The Orchard School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Since the previous inspection, senior leaders have raised the quality of teaching and assessment to improve pupils' progress. The impact of this work is now evident across the core subjects.

Leadership of the early years is also highly effective. The governing body is extremely diligent and provides school leaders with significant challenge and yet also recognises the importance of the school's vision. Governors are drawn from the wider school community and have a great understanding of the local context.

This has contributed greatly to the rise in standards over recent years. Staff provide pupils with a balance of excellent care ...and guidance and academic challenge. Working relationships are excellent, helping pupils to overcome difficulties.

This prepares them very well for secondary school. Pupils in all year groups make outstanding progress. Leaders make effective use of monitoring records to create small-group and individual teaching sessions that quickly address any underachievement.

Teaching is outstanding and provides exactly the right amount of challenge because of teachers' insightful knowledge of their pupils. Teaching develops pupils' skills strongly in reading, writing and mathematics, as well as in other subjects, including art, physical education (PE) and science. It is less developed in geography and history.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do well because care is taken to plan work that meets their individual needs. Pupils show great respect, tolerance and kindness towards others. They are very well behaved and willing to work hard.

Leaders ensure that pupils are very well cared for and make excellent provision for their personal development. In the early years, the outstanding provision in the Reception class means that children make excellent progress and are very well prepared for Year 1. School leaders have worked effectively with parents and carers to help improve pupils' attendance, which is now broadly average or better.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than most primary schools. The proportion of pupils with SEND is average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is well above average.

The majority of pupils speak English as an additional language. Pupils come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. The largest group of children is from Black or Black British African backgrounds, with children from mixed backgrounds forming the next sizeable ethnic group.