Orchards Academy

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 18

Ofsted judgements: Good

St Mary's Road, Swanley, BR8 7TEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Orchards Academy is a secondary school in Swanley for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. It ranks 55th of 99 secondary schools in Kent. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 11 March 2025, report published 28 April 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

88 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score41.3

41.3, 4.8 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%

33%, 12.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths62.5%

62.5%, 2.3 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.29

3.29, 0.8 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

554 pupils on roll, with places for 828

Eligible for free school meals42.8%

42.8%, 16.3 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language9.2%

9.2%, 12.4 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support20%

20%, 5.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.8%

3.8%, 2.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Orchards Academy

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Leigh Academy Wilmington	2 miles	Ofsted: Outstanding	Attainment 8: 45.4
Wilmington Grammar School for Boys	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 64.6
Wilmington Grammar School for Girls	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 66.7
Harris Academy Orpington	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 42.7
Kemnal Technology College	3 miles	Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement	Attainment 8: 29.3

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: THE KEMNAL ACADEMIES TRUST
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mrs Hannah Carter
Phone: 01322665231
Website: orchards-tkat.org (opens in a new tab)
Address: St Mary's Road, Swanley, BR8 7TE
Local authority: Kent
URN: 136304

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.