Schools by area › Kent › Orion Spires
Orion Spires
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Bredlands Lane, Sturry, Canterbury CT2 0HD · orionspires.org.uk · 01227 710392
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 36.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Kent 46.7, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 620
- 83% of 750 places
- Local authority
- Kent
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 43.8%
- First language not English
- 9.4%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Orion Education
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 76 families put the school first and 106 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 106 | 76 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 117 | 68 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 137 | 96 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 138 | 98 | 0.7 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 147 | 108 | 0.7 | 95% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 36.1, and 21.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Kent it was 46.7, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼36.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼21.6% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼47.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼10.4% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.03 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 23 | +6.3 |
| Further education | 53.2 | −1.2 |
| Other education | 1.4 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 4.3 | −1 |
| Employment | 0.7 | −2.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.1 | −3.9 |
| Activity not captured | 7.2 | +1.1 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
| 2015/16 | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied general | 11 | — | -0.77 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2019/20 | |
|---|---|
| University | 13 |
| Employment | 33 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 53 |
Ofsted
Orion Spires was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 10 January 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 10 Jan 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, May 2017
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2017Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective May 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
68% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (81 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 68%
- Replies
- 81
- 12% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 43% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (31%) with SEND