Ofsted: Good

The Orchard School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Annabel Lilley

corporate_fareKent Special Educational Needs Trust (KSENT)

location_onCanterbury, CT1 3QQ

language Visit Website phone 1227769220

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2016

groups

Students

105

trending_up

Attainment 8

6.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#134 in Kent

#4,170 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

The Orchard School is a Foundation special school school in Canterbury, serving ages 7-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

The Orchard School is a foundation special school in Canterbury, Kent, admitting pupils aged 7-16. It is part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (KSENT). The school has approximately 110 pupils on roll, of whom 77% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.6, placing the school #134 in Kent and #4,170 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2016. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 5.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 52.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

6.6

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.67

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.47

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

6.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.59

2023

Progress 8 Score

-1.61

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

4.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.30

2022

Progress 8 Score

-2.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

4.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.46

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-2.03

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

-1.92

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

4.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.3

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

69%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)54%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment15%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

79%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)21%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

79%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

82%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)18%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

74%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)68%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)21%

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading0% LA 74%

Writing0% LA 72%

Maths0% LA 70%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading0% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 60%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-13.0

Read

LA -0.4

-17.1 to -8.9

-12.9

Write

LA -0.2

-16.8 to -8.9

-13.9

Maths

LA -1.2

-17.8 to -10.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 67%England 65%

Reading0% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-14.7

Read

LA 0.0

-18.9 to -10.4

-15.7

Write

LA 0.1

-19.7 to -11.8

-12.7

Maths

LA -0.6

-16.4 to -9.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%

Reading0% LA 76%

Writing0% LA 80%

Maths0% LA 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.0

-2.7

Write

LA 0.4

-6.7 to 1.3

Maths

LA -0.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

06 October 2021

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

12 July 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

20 January 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

10 October 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

05 March 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

30 September 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

29 April 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2007

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

20 May 2002

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2016-07-12

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-10-10

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

40.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

25.5%(28 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 110 pupils. During this period, there were 45 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 40.9%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	110	45	40.9%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	111	71	64.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	103	23	22.3%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	104	11	10.6%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	101	36	35.6%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	105	20	19.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	105	17	16.2%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	103	9	8.7%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	108	6	5.6%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	107	6	5.6%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	107	11	10.3%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	98	17	17.3%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	97	3	3.1%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	97	6	6.2%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	100	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	100	13	13.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	101	12	11.9%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	100	5	5.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	96	10	10.4%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	90	8	8.9%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	86	5	5.8%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	86	4	4.7%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	79	10	12.7%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	83	8	9.6%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	77	18	23.4%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	71	50	70.4%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 60 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 41 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

The Orchard School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover