Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust

Who we are

Orchard Hill College (the College) and Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust) together form Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT), a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. As an Outstanding provider (Ofsted 2019) and Academy sponsor, Orchard Hill College has a strong track record for making a positive impact within the local communities it serves.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs including autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health; profound and multiple disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health needs.

Our ambition is to contribute further to improving the education offer for all pupils and students in our communities, including those with SEND. The College offers specialist educational programmes for students aged 16 and over in College centres and satellite provision in London and the South. The Academy Trust enables us to build on and extend scope of our work in these geographical areas, so that Academy pupils can also benefit from our expertise and access a greater range of opportunities arising from our strong community and stakeholder networks.

Supporting our College and Academies, OHC&AT also operates a range of services and support including Quality and Standards, Learning Support and Business Support.

Our culture and values

As a community of learners, families and colleagues OHC&AT believes that by working collaboratively, with energy and ambition we can always effect positive change. At the core of our ethos is the conviction that there should be no limit placed on what is possible and that everyone has the ability to be the very best they can be.

As an organisation, we adhere to the seven principles of public life to drive our behaviours and provide a framework for our actions. These are: leadership, openness, objectivity, selflessness, honesty, integrity and accountability. Within this framework, we have defined our own set of core values and behaviours based around the word ‘create’.

Confident, Respectful, Equitable, Advocacy, Team working, Enabling: CREATE

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust is committed to creating an inclusive environment, where people are treated with dignity and respect and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances so that everyone can achieve their potential.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity, not only because it is an important part of our mission, vision and values, but also because by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners, we will ensure the Trust’s future success.

We believe that everyone has the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination, regardless of their circumstances or background and to be appreciated for their genuine self.  In particular we make sure that all our policies and practice prevent discrimination against someone on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

We will consult and involve the Trust community in our decision making and use a number of forums to consult with our stakeholders.