SchoolScoresOrchards Infant School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of SPARKLE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Nelson Road, Worthing, BN12 6EN
01903 700234 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 21 September 2021. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in West Sussex. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 67 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 64 |
| Of those, offered a place | 64 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 157 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 14 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | West Sussex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.4% | 15.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.5% | 14.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.3% | 14.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 21st lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 23rd lowest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 58% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.3 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 14th highest of 24 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 11.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 23 state primary schools in Worthing. Higher than 69% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 18.3% | 12.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Orchards Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Worthing 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- West Park CofE Primary (Controlled) School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Goring-By-Sea CofE (Aided) Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hawthorns Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2021, before conversion) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Laurels Primary School, Worthing 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thomas A Becket Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
- Durrington Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Durrington Infant School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Orchards Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Orchards Infant School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 September 2021.
Is Orchards Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 64 families put Orchards Infant School as their first choice for 67 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 64 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 150365.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.