The Orchards School

Overview

The Orchards School is described as a "friendly and inclusive" environment where pupils are "happy and feel safe" due to "nurturing and caring" staff. The report highlights a positive culture change since joining The Black Pear Trust, noting that the school "has got its heart and soul back" and that most pupils, including those with special educational needs, achieve well.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "well planned and sequenced," with staff carefully selecting key knowledge and vocabulary to ensure pupils "gain the knowledge that they need for future learning."
• Staff provide effective support for reading, including "Reading Rockets" and well-matched books, while those struggling with phonics are "supported well to catch up."
• Behaviour management is effective, creating a "calm and orderly learning environment" where pupils "respond calmly to adult instructions" and take responsibility for their own regulation.
• Pupils demonstrate strong personal development, showing a "strong sense of treating others equally" and actively supporting the local community.
• Early years provision is strong, with children settling quickly and adults effectively developing their communication skills.

Areas to improve

• In a minority of foundation subjects, learning is not developed in "logical steps," meaning pupils’ understanding is "less secure"; the school must ensure learning "consistently builds on what they already know."
• "Too many disadvantaged pupils are persistently absent," causing them to miss vital lessons and fall behind; the school must "refine and extend its strategic work to improve pupils’ attendance."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."