Orion Blenheim, Orpington
Orion Blenheim is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Orpington, part of Orion Education. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 11th-highest of the 23 schools in Orpington with published results, and 7,353rd of 14,452 across England. It was 84% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bromley (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Orion Blenheim in detail
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Orion Blenheim reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 79% in Bromley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (83% in reading, 75% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Orion Blenheim
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Orion Blenheim as their first choice and 30 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Orion Blenheim are Harris Primary Academy Orpington (0.5 miles, Good, 71% reading, 65% maths); St Philomena's Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 96% reading, 93% maths); The Highway Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 76% maths); and St. Mary Cray Primary Academy (1 mile, Good, 63% reading, 47% maths).
Orion Blenheim's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Harris Primary Academy OrpingtonSt Philomena's Primary SchoolThe Highway Primary SchoolSt. Mary Cray Primary Academy
The trust
Orion Blenheim is one of 8 schools run by Orion Education, an academy trust.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Orion Blenheim (as of September 2025): 67% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 38% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (38%).
Who goes there
37.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 32.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (45%), Black (17%) and Asian (13%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chelsfield, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Eldred Drive, 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Orion Blenheim issued 10 suspensions, 4.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Orion Blenheim are Harris Academy Orpington (0.2 miles) and St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School (0.7 miles).
Harris Academy OrpingtonSt Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
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 agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a happy, harmonious school where children thrive. Teachers genuinely care about each child's wellbeing and notice when pupils are worried or sad. Reading is a real priority with exciting author visits, and the school teaches children important values like helping others, fairness and the importance of good attendance.
Key Strengths
- Excellent reading programme with consistent teaching approach and strong author visits that develop love of reading
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum with clear key knowledge identified from Reception onwards
- Very positive pupil behaviour and attitudes, with strong support for pupils with SEND who learn successfully alongside classmates
- Strong personal development focus teaching pupils about mental health, healthy relationships and fairness
- Pupils take on meaningful roles of responsibility and practise democracy through school council voting
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment of what pupils know is not always precise enough - teachers don't consistently pick up on mistakes and misconceptions quickly
- Some pupils have gaps in learning because their misunderstandings aren't corrected promptly
- Staff checks on pupil understanding need to be sharper to better prepare pupils for new content
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating a safe, nurturing environment where pupils know teachers care about their wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, gymnastics, sign-language club, author visits, O2 performances, visits to residential homes, breakfast club, after-school club
Blenheim Primary School is a nurturing place where pupils thrive and achieve well, with teachers who have high expectations and care deeply about pupil wellbeing. The school has maintained the standards identified at the previous inspection through effective action.
At a Glance
37.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
18 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 83% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.4
Avg class size
21.5
Infant (KS1)
28.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Orion Blenheim
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Orion Blenheim from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Orion Blenheim is in Bromley; for families living there:
Apply to Bromley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot.
3 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 Bromley is 19 (the median across 119 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 Orion Blenheim
Will you get a place at Orion Blenheim? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Orion Blenheim's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Orion Blenheim:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Orion Blenheim.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bromley, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Orion Blenheim for 2018 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bromley 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
84%
Available places
202 pupils
240 places
38 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Orpington
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Orpington
Across Bromley council
Places available
3,982
Applications
3,203
Got 1st preference
87.7%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Bromley council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
37
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
24.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
196
Total Pupils
93
Boys
103
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
21.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,916
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,333
Per pupil
£1505k
Total funding
£129k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
10.6%
Persistent absence
179
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
Orion Blenheim
Questions parents ask about Orion Blenheim
What are SATs results like at Orion Blenheim?
Of the pupils at Orion Blenheim who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Orion Blenheim's Ofsted rating?
Orion Blenheim's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Orion Blenheim?
No fixed boundary. When Orion Blenheim is oversubscribed, Bromley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Orion Blenheim?
Orion Blenheim was not full in 2025: it ran at 84% of its 240 places.
How big are the classes at Orion Blenheim?
Classes at Orion Blenheim average 23.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Orion Blenheim?
Orion Blenheim has around 196 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Orion Blenheim?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Orion Blenheim in 2024/25. 10.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Orion Blenheim?
Apply through Bromley's coordinated admissions process, naming Orion Blenheim 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.
How many road collisions happen near Orion Blenheim?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot. 3 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 Bromley is 19 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Orion Blenheim?
Orion Blenheim is at Blenheim Road, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9BH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)