Preparing for Life at Orchard

Learning at Orchard is hands-on, meaningful, and designed to prepare our young people for the future.

Our curriculum is structured around clear learning journeys for both primary and secondary students. These journeys include practical, therapeutic, and vocational experiences, giving learners the opportunity to build real skills and grow in confidence.

Whether it’s caring for animals, growing food, working in our woodwork room or reptile bus, taking part in functional skills, learning taxidermy, or contributing to our eco projects – every experience is part of something purposeful. Students work towards personal goals, collect evidence of achievement, and develop a strong sense of pride in what they’re learning.

To support this, we’ve developed simple, sequenced frameworks that show how learning builds over time. Each framework includes key milestones, focus areas, and opportunities for personalisation – ensuring that every student, no matter their background or barriers, has a clear and supported path.

Alongside these journeys, we offer recognised qualifications in all subject areas, including functional skills, vocational tasters, and unit-based awards. These qualifications are tailored to the learner, giving them something meaningful to show for their hard work.

“This isn’t about fitting children into systems. It’s about building systems that fit the child.”