The Orchard School
Community special school in Oldbury (Sandwell).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Home About Us About Us Head Teachers Welcome It is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you to The Orchard School, a specialist provision for pupils aged between 4 and 11 years of age. We pride ourselves on being a vibrant, caring and a considerate school. We aim for every child to excel in every aspect of their development and school life.
Every child is an individual and is treated with dignity and respect. The Orchard School is a Maintained Special School for children with severe, profound, and complex learning difficulties and medical needs.
We have a purpose-built premises with excellent facilities which include a music and drama studio, white and dark room studios, soft playroom, sensory room, swimming and hydrotherapy pools and defined outdoor play areas for differing ages and abilities. Multi-agency teamwork is an essential and highly valued aspect of the school.
Along with teaching and classroom support staff, the school is supported by a multi-agency team of nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy colleagues, and a teacher of the visually impaired.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
7 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Climbing
- Dance
- Drama
- Football
- Orchestra
- Swimming
- Forest School
Awards
3 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
- Leading Parent Partnership AwardWorking with families
- Music MarkMusic
Key facts
- URN
- 132232
- Type
- Community special school
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery
- Has Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Sandwell
- Constituency
- Smethwick
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2000
Governing body (8 current, 2 former)
Special schools governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Grindulis | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2003 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie Hulse | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Elizabeth Hopewell | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2023 |
| Rachel Kelly | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Paul Glover | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Jessica Patel | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2016 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Pat Evans | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2015 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Hilary Veasey-Pugh | Governor | Appointed by LA | since 2015 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Leigh Noons Former | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Joanna Muyoti Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2021 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record