Orion Spires
Canterbury, CT2 0HD · Kent · secondary school
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75th of 99 secondary schools in Kent we can score, 103 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 1.8/10 against 463 of them, against 1.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 31.1 · 17 | 30% | 0.51 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.12 · 2 | 25% | 0.04 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.2 · 16 | 10% | 0.16 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Orion Spires overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 21.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 36.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.12 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join chess and library-based activities, play football, golf, gymnastics, or equestrian, and participate in dance and choir. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 620 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores? How does the after-school club integrate with the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Orion Spires
Overview
Spires Academy is judged as ‘Good’ overall, with new leadership having rapidly established a ‘clear vision and stability’ following previous changes. The report highlights significant improvements in behaviour and the quality of education, noting that pupils feel safe and lessons are ‘calm and orderly’. However, personal development ‘Requires improvement’, particularly regarding the consistency of the curriculum and preparation for future careers.
Strengths
- Leaders have created a ‘strong culture of safeguarding’ where staff are trained to identify risks and take ‘swift action’ to keep pupils safe.
- Behaviour has ‘very much improved’, with staff effectively resolving low-level disruption and supporting pupils who struggle with rules.
- The curriculum is now ‘much more ambitious’, with knowledge ordered logically to help pupils ‘connect ideas together’ and close gaps in learning.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is strengthened, with ‘tailored support plans’ used well to adapt learning.
- Staff feel ‘well supported by leaders’ and the multi-academy trust, which regularly checks that positive change is being implemented.
Areas to improve
- The curriculum is not yet ‘consistently implemented’ by all teachers, leading to variability in how well pupils build on prior learning.
- Attendance remains an issue, as ‘not all pupils attend school as regularly as they should’, risking them falling behind.
- The personal development curriculum is ‘not yet fully implemented’, leaving some pupils lacking confidence in careers and understanding of relationships and sex education.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with a strong culture established and detailed records illustrating the swift action leaders take to keep pupils safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.0 |
| 2024/25 | 36.1 |
| 2025/26 | 39.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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