EVERYONE MATTERS, EVERYONE CARES
THE ORCHARD SCHOOL
The Orchard School is a Foundation Special School. We cater for 116 pupils who have behaviour and learning difficulties as identified by their Education Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans).
Our school caters for primary and secondary aged pupils in three separate phases.
Staff at The Orchard are skilled in working with pupils who have a range of difficulties that prevent them from accessing their learning.
our school values
-
trust -
belonging -
aspiration -
voice -
pride -
curiosity
key dates
26Mar
Year 5 Open Evenings (Booking Required)
4:00pm – 5:30pm
02Apr
Term 4 Ends
All Day
20Apr
Term 5 Begins
All Day
23Apr
Year 5 Open Evening (Booking required)
4:00pm – 5:30pm
04May
Bank Holiday
All Day
22May
Term 5 Ends
All Day
01Jun
Term 6 Begins
All Day
15Jun
Summer Fayre
All Day
16Jun
Community Day
All Day
17Jun
Sports Day
All Day
Dear Parents and Carers, We would like to say a warm and heartfelt thank you to all our incredibly supportive, kind, and generous parents and carers who donated cakes, biscuits, and treats for our Comic Relief Bake Sale , as well as giving your children money to buy something on the day! Your enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to help made the event a real success. Thanks to your amazing contributions, we raised an impressive £140 for Comic Relief! We are so grateful for your continued support. Events like this simply wouldn't be possible without you, and your generosity helps us teach our pupils the importance of community, kindness, and giving back. Thank you for making such a positive difference. Warmest wishes and appreciation The Orchard School
We have made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming Easter Egg Run. This is always a much-loved event in our school community, and we are incredibly grateful to the biker group for their continued kindness, generosity and support each year. We are already looking ahead to rearranging the event for later in the term, so that it can take place in a safe, well-planned, and enjoyable way for everyone. Thank you to our families, staff and wider community for your understanding and ongoing support. We look forward to bringing everyone together soon.
Dear Parents and Carers, We would like to let families know about a lovely community event taking place at The Orchard School this Sunday, 22 March. The Whitstable Toy Run Association (WTRA) will once again be visiting the school as part of their annual Easter Egg Run. Riders will set off from Tankerton at 12:00 and are expected to arrive at The Orchard School at approximately 15:00. The group ride motorcycles through the area collecting and delivering Easter eggs to schools and charities. It is a wonderful act of generosity and community spirit. Last year the riders donated over 450 Easter eggs, which were shared between our pupils, St Nicholas Special School and local food banks. Their support makes a real difference to many families. Weather permitting, families who are nearby are very welcome to come along and help us show appreciation and say thank you to the riders who give up their time to support local children and charities. We are incredibly grateful to the Whitstable Toy Run Association and all the riders who take part. Their kindness and commitment to supporting the community is something we are proud to be part of. Finally, many of you will know that our recent Ofsted inspection report will be published soon. The new national framework no longer gives overall graded judgements. Instead it provides detailed feedback about the school's strengths and areas for development. We look forward to sharing the report with families and continuing the positive journey we are on together at The Orchard. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Christmas Jumper Day! Let's spread some festive cheer and make a difference together! Staff and students can wear their favourite Christmas jumper and donate just £1 to support Save the Children. Every little bit helps bring joy and hope to children in need. Date: Thursday 11th December 2025 Let's make this Christmas brighter for everyone! #ChristmasJumperDay #SaveTheChildren #FestiveFun
Join Us for Orchard School's Primary Christmas Fayre! Date: Wednesday, 17th December Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Location: Orchard School Bring the festive spirit and enjoy: A mini performance by Falcons class Crafts, goodies, games & refreshments All Primary Families Welcome! Please bring coins for stalls and activities. All proceeds go to Porchlight – supporting homeless and vulnerable people. We can't wait to see you there!
Primary Christmas Fayre!
Thank you to every family, member of staff and pupil who donated, baked, bought a cake or simply helped lift the spirit of our Children in Need cake sale. The response was genuinely touching. Days like this remind us what makes The Orchard School special. When our community comes together, we show in the simplest but most powerful ways that everyone matters and everyone cares. Your kindness, effort and generosity will make a real difference, and we are truly grateful.
Children in Need 2025
School Dog!
https://www.orchard-school.com/About-Our-School/Open-Evenings/