Schoolfile
Search

Foundation special school · Kent

The Orchard School

  • 7–16Ages
  • 119Pupils
  • SpecialPhase
  • 119058URN

Cambridge Road, Canterbury, CT1 3QQ · School website

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 3 February 2026Published 26 April 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 3 February 2026
    Report card · 1 Expected standard, 5 Needs attention
  2. 7 October 2021
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

School details

Type
Foundation special school
Phase
Not applicable
URN · DfE number
119058 · 886/7062
Trust
Kent Special Educational Needs Trust (KSENT)
Free school meals
73.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address
Cambridge Road, Canterbury, CT1 3QQ
Local authority
Kent · Canterbury

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources