The Orchard School
| Type | Special School / Foundation special school |
| Age Range | 7-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Cambridge Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3QQ |
| Phone | 01227769220 |
| Reference Number | 119058 |
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.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 110 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 89.09%
Girls: 10.91% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 73.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 0% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7 | Unknown | 7 |
| 4 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | 9 | Unknown | 9 |
| 6 | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 7 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| 8 | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| 9 | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| 10 | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| 11 | 11 | 2 | 13 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 91.8% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.8% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.8% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.8% |
| White, Other | 0.9% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Needs attention |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Expected standard |
| > Achievement | Needs attention |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Needs attention |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Needs attention |
| Last Report Date | 03 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2026 | School inspection |
| 06 Oct 2021 | School inspection |
| 12 Jul 2016 | Full inspection |
| 20 Jan 2014 | Monitoring visit |
| 10 Oct 2013 | Full inspection |
| 05 Mar 2012 | Full inspection |
| 30 Sep 2008 | Full inspection |
| 29 Apr 2008 | Monitoring visit |
| 04 Jul 2007 | Full inspection |
| 20 May 2002 | Full inspection |
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
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 0% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 0% |
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Sample
UnlockHow many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 0% | ||
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 0% |
Progress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | -13 | ||
| Writing | -12.9 | ||
| Maths | -13.9 |
How many students meet the standards
Sample
UnlockProgress Scores
A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.
Sample
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