Orchards Academy is a secondary school in Swanley, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character.
Orchards Academy currently has around 545 pupils on roll, which is about 66% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.3% boys and 47.7% girls. Around 44.0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.4%. Persistent absence is recorded at 34%. The school also includes resourced provision, supporting 6 pupils.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (78%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 95% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (84%) , including 17% who stay in school sixth forms and 66% progressing to further education , while 6% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | St Mary's Road, Swanley, BR8 7TE |
| Website: | http://www.orchards-tkat.org |
| Telephone: | 01322665231 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Kent |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Hannah Carter |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136304 |
Ofsted inspection date: 11/03/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 828 |
| Number of Pupils: | 545 |
| Number of Boys: | 285 |
| Number of Girls: | 260 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.4% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 34% | 8.2% |
| White British | 78.00% | 425 |
| Other White | 4.80% | 26 |
| African | 4.60% | 25 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 2.20% | 12 |
| Other Mixed | 2.00% | 11 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.80% | 10 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.70% | 9 |
| Caribbean | 0.90% | 5 |
| White and Black African | 0.90% | 5 |
| Unclassified | 0.70% | 4 |
| White and Asian | 0.70% | 4 |
| Indian | 0.60% | 3 |
| Chinese | 0.40% | 2 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.40% | 2 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.20% | 1 |
| Other Asian | 0.20% | 1 |
| Pakistani | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's CofE Junior School St Mary's Road , BR8 7BU | - not rated | 188 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School St Mary's Road , BR8 7BU | 3out of 4 | 294 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's County Infant School St Mary's Road , BR8 7BU | - not rated | 294 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley Sycamore Drive , BR8 7AY | 3out of 4 | 452 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School, Swanley Sycamore Drive , BR8 7AY | - not rated | 452 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchards Academy St Mary's Road , BR8 7TE | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Swanley Technology College St Mary's Road , BR8 7TE | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hextable School Egerton Avenue , Hextable BR8 7LU | - not rated | 1,546 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Oasis Academy Hextable Egerton Avenue , BR8 7LU | - not rated | 1,546 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Behaviour Guidance Support Service - Centre Class C/O the Caretakers House , St Mary's Road BR8 7TE | - not rated | 0 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| SupaJam Education In Music and Media St Marys Road , BR8 7TE | - not rated | 0 yd | Special post 16 institution | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Annex School House Pembroke House , Leydenhatch Lane BR8 7PS | - not rated | 1,285 yd | Other independent special school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Parkwood Hall Co-Operative Academy Beechenlea Lane , BR8 8DR | - not rated | 2,011 yd | Academy special converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Parkwood Hall School Beechenlea Lane , BR8 8DR | - not rated | 2,011 yd | Foundation special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.