Orchard Primary School and Nursery, Nottingham

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Orchard Primary School and Nursery on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Rates of pupils' attendance are average overall."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The suitably ambitious curriculum clearly sets out the knowledge pupils will learn in all subjects."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years is a busy and ambitious, yet warm and nurturing environment."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders strive to provide an inclusive school culture where every pupil feels valued."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a clear and shared vision for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise their holistic vision for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Typically, pupils' attainment at the end of Year 6 is lower than national averages and too many pupils are not well-prepared for secondary school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen and embed recent improvements in mathematics and writing to ensure pupils develop secure strong foundations that support their future learning and enable all pupils to achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure teachers check pupils' learning systematically to identify misconceptions and gaps in learning, especially in mathematics. Leaders should ensure that teachers use this information consistently to inform and adapt their teaching, ensuring they address misconceptions and gaps in pupils' learning swiftly"; "Leaders should ensure all pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have precise targets. They should ensure that staff use these targets consistently to make adaptations that enable pupils with SEND to achieve greater success and independence".

In its own words: "On behalf of myself, the staff, and governors, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Orchard Primary and Nursery School. At Orchard, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels part of our close-knit community. Our dedicated team works hard each day to make learning enjoyable and help children succeed in all areas of school life."

The school runs after-school care until 6:00pm.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Orchard Primary School and Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Nottinghamshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 64% in reading and 53% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 40 families put Orchard Primary School and Nursery as their first choice and 134 named it as one of their preferences, for 41 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Orchard Primary School and Nursery are The West Park Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 76% maths); Greenwood Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles, Good, 81% reading, 85% maths); Leamington Primary and Nursery Academy (1 mile, Good, 75% reading, 71% maths); and Morven Park Primary and Nursery School (1 mile, Good, 74% reading, 72% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Orchard Primary School and Nursery.

4.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 101 pupils (29.4%) received SEN support and 8 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Kirkby in Ashfield Rail Station, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greenwood Drive (opposite), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, Orchard Primary School and Nursery issued 2 suspensions, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Orchard Primary School and Nursery are Ashfield Comprehensive School (0.7 miles), Outwood Academy Kirkby (0.9 miles) and Sutton Community Academy (1.6 miles).