Orchard Lea Infant School

About Orchard Lea Infant School

Orchard Lea Infant School is a state primary in Fareham for children aged 4 to 7, and the numbers suggest it is a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 63 applications for just 36 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75. Of those applicants, 27 put the school as their first preference, and all 27 were offered a place. This level of demand indicates that parents in the area are actively seeking places here, even though the school does not currently hold an Outstanding or Good Ofsted rating. The school’s capacity is 180, but it currently has 132 pupils on roll, so there is some room to grow. With 27.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average economic disadvantage compared with many Hampshire primaries.

Academically, Orchard Lea’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2011. The inspection report gave Requires Improvement grades for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision. Personal development was the one area rated Good. The school’s early years provision, which was previously rated Good in 2011, has slipped to Requires Improvement. There are no published KS2 SATs results for this school because it only covers infants up to age 7, so parents considering Orchard Lea will need to look at the local authority’s average KS2 attainment of 61% to benchmark what children might go on to achieve at their next school. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Harrison Primary School, 1.9 km away, which may be a relevant comparison for families weighing their options.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for such a small infant school, including a library, music rooms, a gymnasium, a sports hall, playing fields, and a forest school area. There is also a sensory room and a chapel on site. Sports provision includes rounders, athletics, dance, football, netball, and cricket, while clubs cover choir, drama, eco club, and science club. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With no nursery or sixth form, this is strictly a reception-to-Year-2 school, so families will need to plan for a Year 3 transfer. Given its oversubscription and the fact it serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, Orchard Lea seems to suit families who value a small, local infant school with strong pastoral support and a broad extracurricular offer, even if its academic rating is currently under review.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Orchard Lea Infant School

Helpful Guides for Parents