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Orchards Church of England Academy

Fenland, PE13 3NPPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Nov 2024
KS2 Results
39%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
33 1st-choice / 34 places
Ranking
#12,602
of 13,686 nationally

About Orchards Church of England Academy

Orchards Church of England Academy in Fenland serves a community with very high levels of disadvantage — nearly half of its pupils (49. 7%) are eligible for free school meals — yet its headline Key Stage 2 results sit well below the local authority average. Just 39% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Cambridgeshire primary average of 58%. That 19-point gap is significant and places the school 175th out of 210 primaries in the county. In the Fenland district specifically, it ranks 24th out of 28 schools, putting it in the bottom 15% locally. The picture is mixed by subject: writing was a relative strength, with 70% meeting expectations, but maths was much weaker at 49%, and reading sat at 54%. Only 4% of pupils achieved the higher standard in maths, and none did so in writing.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressCherry Road, Wisbech, Fenland, PE13 3NP
HeadteacherDamien Homden
Local AuthorityCambridgeshire
Number of Pupils401
Free School Meals (FSM)49.7%
School Capacity401 / 420 (95% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 52 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

19 Nov 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionLearning DifficultySevere LearningProfound Learning

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Orchards Church of England Academy

Orchards Church of England Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.