Orchard Way Primary School

We welcome you to our popular, single-form entry primary school in Shirley.  We are very proud of our pupils’ achievements throughout their journey with us, which is brought about by our children’s attitude to learning, the dedication and commitment of our teachers, support staff and governors and the on-going support of our parents and carers.

As a small school, everyone at Orchard Way takes pride in our community. It is a pleasure to greet every child by name in the morning and watch them leave with a smile on their face ready for their next adventure at the end of Year 6. Children at Orchard Way are developed as individuals and relationships are at the heart of what we do. Everyone matters at Orchard Way.

The school values underpin our ethos: open-mindedness, respect, courage, honesty, achievement, resilience and determination. Children are encouraged to approach their learning and individual development with these values in mind. We aim to provide an engaging curriculum that is broad and balanced which prepares them for their transition to their secondary education and further into the future. Our goal is to make confident, happy children who are willing to take risks.

We are an inclusive school and celebrate the diversity of our community and beyond.  In 2019 our school was awarded the International Schools Award through the British Council and we use assemblies and our curriculum to develop pupils’ understanding and tolerance of issues relating to the world in which we live.

It is an exciting time for Orchard Way Primary School. In April 2022, we joined the South Orpington Learning Alliance Multi-Academy Trust, a family of schools with shared values who are at the heart of their communities. The Trust was formed in 2016 and includes Chelsfield Primary School, Darrick Wood Junior School, The Highway Primary School, Pratts Bottom Primary School, Tubbenden Primary School and Green Street Green Primary School. The aim of the group is to maximise the learning for our children by sharing expertise and resources.

Mission, Vision and Values
At Orchard Way, we provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment where all children and adults work with confidence and motivation to reach their potential.  We have high expectations for our learners and aim for every child, whatever their background or starting point, to develop the academic, personal and social skills necessary to be successful lifelong learners and active citizens.

Orchard Way is an important part of the local community and seeks to work with others for the wider benefits of the school and local community.

British Values at Orchard Way
At Orchard Way, we think it is fundamental that our pupils develop a strong set of values and principles in order to question and understand what it means to grow up in British society. This is reflected in our school motto ‘All Different, All Equal, All Achieve’, which is an integral part of the whole school’s ethos.

Through the teaching of topic (History and Geography), Religious Education, PSHCE and Philosophy for Children (P4C) and assemblies on British Values, we equip pupils with a mature, respectful and sensitive appreciation for difference and diversity. Assemblies on what it means to be British and P4C sessions provide pupils with opportunities to engage critically with stereotypes and prejudices and develop an understanding of how we can celebrate our heritage and home cultures whilst also embracing the ties that bind us together.

The values of fairness and democracy are also taught through our active School Council, assemblies on Global Goals for sustainable development and British Values, which reinforce the importance of the rule of law, including the role of democratic advocacy for change.

Our school is enriched by the diversity of our school community, and through the teaching of Religious Education, pupils develop their understanding about the beliefs and practices of all major religious groups, and the shared values that religion can promote in conjunction with core British values.

As a school that serves an increasingly diverse community, we take our responsibility to promote community cohesion, generate a respect for difference and individual rights seriously. We endeavour to develop the skills and understanding necessary to support pupils in making informed choices and to recognise the valuable role that they play as emerging citizens in British society.