Orion Spires
| Type | Secondary / Academy sponsor led |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Bredlands Lane Sturry Canterbury Kent CT2 0HD |
| Phone | 01227710392 |
| Reference Number | 135305 |
Spires Academy demonstrates a good overall performance, reflecting improvements in various areas of education, behavior, and leadership since the new headteacher's appointment. The school has successfully elevated behavior expectations and established a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and respected. However, there are notable concerns regarding personal development and preparedness for future education and careers, particularly in Years 10 and 11, due to inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum and limited guidance in relationships and sex education.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 667 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 48.43%
Girls: 51.57% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 39.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 11.4% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.8 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 67 | 55 | 122 |
| 8 | 62 | 73 | 135 |
| 9 | 62 | 72 | 134 |
| 10 | 67 | 72 | 139 |
| 11 | 65 | 72 | 137 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 78.1% |
| White, Other | 4.3% |
| African | 4% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.1% |
| Asian, Other | 1.5% |
| Chinese | 1% |
| Indian | 1% |
| Unclassified | 1% |
| White & Black (African) | 1% |
| White & Asian | 0.6% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.4% |
| Caribbean | 0.4% |
| Pakistani | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Requires Improvement |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| Last Report Date | 10 Jan 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 10 Jan 2023 | School inspection: |
| 17 May 2017 | Full inspection: |
| 06 Nov 2015 | Monitoring visit |
| 13 May 2015 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Sep 2013 | Monitoring visit |
| 23 May 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 19 May 2010 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Jul 2009 | Monitoring visit |
Strengths
- Pupils feel safe and respected due to clear behavior expectations.
- Leadership has brought stability and a clear vision to the school.
- Improved behavior has led to a calm and orderly learning environment.
- Tailored support plans for pupils with special educational needs are effectively utilized.
- The curriculum is becoming more ambitious and logical, aiding in knowledge retention.
- Positive changes are rapidly helping pupils catch up in their learning.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in curriculum implementation affect student learning outcomes.
- Attendance rates have not yet reached desired levels, risking educational progress.
- The personal development curriculum lacks full implementation, leaving gaps in important life skills education.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 36.1 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 21.6% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 43.3% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
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
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Sample
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 58 | 10 |
| Third Preference | 64 | 8 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Water Meadows Primary School
Shaftesbury Road, Hersden, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4HS |
0.5 miles |
|
Sturry Church of England Primary School
Park View, Sturry, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 0NR |
1.03 miles |
|
Hoath Primary School
School Lane, Hoath, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4LA |
1.71 miles |
|
Chislet Church of England Primary School
Church Lane, Chislet, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 4DU |
2.34 miles |
|
Parkside Community Foundation Primary School
Tennyson Avenue, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1EP |
2.48 miles |
|
Wickhambreaux Church of England Primary School
The Street, Wickhambreaux, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1RN |
2.55 miles |
|
Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School
Palmer Close, Herne, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7AH |
2.6 miles |
|
Littlebourne Church of England Primary School
Church Road, Littlebourne, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1XS |
2.65 miles |
|
Herne Church of England Junior School
School Lane, Herne, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7AL |
2.67 miles |
|
St Stephen's Junior School
Hales Drive, St Stephens, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7AD |
3.28 miles |
|
St Stephen's Infant School
Hales Drive, St Stephen's, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7AB |
3.31 miles |
|
St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury
99 Military Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1NE |
3.44 miles |
|
St Johns Church of England Primary School
St John's Place, Northgate, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1BD |
3.47 miles |
|
Preston Primary School
Mill Lane, Preston, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 1HB |
3.54 miles |
|
Pilgrims' Way Primary School
Pilgrims Way, Canterbury, CT1 1XU |
3.59 miles |
|
Thornden Wood Primary School
Greenhill Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7RS |
3.68 miles |
|
St Peter's Methodist Primary School
St Peter's Grove, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2DH |
3.84 miles |
|
Herne Bay Infant School
Stanley Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5SH |
3.9 miles |
|
Herne Bay Junior School
Kings Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5DA |
3.93 miles |
|
Reculver Church of England Primary School
Hillborough, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 6TA |
3.97 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Junior King's School
Milner Court, Canterbury, CT2 0AY |
1.54 miles |
|
Barton Manor School
Spring Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1SU |
3.43 miles |
|
The Archbishop's School
St Stephens Hill, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7AP |
3.46 miles |
|
Barton Court Grammar School
Longport, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1PH |
3.51 miles |
|
The King's School Canterbury
25 The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2ES |
3.53 miles |
|
Herne Bay High School
Bullockstone Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 7NS |
3.7 miles |
|
Newingate School
48 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3DT |
3.76 miles |
|
The Worthgate School
68 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3LQ |
3.81 miles |
|
Fairlight Glen Independent Special School
Verona House, 45 Station Road, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5QQ |
3.9 miles |
|
Haven Nook
73-75 Castle Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2QD |
3.91 miles |
|
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3EW |
4 miles |
|
St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury
Old Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3EN |
4.05 miles |
|
St Edmund's School Canterbury
St Thomas Hill, Canterbury, CT2 8HU |
4.1 miles |
|
St Nicholas' School
Holm Oak Close, Nunnery Fields, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3JJ |
4.17 miles |
|
Kent College (Canterbury)
Whitstable Road, Canterbury, CT2 9DT |
4.23 miles |
|
Kent College International Study Centre
Whitstable Road, Canterbury, CT2 9DT |
4.23 miles |
|
The Orchard School
Cambridge Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3QQ |
4.24 miles |
|
The Canterbury Academy
Knight Avenue, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8QA |
4.37 miles |
|
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Langton Lane, Nackington Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7AS |
4.52 miles |