GCSE 2025/26
#2,870 of 3,312
Worse than 86% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 11 Mar 2025
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 136304.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 38.3, worse than England, worse than Kent | 47 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 46.2%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 65.5% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 27.4%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 47.5% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 0.9%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 15.9% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 46.2%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 61.2% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 106 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 554 |
| Girls | 273 |
| Boys | 281 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 42.8% |
| First language not English | 9.2% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 988 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 43.9% |
| Sixth form places2018/19 | 100 |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 111 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 21 |
| Average class size | 25.8 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 15.4 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 11.8 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 35.96 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 10.8 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 18.69 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 28 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 23 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 2 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 3 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 139 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 186 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 95 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 95 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 21 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 9.9%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 7.8% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 31.6%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 4.4%, worse than England, worse than Kent | 3.2% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 34.9% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 16.1% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.6% |
| Permanent exclusions | 3 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 87.7% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 76.4% |
| Further education | 60.4% |
| School sixth form | 12.3% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 8.5% |
| Apprenticeship | 7.5% |
| Employment | 3.8% |
| Sixth form college | 1.9% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mi | Primary | St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | Voluntary aided school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 6 Dec 2022. | |
| 0.3 mi | Primary | St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 27 Jun 2013. | |
| 0.3 mi | Primary | Horizon Primary Academy | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 14 Nov 2018. | |
| 0.4 mi | Primary | High Firs Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 11 Oct 2023. | |
| 0.7 mi | Primary | Downsview Community Primary School | Community school | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 2 Dec 2025. | |
| 0.8 mi | Primary | Crockenhill Primary School | Community school | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 19 Nov 2024. | |
| 1.3 mi | Primary | St Pauls' Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Voluntary controlled school | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 17 Jun 2025. | |
| 1.4 mi | Primary | Hextable Primary School | Community school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 20 Mar 2018. |
Orchards Academy is rated Good, last inspected on 11 Mar 2025. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.
Orchards Academy ranks 2,870 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 86% of schools).
In 2025/26, 27.4% of pupils at Orchards Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 38.3 (England 46.2).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Orchards Academy made 139 offers from 186 applications (1.3 per offer), and 95 of 95 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Orchards Academy has 554 pupils aged 11 to 18.
Orchards Academy had 988 school places in 2024/25.
Yes, Orchards Academy has a sixth form with 100 places in 2018/19.
At Orchards Academy, the average class had 25.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.4 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Orchards Academy missed 9.9% of sessions (England 8%), and 31.6% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.