020 8742 8544

Headmistress's Welcome

Welcome to Orchard House

To help a child achieve their personal best, we must engage their attention and stimulate their imagination. The combination of highly motivated teachers, small classes and our exciting and diverse curriculum nurtures each child’s individual academic and creative talents with a sense of fun and purpose.

Sport encourages a respectful, competitive attitude, teaching children the value of camaraderie. Similarly, music and drama can create increased levels of confidence and self-esteem.

We foster a sense of adventure and all activities take place within an atmosphere of warmth and openness, encouraging pupils in independent thought. Our Pupil Pastoral Plan monitors the well-being of each child and was recently shortlisted for a national award.

The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded Orchard House the highest accolades of ‘excellent’ in all areas and ‘exceptional’ in achievements and learning. These are mirrored in our first-class academic results. We warmly invite you to visit us at Orchard House School. 

To obtain a prospectus, have a chat or arrange a visit, please do telephone the school office on 020 8742 8544 or contact the school by email at info@orchardhs.org.uk.

Mrs Maria Edwards

Read our ISI report

 

Tatler 2020

Tatler Schools Guide 2020

Orchard House features in Tatler magazine’s Schools Guide to the top prep and public schools in the UK.

‘One pupil reports that Orchard House, a House Group school in leafy Chiswick, is truly ‘perfect’. Prospective parents are encouraged to put names down at birth, and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Leavers head on to Hampton, Godolphin & Latymer and Kew House having enjoyed excellent teaching (staff wellbeing is taken very seriously – they have their own clubs including ultimate frisbee), sporting prowess – Year 6 swimmers reached the IAPS final this year – and clubs galore. Not to mention the fabulous food made by Le Cordon Bleu-trained Miss Polly (including lemon thyme chicken with parsley new potatoes). Az, the caretaker, knows every child by name (and always greets them with a Famous smile); Orchard’s Got Talent is the high­light of the year; and the first girls’ rugby team stormed through their inaugural season.’  (Tatler 2020)

READ WHAT TATLER SAYS ABOUT us in 2019
Orchard House smiling girl

Our Ethos

Every child can learn to fly

Our outstanding results repeatedly show that all children can learn to fly, regardless of early learning ability.

Great minds think for themselves; nurturing individuality is at the heart of our teaching. We believe tailor-made teaching opens up young minds to endless possibilities, encouraging them to think creatively and form their own ideas.

Our pupils mostly call it having fun.
We call it being the best they can be.

A full statement of the school’s ethos and aims is available here.

Ethos in Action

Close relationships nurture individuality

 
Orchard House teacher and pupil reading together

Orchard House School was formerly a family home and retains a happy, welcoming atmosphere, starting at the front door where the headmistress or a senior staff member greets each child by name every morning.

Currently we have approximately 300 pupils and 47 teaching staff, allowing each child a great deal of individual attention. It is very rare there are more than 20 pupils in any class, and in the early years there are three teaching adults in attendance. Small group and 1:1 sessions are commonplace.

Teachers take lunch with the children and our extensive extra-curricular activities allow teachers and pupils to interact in a more informal atmosphere.

Our school is a place where every child feels valued and gains the confidence to fly.

School Philosophy

Cultivating academic tenacity

‘Do what you love, and don’t stop until you get what you love. Work as hard as you can, imagine immensities…’ Debbie Millman

A ‘can do’ attitude and academic tenacity are in our DNA. They are embedded in every aspect of school life from our curriculum, classroom, staffroom and sports fields to the playground and outside school activities.

If you were to say ‘I can’t do that’ to one of our pupils they would inevitably bellow back ‘I can’t do that YET.’  This mantra is often repeated at assemblies and has become a shorthand for understanding that resilience and perseverance pay off, which in turn feeds a passion for learning rather than a hunger for approval. 

Latest News

This week at Orchard House School

This is an extract from our latest online newsletter which you can read here.

We also publish on social media. See the footer of this website for links.

 
ICT Mark AccreditedIAPS Excellence in education

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) update

We are delighted that the school has now reopened to the children in the Den, Lower 1, Form 1 and Form 6. However, as a school community, we must all help to limit any further spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and following government advice, our pupils in Forms 2, 3, 4 and 5 are continuing with their education via a distance learning platform.

We are keen to return to our usual position of warmly welcoming you back to Orchard House as soon as possible, but are not yet able to offer you the opportunity to visit the school in person.  If you have any further queries, please email info@orchardhs.org.uk or registrar@orchardhs.org.uk

We hope that all in our community keep safe and well and thank you for your understanding during this unsettling period.

Do please join us on a virtual tour.