Orchard Primary School

Strengths

• Most pupils achieve well by the end of Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics.
• Pupils with SEND are well supported and included across all aspects of school life.
• Pupils behave well, are polite and respectful, and disruptions to lessons are rare.
• Attendance is good and improving, with pupils feeling a strong sense of belonging.
• The curriculum is broad, balanced and ambitious, and knowledge is built over time.
• Early reading and phonics teaching is strong, helping pupils gain secure foundational knowledge.
• Teachers use assessment effectively to adapt teaching and help pupils catch up.
• The early years provides a calm, nurturing environment with clear routines.
• Leaders and governors are ambitious, know the school well and monitor progress closely.
• Personal development and wellbeing support are highly effective, with pupils feeling safe and valued.
• Pupils enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities, visits and leadership opportunities.
• Positive relationships with families and a strong safeguarding culture support pupils' learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Some younger pupils do not receive targeted support quickly enough, so gaps and misconceptions can persist.
• Writing across the curriculum is inconsistent and not always of high quality.
• Early years teaching is sometimes not well matched to children's prior learning and development needs.
• Staff-child interactions in the early years are not always purposefully focused on extending language.
• Early years improvements are appropriate but not yet firmly embedded.
• Recent gains in attendance need to be sustained over time.
• Published outcomes for disadvantaged pupils are below national averages in reading, writing and mathematics.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools