Ofsted: Requires improvement

The Orchard School

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

personMrs Elizabeth Hopewell

location_onOldbury, B68 8LD

language Visit Website phone 1215697040

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

147

school

Expected Standard

cake

Age Range

2-11

summarize

The Orchard School is a Community special school school in Oldbury, serving ages 2-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

The Orchard School is a community special school in Oldbury, Sandwell, admitting pupils aged 2-11. The school has approximately 151 pupils on roll, of whom 54% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 7.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%

Reading0% LA 73%

Writing0% LA 70%

Maths0% LA 72%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 61%

Reading0% LA 71% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 69% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%England 60%

Reading0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths0% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.1

Read

LA -0.4

-7.5 to -2.8

-4.8

Write

LA -0.3

-7.1 to -2.6

-5.4

Maths

LA -0.1

-7.6 to -3.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%England 65%

Reading0% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 78% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA 0.3

-5.6 to 0.4

-2.6

Write

LA 0.5

-5.4 to 0.1

-2.1

Maths

LA 0.5

-4.7 to 0.5

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%

Reading0% LA 71%

Writing0% LA 75%

Maths0% LA 72%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.4

Read

LA -0.3

-6.4 to -0.4

-3.2

Write

LA 0.1

-6.1 to -0.3

-1.6

Maths

LA 0.1

-4.3 to 1.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

15 July 2025

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

13 December 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

29 September 2020

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

11 June 2014

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

17 January 2011

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

18 September 2007

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

12 May 2003

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-07-15

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-12-13

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-07-04

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-06-11

S5 Inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-01-17

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 151 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	151	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	149	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	146	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	146	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	143	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	147	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	147	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	140	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	146	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	145	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	147	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	147	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	144	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	146	0.0%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	147	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	147	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	147	0.0%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	149	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	148	0.0%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	148	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	146	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	145	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	144	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	145	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	145	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	145	0.0%	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.

Severe Learning Difficulty 101 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 50 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

10.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree43%

agree50%

don't know7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree50%

agree40%

disagree10%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree37%

agree30%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

not applicable23%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree63%

agree30%

disagree3%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree43%

disagree10%

don't know13%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree53%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree53%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree7%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree37%

disagree3%

don't know7%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree23%

agree27%

disagree23%

strongly disagree7%

don't know20%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree47%

agree37%

don't know17%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

The Orchard School

School Summary

Academic Performance

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)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover