Located in Canterbury, Orion Spires is a secondary school, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Orion Spires currently has around 667 pupils on roll, which is about 89% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 48.4% boys and 51.6% girls. Around 39.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 12.9%. Persistent absence is recorded at 40.5%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (78.1%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 92% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (82%) , including 14% who stay in school sixth forms and 66% progressing to further education , while 2% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Bredlands Lane, Canterbury, CT2 0HD |
| Website: | http://www.orionspires.org.uk |
| Telephone: | 01227710392 |
| School Type: | Academy sponsor led |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Kent |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Anna Burden |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 135305 |
Ofsted inspection date: 10/01/2023
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 750 |
| Number of Pupils: | 667 |
| Number of Boys: | 323 |
| Number of Girls: | 344 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 12.9% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 40.5% | 8.2% |
| White British | 78.10% | 521 |
| Other White | 4.30% | 29 |
| African | 4.00% | 27 |
| Other Mixed | 2.10% | 14 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 2.10% | 14 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.50% | 10 |
| Other Asian | 1.50% | 10 |
| Chinese | 1.00% | 7 |
| Indian | 1.00% | 7 |
| White and Black African | 1.00% | 7 |
| Unclassified | 1.00% | 7 |
| White and Asian | 0.60% | 4 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.40% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.40% | 3 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.40% | 3 |
| Pakistani | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Other Black | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Meadows Primary School Shaftesbury Road , Hersden CT3 4HS | 3out of 4 | 881 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hersden Community Primary School Shaftesbury Road , Hersden CT3 4HS | - not rated | 881 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Sturry Church of England Primary School Park View , Sturry CT2 0NR | - not rated | 1,805 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Sturry Church of England Primary School Park View , Sturry CT2 0NR | - not rated | 1,805 yd | Voluntary controlled school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Hoath Primary School School Lane , Hoath CT3 4LA | 3out of 4 | 3,005 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orion Spires Bredlands Lane , Sturry CT2 0HD | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Montgomery School Bredlands Lane , Sturry CT2 0HD | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Anne's Preparatory School Staines Hill , Sturry CT2 0EW | - not rated | 1,277 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Junior King's School Milner Court , Sturry CT2 0AY | - not rated | 2,708 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.