Welcome to Our Website

We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Orchards Middle School.

There are several distinctive features about the school but the overwhelming feature, which is commented upon frequently, is the warmth of welcome and friendliness. We are a large school but pride ourselves upon the commitment we make to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential by staff who understand them as individuals.

The school has exceptional strengths in sport (Activemark Gold / PESS / Healthy Schools), music /drama productions (Artsmark Gold) and commitment to the school ethos. Every activity or strategic objective is linked to our main aim ‘To create a positive learning environment where everyone is valued, supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential’.The whole staff is imbued with an energy and determination to succeed in achieving our school aim
Our principles are based upon exploiting the aids to raising performance and overcoming the barriers through:
Setting high expectations and giving every learner the confidence that they can succeed
 
  • Establishing what learners already know
  • Structuring and pacing the learning experience to make it challenging and enjoyable
  • Inspiring learning through passion for developing knowledge, skills and practice
  • Helping individuals be active participants and partners in learning
  • Developing knowledge, skills and practice using a range of strategies that take into account the variety of learning styles presented to us drawing on internal and external expertise as appropriate.
  • Ensuring that the school is well led and managed by a Leadership Team that reflects the range of talent and ensures that the key decision makers are the best ones!
 
The Key Characteristics of the school that make us distinctive are:
  • Provision of opportunity embedded with an inclusive thread.
  • Ownership of the curriculum – appropriate timings, specialisms utilised, content relevant to the children and the local community
  • Creative leadership that is learning centred Pupil tracking that allows for individual target setting Powerful Partnership with parents
  • An extended school with a structured extra curricular activity and educational visits programme
  • A happy, safe and supportive atmosphere with a strong commitment to helping everybody to succeed

“A fantastic school - I’m proud to send my children here.”  -  Parent

"My child looks forward to school as he enjoys his lessons and his teachers.”  - Parent

“There is a high standard of teaching and management of the school. We are particularly pleased with the manner in which the teachers make learning fun and interesting.”  -   Parent
 

“Other schools could take a leaf out of your book.”  -   Year 4 Parent
 

“May we take this opportunity to thank the staff for their consistency and enthusiasm.”  - Year 7 parent
 

“I am so pleased with the progress my son has made, he feels totally at ease and confident at school.”  -   Year 5 parent
 

“The school should be used as an exemplar by the LEA.”  - Investors in People report
 

“We have no doubt our son will continue to thrive in what can only be described as a very happy learning environment.”  -  Year 4 parent
 

“I’ve learnt so much already, what’s left?”  -  Year 4 child
 

“What a great school.”  -  Year 5 parent
 

“Thank you for the extra time you have given to allow my son to thrive at The Orchards.”  - Year 6 parent
 

“Thank you for the warm welcome and the excellent conduct of your children.”  - Visiting parent
 

“I feel supported and encouraged to achieve the very best for myself and the children at the school – I don’t want to work anywhere else.”  -  Teacher
 

“This is a good school. The sense of community is very strong and pupils are proud to be part of ‘our great school’.”  - Ofsted
 

“I’m so sad to be leaving. I’ve had a fantastic time, done so many amazing things and made great friends.”  -  Year 7 Child