The Orchard School
Foundation special school · Ages 7–16 · Canterbury, Kent
The Orchard School is a special school in Canterbury, Kent for ages 7–16.
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Key facts
- Address
- Cambridge Road, Canterbury, CT1 3QQ
- Type
- Foundation special school
- Ages
- 7–16
- Council
- Kent
- Pupils on roll
- 119 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 73.1% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 5.1
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 3 February 2026
Strengths
- “The school works hard to re-engage pupils with learning.”
- “Staff at The Orchard School give them the support and care they need to regulate their emotions and be ready for learning.”
- “Pupils also benefit from the varied offer beyond the classroom, such as the wide range of sporting activities.”
To improve
- “However, staff do not always apply these expectations consistently well.”
- “This means that some pupils do not always behave as well as they could.”
- “However, the routines for transitions to lessons are not well embedded enough.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 27 April 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 0% | 62% |
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 0% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 6.6 | 46 |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What a pass unlocks for The Orchard School
- Earlier exam results, 2022/23 to 2023/24
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices and rents, broadband and transport around the school
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Nearby special, independent and other schools
Straight-line distance, in Kent.
- St Nicholas' School 0.1 mi School remains Good
- Haven Nook 0.5 mi No Ofsted grade
- Newingate School 0.6 mi No Ofsted grade
- The Worthgate School 0.7 mi No Ofsted grade
- The King's School Canterbury 0.8 mi No Ofsted grade
- Hawthorn 1.1 mi No Ofsted grade
- Kent College Nursery, Infant and Junior School 1.7 mi No Ofsted grade
- St Edmund's School Canterbury 1.7 mi No Ofsted grade