Academy sponsor led · Kent

Orion Spires

11–16Ages
620Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
135305URN

Bredlands Lane, Sturry, Canterbury, CT2 0HD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.5per place

0.6 below Kent median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in KentSelective

268 applications for 106 places · 72nd of 103 in Kent

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

39.2of 90

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

67th of 100 in Kent

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 10 January 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development		Requires improvement
Leadership and management	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.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.5applications per place, Year 7

0.6 below Kent median (3.1) 0.3 above England median (2.2)

268 applications · 106 places offered · 76 named it first

2026 2.5; Kent median median 3.1
2025 2.1; Kent median median 3.0
2024 2.2; Kent median median 3.2
2023 2.3; Kent median median 3.2
2022 2.1; Kent median median 2.9
2021 2.5; Kent median median 3.6
2020 2.1; Kent median median 3.1
2019 1.9; Kent median median 2.9
2018 1.9; Kent median median 3.1
2017 1.5; Kent median median 3.0
2016 2.1; Kent median median 3.3
2015 2.7; Kent median median 3.2
2014 2.5; Kent median median 3.1

More applications per place than the Kent median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Kent median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	106	268	2.5	76	0.72
Sep 2025	117	245	2.1	68	0.58
Sep 2024	137	304	2.2	96	0.70
Sep 2023	138	315	2.3	98	0.71
Sep 2022	147	301	2.1	108	0.73
Sep 2021	145	366	2.5	86	0.59
Sep 2020	148	315	2.1	106	0.72
Sep 2019	150	279	1.9	122	0.81
Sep 2018	149	276	1.9	86	0.58
Sep 2017	141	217	1.5	71	0.50
Sep 2016	149	311	2.1	97	0.65
Sep 2015	117	310	2.7	90	0.77
Sep 2014	116	291	2.5	86	0.74

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

135 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)39.267th of 100 in Kent

Kent 42.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths31%61st of 100 in Kent

Kent 35% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths51%

Kent 60% England 66%

This school
Kent median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.12

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	135	39.2	31%	51%	–
2024/25	134	36.1	22%	47%	–
2023/24	139	35.0	25%	39%	−1.12
2022/23	125	33.7	17%	38%	−0.93

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Orion SpiresThis school
This school

Good2023

2.5applications per place 39.2Attainment 8
Barton Manor School
5.5 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.5applications per place
The Archbishop's School
5.6 km · Kent

Good2023

2.1applications per place 32.1Attainment 8
Barton Court Grammar School
5.7 km · Kent

Standards maintained2024

6.7applications per place 66.1Attainment 8 Selective
Herne Bay High School
6.0 km · Kent

Good2022

1.9applications per place 35.5Attainment 8
Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School
6.5 km · Kent

Remains Good · improving2023

3.1applications per place 66.0Attainment 8 Selective
St Anselm's Catholic School, Canterbury
6.5 km · Kent

Good2023

4.8applications per place 45.0Attainment 8
The Canterbury Academy
7.1 km · Kent

2026

4.2applications per place 35.2Attainment 8
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
7.3 km · Kent

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.3applications per place 69.4Attainment 8 Selective

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 135305 · 886/6911
Trust: Orion Education
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 750 pupils · 620 on roll
Free school meals: 43.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2007
Replaced: Montgomery School (URN 118925)
Address: Bredlands Lane, Sturry, Canterbury, CT2 0HD
Local authority: Kent · Canterbury

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