The Orchard School
Causeway Green Road, Oldbury, B68 8LDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Orchard School is a special school in Oldbury for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 133 schools in Sandwell. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 15 July 2025, report published 8 September 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
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 15 July 2025
The Orchard School lives by its motto of 'Together we learn'. Staff make pupils feel valued and support them to achieve well. Pupils know that staff want the best for them, and they rise to meet these high aspirations. Many parents and carers describe the school as 'amazing', saying their children now accomplish things they once thought impossible. Staff achieve this by getting to know pupils deeply and giving them a genuine voice. From the start of the school day, there are clear routines that help pupils to settle well. Songs and rhymes permeate the environment, such as the 'let's get ready to work and play' and 'time to finish' songs. This enables pupils to move seamlessly from activity to activity. The school rewards pupils for demonstrating 'awesome attitudes', being 'curious explorers' and 'magnificent movers'. Pupils say that they have many friends in school and that there is always an adult there to help them if needed. The school's provision for pupils' personal development prepares them effectively for the future. This involves both visits outside of school as well as welcoming many visitors into school. For example, pupils enjoy regular visits from a local professional football club.
What the school should improve
- The school has not supported staff in giving pupils opportunities to practise and secure the skills linked to the curriculum and EHC plans, so they can apply these knowledge and skills in different contexts and situations. Consequently, some pupils do not learn and remember the curriculum as well as they could. The school should provide support to staff so they make sure pupils are provided with opportunities to secure curriculum knowledge and skills effectively.
- The school has not ensured that staff implement its agreed communication systems consistently. Some staff do not ensure that pupils are supported with symbols, signing and technology. This slows progress for some pupils. The school should ensure that all staff act on the training provided, so pupils learn and practise their communication skills consistently well.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
173 pupils on roll
Schools near The Orchard School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halesbury School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 2.1 |
| The Westminster School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| The Meadows School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Not published |
| Coombswood Special School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Not published |
| Elm Tree Primary Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Elizabeth Hopewell
- Phone
- 01215697040
- Address
- Causeway Green Road, Oldbury, B68 8LD
- Local authority
- Sandwell
- URN
- 132232
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.