SchoolScoresThe Orchards Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of GREENHEART LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Rhayader Road, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 1TX
0121 464 4302 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 March 2015.
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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 9 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Birmingham comparisons use the 162 of its 301 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 139 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 155th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 64% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 140th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 134th highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 96th highest of 101 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 3% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 26% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 34 parents who had raised a concern Joint 134th highest of 145 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 2% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 77% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 19 parents of children with SEND 27th highest of 29 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 7% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 67% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 153rd highest of 162 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Birmingham. Higher than 2% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 24%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Birmingham figures pool parents at the Birmingham schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
71% — 8 points above the Birmingham average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 74% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 74% | 75% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Birmingham. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 27 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 58 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
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
| Pupils | This school | Birmingham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 87th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 59.7% | 48.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 172nd highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 2.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 93% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.1% | 16.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 162nd highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.4% | 43.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 220th lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 6.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 270th lowest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 24.9% | 16.6%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 244th lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 19% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.2 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 271st lowest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 10th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 97% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 27.1 | 20.4 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 48th highest of 301 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 93% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 14.2 | 11.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 300 state primary schools in Birmingham. Higher than 96% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 40.0% | 15.0%* | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Bellfield Primary School (NC) 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024
- Bellfield Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Merritts Brook Primary E-ACT Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), improved significantly 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Brigid's Catholic Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Green Meadow Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodcock Hill Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Laurence Church Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022
- St Laurence Church Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Meadows Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Forestdale Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 15% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Orchards Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Orchards Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The Orchards Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Orchards Primary Academy?
53% of the 45 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Orchards Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Orchards Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put The Orchards Primary Academy as their first choice for 27 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 23 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 139860.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.