Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #84 in Kent public Top 42% UK

Orion Spires

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

personMrs Anna Burden

corporate_fareEDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

location_onCanterbury, CT2 0HD

language Visit Website phone 1227710392

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

690

trending_up

Attainment 8

36.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#82 in Kent

#2,949 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Orion Spires is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Canterbury, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Orion Spires is an academy sponsor led in Canterbury, Kent, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. The school has approximately 667 pupils on roll, of whom 41% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 36.1, placing the school #82 in Kent and #2,949 of 3,216 nationally. 21.60% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.5 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

36.1

Grade 5+ E&M

21.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.0%

Entering EBacc10.40%

EBacc APS3.03

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc15.10%

EBacc APS2.95

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.93

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS2.80

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.95

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

34.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS2.73

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.6

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS2.83

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.3

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

35.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS2.91

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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

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

85%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)10%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

82%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 January 2023

Inspection Report

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17 May 2017

Inspection Report

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06 November 2015

Inspection Report

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13 May 2015

Inspection Report

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10 September 2013

Inspection Report

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23 May 2013

Inspection Report

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19 May 2010

Inspection Report

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07 July 2009

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-01-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Good

2017-05-17

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-11-06

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-05-13

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

7.2%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.1%(34 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 667 pupils. During this period, there were 48 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.2%, which is below 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)	667	48	7.2%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	672	106	15.8%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	721	122	16.9%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	726	141	19.4%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	733	220	30.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	703	149	21.2%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	690	188	27.2%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	695	225	32.4%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	670	82	12.2%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	679	74	10.9%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	683	71	10.4%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	682	57	8.4%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	682	12	1.8%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	679	39	5.7%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	648	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	648	15	2.3%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	655	25	3.8%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	608	23	3.8%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	599	26	4.3%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	595	27	4.5%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	582	50	8.6%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	582	40	6.9%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	578	41	7.1%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	599	21	3.5%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	606	22	3.6%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	609	16	2.6%	3.1%

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

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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 42 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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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.

73.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

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

25.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree9%

agree59%

disagree16%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree6%

agree35%

disagree35%

strongly disagree21%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree31%

agree20%

disagree20%

strongly disagree10%

not applicable20%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree12%

agree32%

disagree32%

strongly disagree16%

dont know8%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree20%

agree46%

disagree16%

strongly disagree9%

don't know10%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree20%

agree44%

disagree16%

strongly disagree12%

don't know7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree15%

agree46%

disagree23%

strongly disagree15%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree19%

agree62%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree43%

agree49%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree15%

agree43%

disagree22%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes68%

no32%

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Dartford Grammar School

Outstanding

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The Judd School

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Tonbridge Grammar School

Outstanding

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Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Outstanding

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Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9UJ

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Invicta Grammar School

Outstanding

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View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

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

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Kent

Dartford Grammar School

The Judd School

Tonbridge Grammar School

Dartford Grammar School for Girls

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School

Invicta Grammar School