Schools by area › Hertfordshire › The Orchard Primary School
The Orchard Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Gammons Lane, Watford WD24 5JW · orchard.herts.sch.uk · 01923 672280
On the mapSearch near WD24 5JW
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jun 2022
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 70%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Hertfordshire 64%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Reception, September 2026 entry · Hertfordshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 434
- 96% of 450 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 14.6%
- First language not English
- 56%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 36 families put the school first and 46 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 46 | 36 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 53 | 30 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 50 | 46 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 54 | 42 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 55 | 45 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 20% the higher standard. Across Hertfordshire it was 64%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲70% | 62% | ||
| ▲20% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
| ▲112 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 117155)
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 22 June 2022, Ofsted’s outcome for The Orchard Primary School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 21 Jun 2022
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, May 2011
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good May 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (88 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 95%
- Replies
- 88
- 19% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied