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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 150365

Orchards Infant School

Academy sponsor led · Worthing · BN12 6EN

Ages 3–7 · 281 pupils · West Sussex

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Overall absence

7.2%

Admissions demand

0.96 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2021-09-21

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Requires improvement
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)20.7%
Unauthorised1.5%
Authorised absence
5.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.2%
Enrolments in measure
169

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.96 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

80

Places offered

85

1st-preference offers

80

Total preferences (any rank)
164
Preferred offers (top 3)
83
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill68%

281 pupils · 412 places

Pupils on roll
281
Boys / girls
144 / 137
School capacity
412
Capacity fill
281 / 412 (68%)
Free school meals
17.4%
FSM pupils
45
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 3–7

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

3 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: SPARKLE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
SPARKLE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Sparkle Multi Academy Trust
Headteacher
Dr Paul Jones

Location

Address
Nelson Road
Postcode
BN12 6EN
Town
Worthing
County
West Sussex
Local authority
West Sussex
District
Worthing
Constituency
Worthing West
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SLCN - Speech, language and Communication
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
14 on roll / 14 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (primary), Ages 3–7, in Worthing, West Sussex, 281 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy, special school. Free school meals: 17.4%. SEN provision includes: SLCN - Speech, language and Communication.

Open schools in Worthing
38
Primary schools in Worthing
24
Academies among open schools in Worthing
32% (12)
Open schools in BN12
9
Primary in BN12
6
Open schools in West Sussex LA
338
Primary in West Sussex LA
226

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in WorthingNear BN12

  • Orchards Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Worthing · BN12 6EN · West Sussex

    Ages 7–11

    • KS258%
    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM29.6%

    0.0 miles away

  • West Park CofE Primary (Controlled) School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Worthing · BN12 4HD · West Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence5.4%
    • FSM12.5%
    • Demand0.85

    0.5 miles away

  • Hawthorns Primary School

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Worthing · BN13 3EZ · West Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • Absence7.3%
    • FSM39.9%
    • Demand0.94

    0.6 miles away

  • Elm Grove Primary School, Worthing

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Worthing · BN11 5LQ · West Sussex

    Ages 4–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM9.4%
    • Demand1.47

    0.7 miles away

  • Thomas A Becket Infant School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Worthing · BN13 1JB · West Sussex

    Ages 4–7

    • Absence4.9%
    • FSM7.8%
    • Demand1.15

    1.0 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Dr Paul Jones
Telephone
01903700234
Website
https://www.orchardsinfant.com/

Official links