Headteacher: Mrs Carol Taylor
Phone: 02380 843162
SPORTS AT ORCHARD
Our aim is to provide ample opportunity to our students to experience as many sports as possible during their time at Orchard Juniors. Entering in to the New Forest School Sport Partnership competitions, Southampton Football Leagues and Cup, as well as hosting numerous sporting events throughout the year ourselves at Orchard Juniors with other local schools; to provide a range of opportunities and events from inclusive festivals to competitive pathway events to allow opportunities for all levels of sports participation.
Children are encouraged in assemblies to attend lunch time training sessions for upcoming events, from which we select our teams.
🏆 Orchard Junior School Sports Awards 2025–26 🏆
Today we celebrated another record-breaking year for Team Orchard at our annual Sports Awards, recognising the incredible achievements, commitment and character shown by our pupils throughout the year.
We are incredibly proud to announce that 253 pupils represented Team Orchard this year – a 17% increase on last year's record. More children have worn an Orchard shirt than ever before, reflecting our commitment to providing opportunities for every child to enjoy and learn through sport.
This year we expanded our inclusive sports programme by 73%, increasing from 11 to 19 events, with pupils taking part in activities including boccia, new age kurling, multi-skills, dodgeball, spikeball and target games. We also increased our competitive calendar by 12%, introducing new opportunities such as rounders and continuing our progression to county-level competition.Our pupils proudly represented the New Forest at eight County Finals, showcasing not only their sporting ability but also the teamwork, resilience and determination that defines Team Orchard.
📈 A record-breaking year included:
🏅 20 school records broken across 13 different events.
🥇 34 team medals from 29 competitive events:
9 Gold
14 Silver
11 Bronze
🥇 22 individual medals:
7 Gold
7 Silver
8 Bronze
While the medals and records are fantastic achievements, what has made us most proud this year has been the way our pupils have represented Orchard. From outstanding behaviour at events, respect shown to officials and opponents, acts of honesty and integrity, friendships formed across year groups and schools, to the laughter and memories created on every minibus journey – these are the moments that truly define school sport.
🏆 Team of the Year Awards
👏 Year 3 & 4 Team of the Year – Year 4 Girls' Cross Country Team - Nancy, Charlotte, GeorgieA fantastic display of determination, teamwork and encouragement saw the girls claim team gold. Every runner played their part, supporting one another throughout and proving that hard work and commitment produce outstanding results.
👏 Year 5 & 6 Team of the Year – Basketball A Team - Alfie, Bradley, Brody, George, Ella, Isla, Lara, Maia & Tilly
History makers. Our Basketball A Team became New Forest and County Champions, securing an incredible double gold for the first time in Orchard history. Their success was built on outstanding teamwork, tactical awareness, resilience under pressure and moments of individual brilliance, creating one of the most memorable sporting achievements our school has seen.
⭐ Year 3 & 4 Sportsperson of the Year
Congratulations to Thea.Thea's award recognises far more than a school record. Throughout the year she demonstrated exceptional commitment, positivity and determination, setting herself the personal goal of becoming the first lower school girl to jump 2 metres. After months of dedicated practice, she achieved that goal at the final athletics event of the year, setting a new lower school long jump record. A brilliant example that talent sets the floor, but hard work sets the ceiling.
And we rounded off the celebration with our highest sporting honour:🌟 Orchard Junior Sporting Achievement Award
Congratulations to Ella.
Ella's four-year journey at Orchard has been truly exceptional. An outstanding all-round athlete, inspirational leader and role model, she has represented the school across an incredible range of sports, captaining both our netball and athletics teams, serving as House Captain and Sports Leader, becoming our all-time appearance record holder with an incredible 70 school caps, and breaking seven school records across running, jumping and throwing.
While her achievements and records are remarkable, they are only part of the story. Ella has consistently demonstrated humility, resilience, selflessness and an unwavering commitment to improvement. She has always led by example, putting her teammates first, embracing every challenge and responding to setbacks with determination and maturity.Her impact on Orchard extends far beyond medals and records. Through her leadership, character and love of sport, Ella has set the standard for others to follow and leaves behind a legacy that will inspire future generations. She is a truly deserving recipient of the Orchard Junior Sporting Achievement Award.
A huge thank you to all of our pupils, staff, parents and volunteers who have supported school sport this year. Together we've created another unforgettable year for Team Orchard and we can't wait to see what next year brings! 💚💛
This week, our Year 3/4 Cricket Team competed in the final New Forest Schools sporting event of the school year at Calmore Cricket Club.
The team performed brilliantly throughout the day, growing in confidence with every match and showing fantastic teamwork, determination and sportsmanship. Every player made a valuable contribution, whether with important runs, outstanding fielding or supporting their teammates.
Their efforts earned them an impressive 5th place overall and the Tier 2 Winners' Medal – a fantastic achievement to round off the year.A huge well done to everyone involved on a brilliant performance and a great way to finish an incredible year of school sport.
Finally, we'd like to thank our School Games Organiser, Mark Lavelle and the New Forest School Sport Partnership for providing such a fantastic programme of competitions and opportunities throughout the year. We can't wait to be back competing again next school year!
Year 6 have rounded off their last PE lesson with an Inter-House Rounders Tournament - great fun and effort from all!
Yesterday, we travelled to Winchester Athletics Stadium for the County Athletics Finals, proudly representing the New Forest area for the fifth consecutive year. Competing in increasingly warm conditions, the team showed incredible resilience, determination and sportsmanship, achieving a fantastic number of new personal bests.
We also celebrated two new school records:
🏃♀️ Ella – Girls’ 75m Sprint
🏅 Tilly – Total Girls’ Quad Kids Points
We couldn’t be prouder of the team’s outstanding efforts. Their hard work and commitment have once again been rewarded with a silver medal, meaning we have now achieved a top-two finish at the County Athletics Finals for five consecutive years.
This continued success is no coincidence. It is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of both our pupils and staff, whose collective efforts continue to produce outstanding results year after year.
An amazing performance from every member of the team. Well done, everyone – you should all be incredibly proud!
This week, we attended the New Forest Schools Rounders Competition 🏅 The team had a brilliant time, showing fantastic adaptability as they quickly picked up the rules, tactics and game strategies. Their resilience, teamwork and all-round determination were on display throughout the day. Played in a round-robin format, the team finished an incredible 2nd place with 6 wins and just 2 defeats 👏 An amazing achievement for everyone involved — and for some, their very first school sports medal! 🥇 A huge congratulations to the team — we’re so proud of you all! 🎉
COUNTY CHAMPIONS 🏆
Last month, our Year 5 & 6 Basketball Team proudly represented the New Forest after winning gold at our regional event back in December.Travelling to Solent University, home of the Solent Kestrels, the team competed on top-tier courts against the best in the county — and they were outstanding from start to finish.
The tournament format saw the girls play the first half and the boys the second, with both scores combined for the final result. Orchard qualified for the knockout stages undefeated, showing incredible teamwork and determination throughout.
Our toughest test came in the quarter-finals against a strong Springhill side from Southampton. After a tense 4-4 draw in normal time and extra time, it went to sudden-death penalty shots. Springhill missed, and up stepped Maia — calm, composed, and fearless — to secure the win with a brilliant finish off the backboard.
The team carried that momentum into the semi-finals before setting up a final against New Forest rivals Blackfield — a repeat of our regional final.
With outstanding technical skill, determined defence, and brilliant tactical play, the team delivered a superb 7-2 victory to be crowned County Champions for the very first time! 🥇
A huge congratulations to all of our players — history made!
Last week, we attended the New Forest Schools Year 3–4 Tennis Tournament qualifying event at Totton Tennis Centre 🎾
Both teams showcased some fantastic tennis across a brilliant afternoon, improving with every match and competing with great determination.
Most importantly, they represented our school with pride, respect, and excellent sportsmanship throughout.
Results:
A Team: 3rd
B Team: 8th
Congratulations to both teams, who have also both qualified for the next round in July! A great effort from everyone involved—well done team! 👏
Earlier this week, we competed in the New Forest Schools Hockey Tournament at Arnewood School 🏑
Both teams performed brilliantly, improving with every match and taking on board what they learned to finish the day playing their best hockey. Their teamwork, determination and sportsmanship were outstanding throughout - representing the school superbly from start to finish.🏅 Results:
A Team (White) – 🥉 3rd place
B Team (Yellow) – 5th place
A fantastic effort from all players—well done everyone! 👏
Yesterday, we took 36 runners to the New Forest Schools Cross Country event at Gang Warily 🏃♂️🌲With ideal racing conditions and a highly competitive field, every one of our athletes performed brilliantly. They showed determination, resilience and fantastic team spirit - supporting each other from the start line right through to the finish.
Each race included around 100 runners and 20 teams, making these results even more impressive:🏅
Results:
Year 5 Boys – 5th place
Year 5 Girls B – 12th place
Year 5 Girls A – 5th place
Year 6 Boys B – 13th place
Year 6 Boys A – 🥈 2nd place
⭐ Kaan – 3rd place individually
Year 6 Girls B – 6th place
Year 6 Girls A – 🥇 1st place
⭐ Ella – 3rd place individually
An incredible effort from all runners—well done to everyone involved! 👏
Girls’ Football County Finals
Today, our girls’ football team travelled to Fleet to compete in the Hampshire County Finals, proudly representing the New Forest.
After the tournament was postponed last month due to heavy rain at Stoneham—right in the middle of play—we resumed the competition at a new venue, building on what had already been a strong start. Having secured a place in the top tier, the girls entered another group stage determined to continue their momentum. They began brilliantly, playing with energy, confidence, and attacking intent. Their composure on the ball and teamwork were evident throughout, allowing them to control games effectively. After a series of strong performances, they progressed to the semi-finals with 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss).
In the semi-final, they faced Hook and Warsash in a thrilling and closely contested match. Neither side could be separated, leading to a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our day, and we narrowly missed out to the eventual tournament winners.
The team then competed in the 3rd/4th place playoff against Heatherside. Despite a dominant display and creating numerous chances, they were denied repeatedly by an outstanding performance from the opposition goalkeeper. A goal conceded on the counterattack proved decisive, and time ran out before we could find an equaliser.
Finishing 4th in the county marks our second-best result as a school—an outstanding achievement.
The girls demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. You did yourselves and Orchard incredibly proud—congratulations! 👏⚽
County Netball Finals:
On Monday, our Year 6 Netball team travelled to Embley School to compete in the Hampshire Netball Finals, facing 22 of the top qualifying teams from across the county and proudly representing the New Forest.
After a steady start, the team used their opening match to find their rhythm, narrowly losing to a strong Hook and Warsash side. However, they responded immediately with determination and teamwork, going on an impressive seven-game winning streak. This excellent run saw them progress into the top tier of the competition, finishing the group stages with an outstanding record of 8 wins and just 2 defeats.
Their success secured a place in the semi-finals, where they were drawn once again against Hook and Warsash. In a fantastic display of growth and resilience, the team turned the tables on their earlier opponents, working brilliantly together to secure a hard-fought 1–0 victory in a tight and highly competitive match.
Reaching the final was a huge achievement and the team gave everything in their last game. Despite a strong performance, they finished as runners-up after a 7–4 defeat. Bringing home the silver medal, this marks Orchards’ best ever netball result and is an achievement the whole team should be incredibly proud of.
Well done to everyone involved – you were truly outstanding!
Sportshall County Athletics Report
On Monday, we attended Aldershot Garrison for the Sportshall County Finals, proudly representing the New Forest area alongside Marchwood Junior School. Our children performed brilliantly throughout the competition, demonstrating great determination, teamwork and resilience. Many achieved personal bests in their events and their commitment was especially evident in the relay races, where excellent teamwork and encouragement for one another shone through. We are delighted to congratulate all pupils on their fantastic individual and team performances. Their positive attitude and sportsmanship were a credit to the school.
Final Results:🥈 2nd place overall – narrowly behind fellow New Forest school, Marchwood Junior School.
This result marks an incredible achievement, as it is now three consecutive years that the two New Forest schools have secured the top two positions at the Sportshall Athletics County Finals.
Well done to everyone involved – a truly outstanding accomplishment!
On Wednesday, we took two teams to compete in the New Forest Handball Regional Tournament. With the sun shining, the children brought fantastic energy that matched the fast-paced and exciting nature of the game.Both teams demonstrated excellent teamwork, resilience and individual determination throughout the afternoon. The players showed great improvement as the tournament progressed, supporting one another, working hard in defence and attack and never giving up in closely contested matches.It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and effort from everyone involved, with all players representing the school brilliantly while developing their confidence and skills in a competitive environment.
Our B Team (Yellow) qualified for Tier 2 and showed great development throughout their matches, finishing 3rd in Tier 2 and a very respectable 7th place overall.
Our A Team (White) qualified for the top tier after winning all of their games in the seeding round. They continued their excellent form in Tier 1, winning two of their three matches, only narrowly losing to the eventual winners by a single goal. This outstanding performance secured 2nd place overall, the silver medal and a place in the County Finals in July on the Isle of Wight.
Well done to both teams for their excellent performances and positive attitude throughout the tournament — you should all be very proud of yourselves. Best of luck to our A Team in the County Finals!
On Tuesday, three Year 6 pupils proudly represented the New Forest at the County Cross Country Championships in Basingstoke.These three runners have shown fantastic dedication by attending weekly training sessions with Mrs Simmons at our Cross Country lunchtime club. During these sessions they have worked hard to develop their running technique, race tactics and build a strong endurance base in preparation for race day. Their commitment and determination throughout the season has been fantastic to witness.
The County Cross Country Championships feature a particularly challenging course. The races are tightly packed and require experience and confidence to navigate successfully. All three pupils performed excellently, demonstrating that their hard work and preparation truly paid off.Both races included well over 100 runners from across Hampshire, making their achievements even more impressive.
Results
Boys’ Race
Kaan – 8th place (2nd in the New Forest and Orchard’s highest ever finisher at this event)
Spencer – 76th place
Girls’ Race
Isla – 61st place (6th in the New Forest)
An incredible individual effort from all three runners — we are extremely proud of you!Cross Country Club
Reminder Don’t forget our lunchtime Cross Country club every Wednesday from 12:15pm–12:45pm. All children are welcome! Whether you’d like to compete in future races or simply improve your fitness, bring your shorts or joggers and trainers and meet on the field at 12:15pm. We look forward to seeing you there! 🏃♂️🏃♀️
Last week, our hardworking and talented badminton team represented the New Forest area at the County Finals in Portsmouth. This marks the fifth consecutive year that we have represented our area and these students continue to build on our proud and successful badminton tradition.As expected, the standard of play at the County Finals was extremely high. Our young players rose to the challenge, delivering some of their strongest performances both individually and as a team.
After the seeding round, we qualified for Tier 2 of the competition, giving us the opportunity to compete for the Silver Cup. We narrowly missed out on the top tier by points scored in what was an incredibly tight group phase.
We are incredibly proud to say that the team rallied together and through hard work and determination, won all of their matches in the Silver Cup competition to claim the trophy, finishing 7th in the county overall — an outstanding achievement.
Congratulations to the team. You were a pleasure to take to the tournament and represented the school brilliantly.
Recently, we took 12 enthusiastic lower school children to a Gymnastics Festival at Noadswood School. The children had a brilliant time and represented our school and it's values flawlessly. The children participated in a range of gymnastics activities including, using springboards and trampettes, performing individual and partner balances and exploring actions on the balance beams. Well done everyone you were excellent.
Yesterday, we took two Girls’ Football teams to Testwood School for the New Forest Schools tournament.
The girls played brilliantly all afternoon, showcasing their talent, hard work and teamwork throughout. Although we didn’t quite avoid the rain — with a few showers passing through — we were lucky to enjoy some sunny spells too. Despite the mixed weather, we had a fantastic time!
Orchard Whites secured a spot in Tier 1 after an impressive seeding round, winning all three of their opening matches. They continued their outstanding form in Tier 1, controlling games for long periods and playing excellent football. With two draws, one win and one very unfortunate loss, they finished 3rd overall — bringing home the bronze medal.Well done, girls — you were fantastic!
Orchard Yellows qualified for Tier 3 following the seeding round and showed great determination throughout the competition. They worked brilliantly as a team, defended resolutely, and were incredibly hard to beat all day. They also scored some superb individual and team goals.A great effort, girls — you were brilliant!
Last week, we took two badminton teams to the New Forest Schools Tournament at LIFT New Forest.The children have been working incredibly hard during after-school clubs and break-time training sessions to hone their skills and develop strong teamwork in their doubles matches — and their dedication certainly paid off!
Both teams played brilliant badminton throughout the afternoon. There were some exciting rallies and extremely competitive fixtures, with several matches only being decided by the narrowest of margins. The standard of play was outstanding and the sportsmanship on display was fantastic to see.
🥈 B Team – Tier 2 WinnersOur B team qualified for Tier 2, where they continued to grow in confidence and sharpen their match-play skills. Their determination and teamwork earned them the Tier 2 Winners Medal — a fantastic achievement.Well done, team — you were excellent!
🥇 A Team – Overall ChampionsOur A team delivered outstanding performances across the entire tournament. Battling for every single point against very strong opposition, they won every game they played — an incredible accomplishment!
They were crowned overall tournament winners and will now travel to Portsmouth after half term to compete in the County Finals.
Amazing work, team — we are so proud of you and wish you the very best of luck at the County Finals!
Sportshall Athletics Success!
This Saturday, our three qualified teams travelled to Testwood School to compete in the New Forest Sportshall Athletics Finals, all aiming to secure a place in the County Finals this March.
With three teams of eight, every athlete gave absolutely everything — and it showed! Our young athletes achieved an outstanding number of personal best performances, highlighting the hard work, commitment and talent across our teams.
What truly stood out was the attitude and sportsmanship of our students. They competed with determination and passion, supported one another throughout and upheld the true spirit of competition with integrity, demonstrating fantastic team spirit, respect and resilience — a real credit to the school.
New School Records Achieved!
• Tilly – Girls Long Jump
• Zino – Boys Long Jump
• Ella – Girls Chest Push
Incredible individual performances from all three athletes!
Team Results:
• C Team – 10th place
• B Team – 7th place
• A Team – 2nd place (qualifying for the County Finals!)
A huge well done to all athletes involved — we are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see what you achieve next!
Football Tournament Report
Today, our superb Boys’ and Girls’ Year 5 & 6 Football Teams travelled a short distance to Staplewood Training Ground, home of Southampton FC, to compete in the Southampton Regional Finals of the Utilita Cup and Premier League Primary Stars tournaments.
It was a fantastic day of football, showcasing the incredible talent from schools across Southampton. With the winners earning the chance to represent Southampton FC at the Southern Area Finals, the stakes could not have been higher.
Both competitions followed a modern, Champions League–style group format. Each team played five randomly selected opponents from an eight-team league table, with the top four progressing to the knockout stages. Semi-finals and finals would then decide the overall champions.
Girls’ Team
Our Girls’ team made an excellent start to the tournament, recording two wins, two draws and one defeat in the group stage. This strong performance secured 4th place and a well-deserved spot in the semi-finals.
In the semi-final, the girls faced St Francis in a closely contested and exciting match. Despite a huge effort and a determined performance, they narrowly lost 1–0 to the eventual tournament winners.
The girls then competed in the 3rd/4th place playoff against Hook with Warsash. After a tense 0–0 draw, the match was decided by penalties. Orchard held their nerve, with a brilliantly taken spot-kick from Olivia and a superb save from Isla in goal sealing the win.
An outstanding achievement — 3rd place in Southampton. Congratulations, girls, we are incredibly proud of you.
Boys’ Team
The Boys’ team took a few games to settle into the tournament but soon found their rhythm, playing some excellent football and controlling matches with confidence. They finished the group stage with two wins, one draw and two losses, placing 4th and securing a semi-final spot.
In the semi-final, the boys faced Crescent. After a hard-fought 0–0 draw, the match went to penalties. Calm finishes from Spencer, Brody and Jenson, combined with an excellent save from Ben in goal, sent Orchard through to the final against fellow New Forest school, Bartley.
The final was a true spectacle and a fitting end to a high-quality tournament. Both teams played with immense spirit, determination and attacking intent. After going a goal down, our boys showed great resilience to level the match at 1–1, but heartbreak followed in the final moments as Bartley managed to score a late winner.
Congratulations to Bartley, and we wish them the very best in the next round. Our boys could not have given any more — they represented themselves and our school brilliantly. 2nd place in Southampton is an incredible achievement. Well done, boys!
We are incredibly proud of both teams, well done teams!
Remember football lunchtime clubs Tuesday (boys) & Friday (girls) with more football opportunities coming up very soon.