Orchard Manor School

Orchard Manor School has made significant strides since its last inspection, achieving a 'Good' overall effectiveness rating. The school has established a nurturing environment where pupils with a wide range of special educational needs thrive. The leadership is committed to maintaining high expectations for both academic and personal development, resulting in a positive learning atmosphere marked by strong relationships among staff and students. The school's ambitious curriculum is complemented by rich opportunities for personal growth, helping pupils prepare for future aspirations despite previous organizational changes.

Strengths

• Outstanding behaviour and attitudes among pupils
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• Effective support for students' personal development
• Well-embedded and rigorous approach to behaviour management
• Ambitious and well-considered curriculum in most subjects
• Effective post-16 provision with vocational and life skills curriculum

Areas for Improvement

• Underdevelopment in some subjects of the wider curriculum
• Need to refine the approach to increasing pupils' autonomy in learning

In 2024–25 pupils at Orchard Manor School attended 90.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.6% 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, 4.1% of pupils at Orchard Manor 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 Orchard Manor School had 6.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.9% 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 Orchard Manor School had 227 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: 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 Orchard Manor School received £36,986 and spent £34,653 for each of its 219 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £443,000 (£2,023 per pupil).

Across all 7 schools of Special Partnership Trust, income was £31,284 and spending £31,030 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 Dawlish · Devon local authority: places and applications

Orchard Manor School is part of Special Partnership Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Mill Water School Budleigh Salterton
• Brunel School Paignton
• Castlebridge School Tavistock
• The Lampard Community School Barnstaple
• Bosvena School Bodmin
• Doubletrees School Par
• Pencalenick School Truro
• Curnow School Redruth
• Nancealverne School Penzance

What is Orchard Manor School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Orchard Manor School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Orchard Manor School last inspected by Ofsted?

Orchard Manor School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Orchard Manor School have?

Orchard Manor School has 227 pupils on roll.

What age range does Orchard Manor School cover?

Orchard Manor School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are Orchard Manor School's GCSE results?

In 2023 its average Attainment 8 score was 8.5, and 7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

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

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

Where is Orchard Manor School?

Orchard Manor School is at John Nash Drive, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 9SF.