Orchard Way Primary School, Croydon
Orchard Way Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Croydon, part of Lumero Educational Trust. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 20th-highest of the 34 schools in Croydon with published results, and 6,834th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Croydon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Orchard Way Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at Orchard Way Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 80% in Croydon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 89% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Orchard Way Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Orchard Way Primary School as their first choice and 79 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Orchard Way Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Orchard Way Primary School are Monks Orchard Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 82% maths); Oak Lodge Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 86% maths); Marian Vian Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 89% reading, 87% maths); and St John's CofE Primary School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 90% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Orchard Way Primary School.
Monks Orchard Primary SchoolOak Lodge Primary SchoolMarian Vian Primary SchoolSt John's CofE Primary School
The trust
Orchard Way Primary School is one of 12 schools run by Lumero Educational Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
73 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Orchard Way Primary School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 97% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 56 pupils (27.5%) received SEN support and 8 (3.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Eden Park Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tower View (->n), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Orchard Way Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Orchard Way Primary School are Orchard Park High School (under 0.1 miles), Orion Eden Park (0.8 miles), Langley Park School for Boys (0.9 miles) and Oasis Academy Shirley Park (1 mile).
Orchard Park High SchoolOrion Eden ParkLangley Park School for BoysOasis Academy Shirley Park
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Orchard Way Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2022. Before that, as Orchard Way Primary School (URN 101772), it was rated Good in May 2014.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Orchard Way is a welcoming community where children thrive academically and emotionally. The school excels at teaching reading and provides outstanding support for pupils' wellbeing through activities like animal therapy. Parents consistently praise the caring environment where their children feel secure and enjoy learning.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with consistent phonics teaching from Reception onwards
- Broad and ambitious curriculum with well-sequenced knowledge in most subjects
- Excellent pastoral care and emotional wellbeing support, including animal therapy and playground friends
- Pupils behave well and show kindness to staff and each other
- High priority given to attendance with close monitoring and family engagement
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers need to check pupils' understanding more carefully to prevent gaps and misconceptions in learning
- Some subjects lack clear curriculum structure and sequencing, making it harder for pupils to remember and build on their knowledge over time
- School is in early stages of developing pupil leadership and responsibility opportunities
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders prioritising pupil safety and creating an open culture where pupils trust adults with their concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
After-school clubs including sewing, computing, multisports and dance, school trips, visitor events, Year 5 week-long experience at local private school, breakfast and after-school clubs
Orchard Way Primary School is a warm and friendly school where pupils enjoy learning and feel secure. The school has maintained good standards with strong pastoral care and high expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND.
At a Glance
23.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
73 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 89% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 74% to 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.0
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
28.5
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Orchard Way Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Orchard Way Primary School.
- Munchkin Sports Orchard Way After School CareAt the school · Not yet graded
- 123-SHINE HOLIDAY CAMPAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Orchard Way Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Croydon's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Orchard Way Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Orchard Way Primary School is in Croydon; for families living there:
Apply to Croydon for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Orchard Way Primary School
Will you get a place at Orchard Way Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Orchard Way Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Orchard Way Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Orchard Way Primary School.
- Croydon publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Orchard Way Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Orchard Way Primary School for 2023 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Croydon got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
202 pupils
210 places
8 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Croydon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Croydon
Across Croydon council
Places available
4,828
Applications
4,082
Got 1st preference
89.6%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Croydon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
56
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
31.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
204
Total Pupils
101
Boys
103
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,943
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,044
Per pupil
£1363k
Total funding
£64k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.8%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
182
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Orchard Way Primary School
What are SATs results like at Orchard Way Primary School?
Of the pupils at Orchard Way Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Orchard Way Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Orchard Way Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2022. Before that, as Orchard Way Primary School (URN 101772), it was rated Good in May 2014.
What is the catchment area for Orchard Way Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Orchard Way Primary School is oversubscribed, Croydon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Orchard Way Primary School?
Orchard Way Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Orchard Way Primary School?
Classes at Orchard Way Primary School average 29 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Orchard Way Primary School?
Orchard Way Primary School has around 204 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Orchard Way Primary School?
6.8% of sessions were missed at Orchard Way Primary School in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Orchard Way Primary School?
Apply through Croydon's coordinated admissions process, naming Orchard Way Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Orchard Way Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Munchkin Sports Orchard Way After School Care (registered, not yet graded) and 123-SHINE HOLIDAY CAMP (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Orchard Way Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Croydon is 54.5 (the median across 156 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Orchard Way Primary School?
Orchard Way Primary School is at Orchard Way, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 7NJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)