Orchard Junior School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · New Forest
Orchard Junior School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 3 October 2025, 9 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Water Lane, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton, SO45 4SB
How it compares in New Forest
That puts Orchard Junior School among the 1,153 places in New Forest holding top marks, 80% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,153 | 80% | ← Orchard Junior School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 183 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 69 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 6 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 138 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Orchard Junior School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Orchard Junior School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterlink at Noadswood School School/college/university | 426 yards away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2026 |
| Age Concern New Forest Horrill Centre Lunch Club Other catering premises | 0.5 miles away | 5 - Very good | 12 January 2025 |
| Arrosto Coffee & Ice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 January 2025 |
| Carpathia Grange Care Home Caring Premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 28 March 2025 |
| Ashdene Guest House Hotel/bed & breakfast/guest house | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 6 June 2018 |
| Cameo Lunch Club Other catering premises | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 20 November 2025 |
| Greenwood School School/college/university | 0.6 miles away | 5 - Very good | 15 April 2026 |
| Applemore Early Years Centre School/college/university | 0.7 miles away | 5 - Very good | 1 December 2025 |
Questions about Orchard Junior School
What is Orchard Junior School's food hygiene rating?
Orchard Junior School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by New Forest Council on 3 October 2025.
Is Orchard Junior School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Orchard Junior School last inspected?
Orchard Junior School was last inspected on 3 October 2025, 9 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by New Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Orchard Junior School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Orchard Junior School compare to other places in New Forest?
80% of the 1,435 rated food businesses in New Forest hold the top rating of 5, and Orchard Junior School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
New Forest Council inspects Orchard Junior School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Orchard Junior School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Orchard Junior School is one of 24 rated food businesses in Dibden Purlieu. See every hygiene rating in Dibden Purlieu →
New Forest inspects and rates 1,573 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in New Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newforest.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →