Ofsted: Requires improvement

Aspire School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Neil Dipple

corporate_fareBOURNE ALLIANCE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSittingbourne, ME10 5DA

language Visit Website phone 1795899788

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

152

school

Expected Standard

cake

Age Range

4-11

summarize

Aspire School is a Free schools special school in Sittingbourne, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

article

School Summary

Aspire School is a free schools special in Sittingbourne, Kent, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of BOURNE ALLIANCE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 188 pupils on roll, of whom 40% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 8.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%

Reading0% LA 74%

Writing0% LA 72%

Maths0% LA 70%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 60%England 61%

Reading4% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths4% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 58%England 60%

Reading13% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths13% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-11.7

Read

LA -0.4

-16.7 to -6.6

-4.7

Write

LA -0.2

-9.5 to 0.1

Maths

LA -1.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 March 2025

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

11 October 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2025-03-18

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-10-11

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 188 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	188	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	187	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	176	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	176	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	173	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	154	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	152	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	148	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	98	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	96	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	85	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	32	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	31	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	24	0.0%	3.9%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 157 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 30 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

6.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree38%

disagree3%

don't know9%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree53%

agree29%

disagree9%

strongly disagree9%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree9%

strongly disagree6%

not applicable50%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree79%

agree18%

strongly disagree3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree41%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree71%

agree26%

strongly disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree56%

agree38%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree65%

agree21%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree29%

disagree12%

don't know15%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree74%

agree18%

disagree3%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

Aspire School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover