Orchard Junior School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 May 2026

Pupils thrive in this close and caring community. They build friendships with each other and develop trusting relationships with staff. Pupils feel welcome. Staff recognise and celebrate pupils’ effort and success. Pupils feel safe in school. They know adults will listen to them and help them, and share any worries with confidence if they need to. Quiet spaces, morning toast and warm conversations support pupils at the start of the day. Pupils treat each other with kindness and respect. They trust staff to deal with any problems quickly and fairly, including any concerns about bullying or prejudice. Pupils value difference and include others. The inclusive culture helps pupils feel secure, confident and ready to learn. Pupils thrive socially and personally. They behave well and show care for others. They move calmly around school and work well together. Clear expectations help pupils understand how to behave and why it matters. Pupils enjoy coming to school and relish supporting each other, celebrating shared success. This team spirit is evident in the school's sporting successes and across the wider life of the school. Pupils find positive role models in their peers. This helps them grow in confidence and develop self-belief. They feel supported to be themselves and to try new things. As a result, pupils are happy, settled and show resilience in their learning. Pupils achieve well. They show positive attitudes to learning and enjoy lessons. They listen carefully, talk confidently and write clearly. Staff support pupils to work hard and do their best. Pupils try again when learning feels difficult. They do not fear making mistakes. By the end of Year 6, pupils feel ready for the next stage of education. The impact of the school’s work extends beyond test results. Pupils leave with confidence, ambition and an enduring love of learning.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that pupils continue to develop their mathematical accuracy and fluency, particularly in multiplication.
• Leaders should continue to develop the implementation of the curriculum. This includes ensuring that teaching is consistently of a high standard, pupil knowledge is checked systematically and informs adaptations to the curriculum across all subjects.
• Leaders should ensure that pupils continue to develop a detailed and secure understanding of all aspects of the personal, social and health education curriculum.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)