Orion Academy

Orion Academy, recently inspected for the first time, is on a journey of improvement, though still requires enhancement in several areas. The school has created a supportive environment where pupils feel safe and valued, successfully addressing prior concerns around behavior and site safety. However, issues persist with curriculum effectiveness and attendance, with leaders needing to better define and implement a cohesive curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). While personal development is a strength, the school must establish robust strategies to improve attendance and ensure consistent learning outcomes across subjects.

Strengths

• Strong support for pupils' social and emotional needs
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils
• Effective management of behavior with minimal disruption
• High-quality early reading curriculum
• Engaging personal development activities and experiences

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum implementation leading to gaps in learning
• Insufficiently defined curriculum objectives for mixed-age and mixed-ability classes
• Low pupil attendance impacting educational opportunities
• Governance lacking rigorous evaluation of school priorities

In 2024–25 pupils at Orion Academy attended 68.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 61.3% 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, 25.7% of pupils at Orion Academy 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 Orion Academy had 6.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.5% 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 Orion Academy had 74 pupils, 98.6% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate 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 2024–25 Orion Academy received £41,686 and spent £41,973 for each of its 74 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £309,000 (£4,178 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of The Gallery Trust, income was £32,565 and spending £30,704 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Oxford · Oxfordshire local authority: places and applications

Orion Academy is part of The Gallery Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Mabel Prichard School Oxford
• The Iffley Academy Oxford
• Northern House Academy Oxford
• Springfield School Witney
• Bardwell School Bicester
• Bloxham Grove Academy Banbury

What is Orion Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Orion Academy is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Orion Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Orion Academy was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Orion Academy have?

Orion Academy has 74 pupils on roll.

What age range does Orion Academy cover?

Orion Academy for pupils aged 10 to 18.

What are Orion Academy's GCSE results?

In 2023 its average Attainment 8 score was 9.7, and 17% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Orion Academy?

Orion Academy is at Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 6DQ.