Apple Orchard School
Apple Orchard School, Five Oaks Road, Slinfold, Horsham, RH13 0RQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Apple Orchard School is a special school in Horsham for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 332 schools in West Sussex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 16 September 2025, report published 6 October 2025
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 16 September 2025
Apple Orchard is a happy school where relationships matter. Pupils feel safe here. They are proud of the school, their work and the progress they make. Staff are ambitious for pupils when it comes to learning and behaviour. Pupils know this and appreciate the help that staff give them. The behaviour of pupils is good. School, home and therapy teams work in close partnership. This means that every pupil receives timely and effective support. Building pupils' confidence and self- esteem is central to everything the school does. Pupils happily play an active role in school life. Several pupils are part of the school council, which is led by a dedicated head boy. This group is responsible for making key decisions about the school. Pupils are keen to get into school each morning. They arrive ready to learn. Staff are determined for them to succeed. As a result, pupils make good progress through the curriculum. Pupils receive an exceptional personal development programme. This has a life- changing impact on pupils and their future pathways. Pupils develop trusting relationships and thrive here. They leave the school with a much brighter future ahead of them.
What the school should improve
- In some subjects, the precise knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn are unclear. Sometimes, the focus is on preparing for exams rather than providing pupils with the knowledge and skills they need later in life. This means that the lesson content is not precisely matched to the learning intentions. The school should ensure that the curriculum in every subject clearly sets out what pupils need to learn at each stage.
- There are some inconsistencies in how well the curriculum is taught. For example, not all staff use questioning effectively to check on pupils' understanding. As a result, in some subjects, pupils develop gaps in learning and do not make as much progress through the curriculum as they could. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to deliver the curriculum more consistently.
Pupil numbers and mix
15 pupils on roll, with places for 26
Schools near Apple Orchard School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingfield Manor School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Muntham House School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 18.1 |
| Manor House School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| New Barn School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 7.7 |
| Aurora Vincent House School | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Admissions
- Selective
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Keightley
- Phone
- 01403783416
- Address
- Apple Orchard School, Five Oaks Road, Slinfold, Horsham, RH13 0RQ
- Local authority
- West Sussex
- URN
- 132069
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.