Orion Coopers
81%
Capacity
1,318
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
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.
Academically, Orion Coopers sits below the Bromley average on key measures. Its Progress 8 score is -0.38, which is below average nationally and ranks it 16th out of 19 schools in the local authority. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.13, so pupils here make less progress than peers in similar schools across Bromley. Attainment 8 sits at 45.4, and 48.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 50.2%, with 20.3% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is more positive: the value-added score is 0.15, which is in the average band, and the average points per entry is 27.82, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C grade. So while GCSE outcomes are below the local norm, the sixth form offers solid progression.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and music rooms, plus a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer range from rowing to martial arts, and there is a broad selection of clubs including Model UN, coding, and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs, which is useful for families looking for a mainstream setting with targeted support. Given its size and oversubscription, Orion Coopers is a school that many local families actively choose, but the Progress 8 data suggests it may be better suited to families who prioritise the sixth form experience and wider opportunities over top-tier GCSE results. It is not a selective school and its intake is genuinely comprehensive, so it may appeal to parents who want a large, mixed community school with strong facilities rather than a high-pressure academic environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, Bromley, BR7 5PS |
| Headteacher | Claire Bessa |
| Local Authority | Bromley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,318 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,318 / 1,629 (81% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Feb 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.38)
2408th of 3,141
Nationally
446th of 487
In London
16th of 19
In Bromley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
31.3
'22/23
25.8
'23/24
27.8
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 196 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
4%
Russell Group
6%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)62%
- Employment21%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education4%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed251
693
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
145 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British62.4%
- White (other)10.8%
- Mixed9.2%
- Asian3.9%
- Black1.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst
Bromley, BR7 5PS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
