Orion Spires is a mainstream secondary school in Canterbury, Kent, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 110 of its 620 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (5.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 620 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kent.
17.7% get SEN support
110 of 620 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.6% have an EHC plan
35 of 620 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health56
- Autism30
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia22
- Speech, language and communication21
- Moderate learning difficulty9
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 620 (places for 750)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ricky Archer (Principal)
- Part of
- Orion Education
- Free school meals
- 43.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 135305
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Kent council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, January 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Bredlands Lane, Sturry, Canterbury, CT2 0HD
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- The Archbishop's School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.5 miles
- Newingate School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.8 miles
- Bemix Independent · Ages 16–24 3.9 miles
- Reculver Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Orion Spires
How many pupils at Orion Spires have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 110 of the 620 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 35 (5.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Orion Spires?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (56 pupils), autism (30 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (22 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Orion Spires?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Orion Spires?
Through Kent council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Orion Spires?
You can ask for Orion Spires to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Orion Spires have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is The Archbishop's School, about 3.5 miles away.
Where is Orion Spires?
Bredlands Lane, Sturry, Canterbury, CT2 0HD, in Kent.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.