119 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Orchard School cover?

The Orchard School for pupils aged 7 to 16.

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

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Orchard School?

The Orchard School is at Cambridge Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3QQ.