Cherry Orchard Primary School sits in the heart of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, close to the city's most treasured heritage landmarks—the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park, and the Maritime Museum. This one-form-entry state primary school for ages 4 to 11 is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in November 2024, and serves approximately 180 pupils in a calm, values-driven environment. The school's mission statement, "To go further than I thought. To reach higher than I dreamed. To become the person I need to be," frames a curriculum enriched by cultural partnerships with the National Gallery, Heritage Centre, and London Schools Gold Club. Cherry Orchard holds multiple awards, including Artsmark, Healthy Schools recognition, and the Inclusion Quality Mark, and it stands as one of the five most oversubscribed state primaries in Greenwich for first-preference Reception applications.
Cherry Orchard Primary School's ethos is rooted in aspiration and character education. Core values of Aspiration, Resilience, Compassion, Friendship, Courage, and Honesty shape the school day and underpin relationships between staff, pupils, and families. The school's setting in the historic heart of Greenwich enables regular, meaningful links with cultural institutions, and these experiences become integral to the curriculum rather than occasional extras. Pupils visit the National Gallery, engage with local heritage programmes, and benefit from the school's membership of the London Schools Gold Club, which broadens their understanding of the capital's cultural richness.
Part of the Acorn Federation Greenwich, Cherry Orchard operates as a single-form-entry school with one class per year group. This structure fosters a close-knit community in which staff know every child individually, and relationships between pupils across year groups are strong. The school day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm, with a purposeful rhythm that balances academic rigour with pastoral care. A notable feature of the school's wellbeing provision is Cooper, a school mentor dog who supports pupils' emotional development and provides comfort in moments of anxiety or stress.
Ofsted's November 2024 inspection confirmed the school's Good rating, noting that pupils behave well, show respect, and contribute to a calm atmosphere throughout the building. The school's trajectory reflects sustained commitment: it was rated Outstanding in 2015, Good in 2019, and Good again in 2024, demonstrating consistent quality even as inspection frameworks have evolved. Mrs Maria Hill has served as headteacher since October 2015, providing long-term leadership continuity, with Mrs McEnroe currently acting as Head of School.
Cherry Orchard Primary School's academic performance is in line with national expectations, with recent results indicating solid progress in core subjects. At Key Stage 2, 84% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, well above the national average of 62%. The school's average scaled scores in reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation, and spelling all stood at 105 or 106, comfortably above the national standard of 100. In reading, 79% of pupils met the expected standard, with 24% achieving the higher standard. In maths, 83% reached the expected level, and 17% exceeded it. In grammar, punctuation, and spelling, 79% met the standard, while 28% attained a high score.
The proportion of pupils achieving greater depth in writing was 21%, and 21% of pupils reached the high standard across reading, writing, and maths—substantially above the national average of 8% for this measure. In science, 86% of pupils reached the expected standard, compared to a national figure of 82%. These outcomes place Cherry Orchard among the stronger-performing primaries in Greenwich, ranking 44th locally and achieving an England rank of 6,365—placing it broadly in the middle tier nationally.
The curriculum is broad and carefully sequenced, with early reading and writing development prioritised from Reception onwards. Teachers use systematic phonics instruction and provide regular opportunities for pupils to practise and apply new skills. Music, Religious Education, and the Forest School programme add depth to the curriculum, with the latter offering outdoor learning experiences that build resilience, teamwork, and environmental awareness. The school also maintains partnerships with Oxleas Children's Therapies to support pupils with additional needs.
Provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is a strength identified by Ofsted. The school identifies needs early and provides targeted support through a combination of in-class intervention, small-group work, and partnerships with external specialists. The Inclusion Quality Mark reflects the school's commitment to ensuring every pupil can access the curriculum and make meaningful progress. Bullying is rare, according to the inspection, and when incidents occur, they are dealt with swiftly and fairly.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
84%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
Cherry Orchard's small size—one class per year group with an average class size of 29—means pupils benefit from a tight-knit community and strong pastoral care. The school's low pupil-to-teacher ratio allows for individualised attention, and staff are responsive to the varied needs of their cohort. Extracurricular provision includes sports, arts, and enrichment activities, and the school has been recognised for its work in promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental responsibility, including recycling initiatives.
Facilities are well-maintained and include specialist spaces for music and art, reflecting the school's Artsmark accreditation. The Forest School programme, delivered on-site or at nearby outdoor spaces, provides pupils with hands-on learning in nature. The school's location in central Greenwich means pupils are within walking distance of world-class museums, parks, and historic sites, and teachers make regular use of these resources to bring subjects to life.
Cherry Orchard Primary School is one of the most competitive state primaries in Greenwich. In the most recent admissions round, the school received 90 applications for just 17 Reception places, making it oversubscribed by a factor of more than 5 to 1. All first-preference applicants who received an offer did so, but the subscription ratio indicates intense demand. The furthest distance offered in recent years was 0.674 miles, reflecting the small catchment area and the school's popularity within the immediate neighbourhood.
Admissions are coordinated by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and applications are submitted through the national eAdmissions portal at www.eadmissions.org.uk. The standard admissions criteria apply: looked-after children and previously looked-after children are prioritised, followed by children with siblings at the school, and then children living nearest to the school measured by straight-line distance. Living within the historic catchment area does not guarantee a place; distance from the school and sibling links are decisive factors in most years.
Parents considering Cherry Orchard should be aware that proximity to the school is critical. Families living more than approximately 0.7 miles away are unlikely to secure a place unless exceptional circumstances apply. Visiting the school is encouraged, and the admissions page on the school website provides clear guidance on the application process and key dates. Reception pupils are admitted in the September following their fourth birthday.
Applications
90
Total received
Places Offered
17
Subscription Rate
5.3x
Apps per place
Cherry Orchard Primary School is a strong, stable, community-focused primary serving the heart of historic Greenwich. Its location near world-class cultural landmarks is not incidental but central to the school's identity, with regular partnerships enriching the curriculum and broadening pupils' horizons. Academic results are consistently above national averages, with particularly strong performance in the combined reading, writing, and maths measure and in the proportion of pupils reaching greater depth. Ofsted's Good rating, sustained over multiple inspection cycles, reflects a school that knows its pupils well, supports them effectively, and maintains high expectations for behaviour and achievement.
The school's small size is a double-edged sword: it fosters intimacy, strong relationships, and individualised support, but it also means places are extremely scarce. With one class per year group and oversubscription exceeding five to one, this is a school for which proximity is everything. Families who live very close to Rectory Field Crescent and who value a values-led, culturally engaged education will find Cherry Orchard an excellent choice. Those further afield should prepare realistic backup options, as the catchment is tightly drawn.
For parents seeking a nurturing, well-led primary school with strong academic foundations, a calm ethos, and meaningful links to the cultural wealth of Greenwich, Cherry Orchard delivers. It is not a school that shouts about itself, but its results, its awards, and its consistent Ofsted ratings speak to a quiet, effective excellence.
Yes. Cherry Orchard Primary School is rated Good by Ofsted as of November 2024. It achieves well above national averages in Key Stage 2 assessments, with 84% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared to a national average of 62%. The school is recognised for its strong pastoral care, effective SEND provision, and calm, respectful atmosphere.
Applications are made through the Royal Borough of Greenwich via the national eAdmissions portal at www.eadmissions.org.uk. The school admits Reception pupils in the September following their fourth birthday. Standard Greenwich admissions criteria apply, prioritising looked-after children, siblings, and then proximity to the school. The furthest distance offered in recent years was 0.674 miles.
Cherry Orchard's core values are Aspiration, Resilience, Compassion, Friendship, Courage, and Honesty. These values underpin the school's ethos and are woven into the curriculum, behaviour expectations, and daily interactions.
The school holds Artsmark, Healthy Schools recognition, the Inclusion Quality Mark, and environmental awards for its recycling initiatives. These reflect the school's commitment to arts education, pupil wellbeing, inclusive practice, and environmental responsibility.
Yes. Cherry Orchard offers a Forest School programme that provides outdoor learning experiences, building resilience, teamwork, and environmental awareness. This programme complements the mainstream curriculum and is available to pupils across the school.
Cherry Orchard identifies special educational needs early and provides targeted support through in-class intervention, small-group work, and partnerships with external specialists, including Oxleas Children's Therapies. The school holds the Inclusion Quality Mark and was praised by Ofsted for its effective SEND provision.
The school is located at Rectory Field Crescent, Marlborough Lane, Charlton, London SE7 7DG, in the heart of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is close to Royal Greenwich Park, the Cutty Sark, and the Maritime Museum, and these cultural landmarks play an active role in the school's curriculum.
Extremely competitive. The school received 90 applications for 17 Reception places in the most recent admissions round, making it one of the five most oversubscribed state primaries in Greenwich for first-preference applications. The furthest distance offered was 0.674 miles, so proximity is essential.
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