Orchard Junior School, Southampton

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Orchard Junior School on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders track attendance closely and accurately."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils read fluently, write clearly and apply mathematic skills confidently by the end of Year 6."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and balanced curriculum, which is ambitious and inclusive."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school places inclusion at the centre of its work."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff share a relationship of professional trust and care."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school runs an effective pastoral support programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils continue to develop their mathematical accuracy and fluency, particularly in multiplication"; "Leaders should continue to develop the implementation of the curriculum. This includes ensuring that teaching is consistently of a high standard, pupil knowledge is checked systematically and informs adaptations to the curriculum across all subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils continue to develop a detailed and secure understanding of all aspects of the personal, social and health education curriculum".

In its own words: "Our vision is for Orchard Junior School to be a safe, caring school where we all take pride in ourselves, our learning, our achievements, our community and our environment; carrying this forward into our future. Our key values and skills we want our children to learn are embedded within our curriculum and are built up on acronym of ORCHARD."

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the children, staff and governors I would like to welcome you to Orchard Junior School ... a place where children really do enjoy learning. At Orchard our children thrive in a happy, safe and supportive learning environment."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, athletics, basketball, badminton, cross-country, choir, ukulele, Lego, art and book club.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Orchard Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Hampshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 64% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

Across Hampshire, 93% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Hampshire lodged 254 appeals against primary school offers; 146 reached a hearing and 8 succeeded (5.5% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Orchard Junior School are Orchard Infant School (under 0.1 miles); Wildground Infant School (0.5 miles, Good); Wildground Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 85% reading, 83% maths); and Hythe Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 80% reading, 78% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Orchard Junior School.

4.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Woolston Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Mead (nw-bound), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Orchard Junior School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Orchard Junior School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Orchard Junior School are Noadswood School (0.2 miles) and Applemore College (0.7 miles).