It is hard to believe how quickly the first few weeks of term have flown by. As we walk around the school, it is wonderful to see classrooms full of learning, pupils growing in confidence, staff supporting one another, and our school community settling into the year ahead.

We have already enjoyed some fantastic experiences, from colourful community events and outdoor adventures to exciting new opportunities for student leadership and wellbeing. As always, there is a great deal happening across Orchard Manor, and we are delighted to share some of the highlights with you.

This term has reminded us that Orchard Manor is at its very best when pupils, families and staff work together, support one another and embrace every opportunity that comes our way. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to another successful and rewarding year together.  

Neon Fun Run Success

On Wednesday, 16 of our girls travelled to Okehampton with Catherine and a fantastic team of TAs to take part in the Active Devon Neon Fun Run.  The event was all about encouraging girls to enjoy being active, and our students certainly embraced every moment! The day began with everyone designing and painting their own vibrant t-shirts, which they proudly wore around the course. Girls could choose between a 2km or 5km route, and whether they ran, jogged or walked, the focus was simply on taking part and having fun.  A huge well done to them all!  It was wonderful to see them enjoying the experience, getting involved and making memories while taking part in such a positive community event. 

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition

Our Year 11 and Post 16 students put their skills, resilience and teamwork to the test while completing their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition along the beautiful River Wye.  The groups either walked or cycled from Monmouth to their campsite, travelling via the stunning Symonds Yat. Using only their maps and navigation skills, they successfully found their way to camp whilst also taking part in a treasure hunt to uncover the legendary treasure of Viking explorer Eric Bloodaxe, who is said to have sailed the River Wye many years ago!  The adventures continued with groups hiking, canoeing and cycling over the next few days as they worked towards completing their expedition challenge, developing independence, problem-solving skills, teamwork and determination - all key elements of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.  We are incredibly proud of how well everyone is representing Orchard Manor School. Good luck to all our adventurers for the rest of the expedition!

Our Fabulous New Year 7s

We have been incredibly pleased with how well our Year 7 pupils have settled into life at Orchard Manor and over the past few weeks, staff have taken the time to get to know each pupil as an individual, developing a deeper understanding of their strengths, needs and how they learn best.  As a result, we are making some adjustments to classroom and room arrangements to ensure that every pupil is in the most appropriate environment to support their learning, wellbeing and overall success. These changes have been carefully considered and reflect our commitment to helping every child thrive as they continue their Orchard Manor journey. If any of our Year 7 parents wish to discuss the moves, please contact your child's tutor.  

Outdoor Education Making a Splash!

We've had a brilliant start to our Outdoor Education activities, with pupils getting out on the water and making the most of some fantastic experiences. Over the past few weeks, students have been kayaking, bell boating and paddleboarding, and it's safe to say they've loved every minute of it! From trying something completely new to simply enjoying being outdoors with friends, there have been lots of smiles, laughter and memorable moments along the way. It's been wonderful to see pupils building confidence, having fun and returning to school keen to tell us all about their latest adventure.  

New Prefects and New Responsibilities

Applications for this year's prefect roles have now been handed in, and we are excited to see who will put themselves forward for these important positions. Being a prefect is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills, take on additional responsibilities and make a positive contribution to the school community. We are fortunate to have so many pupils who demonstrate kindness, integrity, resilience and a willingness to support others, and we look forward to hearing how they would like to make a difference as student leaders. We wish the very best of luck to everyone applying!

Join Our Team

At Orchard Manor, we know that our greatest strength is our people. Every member of staff plays a vital role in helping our pupils grow in confidence, overcome challenges and achieve their potential. As our school continues to develop, we are looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join our team in a range of exciting roles, including Catering Manager, Caretaker, Family Liaison Officer and Deputy Headteacher.

These are fantastic opportunities to become part of a supportive and ambitious school community where relationships matter, teamwork is valued and every day brings the chance to make a genuine difference in the lives of children and young people. If you share our commitment to helping pupils thrive and would like to be part of the Orchard Manor journey, I would encourage you to explore these opportunities or share them with someone who may be interested. I would be delighted to welcome more talented individuals to our team.

Further details can be found here.

A Reminder: We Are a Nut-Free School

The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff is always our highest priority, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind families that Orchard Manor School is a nut-free school. Several members of our school community live with severe nut allergies, and even small amounts of nut products can pose significant health risks. We kindly ask parents and carers to check packed lunches, snacks and treats carefully before sending them into school and to avoid any products that contain nuts or may contain traces of nuts. We know this requires a little extra care, and we are incredibly grateful for your support and understanding. 

Devon County Council Area SEND Ofsted inspection

Finally, parents and carers will have received an email today, inviting them to share their views and experiences as part of the upcoming government monitoring process for Specialist Provision Trust. We would be extremely grateful if you could take a few moments to complete the survey when you receive it. Your feedback plays a vital role in helping those carrying out the review understand the experiences of our school community and the positive impact Orchard Manor has on the lives of our pupils and families. Thank you in advance for your time, support and continued partnership with the school.

That's all for now.  Have a lovely weekend everyone!  

Nicola Jones - Headteacher

Dates for your Diary

Parents Evening - Tuesday 20 October  Upper Campus will receive invitations to book meetings with staff and the Lower School tutors will be in touch with  arrangements for that day.

Half Term - Monday 26 - Friday 30 October with a non-pupil day on 2 November - We will see everyone back in school on Tuesday 3 November at 9:10am.