Orion Coopers
About Orion Coopers
Orion Coopers is a popular secondary school in Bromley, and the numbers show it. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 693 applications for 251 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.76. That means nearly three families applied for every spot, and 145 of those were first-preference offers. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer volume of applications suggests strong local demand. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary with a sixth form, and it has held a Good rating from Ofsted across its two most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in 2023 that confirmed it remains Good. Headteacher Claire Bessa leads a large school of 1,318 pupils, with capacity for 1,629. Just under a quarter of pupils (24.9%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and gives a sense of the school's inclusive intake.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Mar 2023Latest monitoring visit (9 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Feb 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: orioncoopers.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Orion Coopers
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications