Orchards Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 March 2025

The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils follow clear systems and routines. This ensures a calm, orderly environment, free from disruption. Support from staff helps pupils to feel comfortable and safe at school. For instance, 'ACE' tutors help pupils to be organised and well prepared for learning. Pupils are polite and courteous. They recognise the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. Bullying is not commonplace. When it does happen, pupils know who to tell and staff take action which typically stops it. The school is ambitious for pupils' outcomes. The comprehensive careers programme ensures that pupils have the information they need to make secure plans for their next steps. Many pupils learn the curriculum well and gain the qualifications they need to progress to destinations that meet their aspirations. Pupils benefit from experiences that develop their understanding of life beyond their local area. For instance, the school provides pupils with visits to the coast, galleries, museums and central London. These encounters broaden pupils' experience and develop their confidence. There is an active school council, which helps to develop pupils' leadership qualities, such as taking responsibility for food bank donations and improving the food on offer at the school.

What the school should improve

• At times, the information supplied by the school to support staff in meeting pupils' special educational needs lacks precision. This is especially the case when pupils do not have an EHC plan. As a result, the support provided to pupils does not always help these pupils learn well across the curriculum. The school should ensure staff have the information required to help them meet pupils' needs more effectively.
• In a small number of areas of the curriculum, further improvements are needed to help pupils achieve well. For instance, this includes identifying all of the content pupils need to learn in religious education at key stage 4, and within the help for pupils who need additional support with their writing. As a result, some pupils do not always have the knowledge and skills they need. The school should continue to make the necessary improvements to the identified areas to ensure pupils learn well across the curriculum.

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