The Orchard School, Oldbury
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Orchard School excels at making every pupil feel valued and helping them achieve things their families once thought impossible. Staff use innovative approaches to develop reading skills and communication for all learners, supported by a well-resourced library and personalized learning profiles. The school prepares pupils thoughtfully for adult life through visits, visitors and activities like rock climbing, swimming and a signing choir.
Key Strengths
- Staff create a caring environment where pupils feel valued and supported to exceed expectations
- Well-designed curriculum that builds knowledge and skills over time, with regular checks to ensure pupils are making progress
- Strong focus on communication skills development, with every pupil having a personalized communication profile
- Excellent provision for pupils' personal development and preparation for future life
- High expectations for behaviour and attendance, supported by staff who understand pupils' individual needs
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils do not get enough chances to practise and secure the skills linked to their individual education plans (EHC plans) across different contexts
- Not all staff consistently use agreed communication methods like signing, pictures and technology, which slows progress for some pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders putting pupils' best interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Rock climbing, swimming, signing choir, visits from local professional football club, sports day activities
The Orchard School is a special school for pupils aged 2-11 with severe and profound learning difficulties. It has improved significantly from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating and now provides good quality education with staff who deeply support pupils to achieve well.
At a Glance
53.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 0%. Maths has remained stable at around 0%. Writing has remained stable at around 0%.
Class Sizes
0.0
Avg class size
0
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Oldbury
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Oldbury
Admissions Demand - Sandwell
Places available
5,176
Applications
4,326
Got 1st preference
81.1%
Got preferred school
95.9%
Secondary admissions across Sandwell (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.32136%
Overall absence
44.2953%
Persistent absence
149
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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