PUPILS have reported hearing disrespectful language around a Basingstoke school which has been told it 'requires improvement' by Ofsted.  

On March 24, Ofsted published a report following an inspection of Aldworth School, in Western Way. 

It was rated as 'requires improvement' in three areas - behaviour and attitudes, quality of education and leadership and management, but was graded as 'good' in personal development. 

The report said: "Aldworth is a friendly and welcoming school. Relationships between most staff and pupils are positive, and pupils talk confidently about specific staff who they feel support them particularly well.

"Pupils value the range of extra-curricular activities available to them, including sports clubs and a recent musical production.

"A minority of pupils do not consistently meet leaders’ expectations for behaviour. In lessons, pupils are mostly settled and attentive to their learning, but behaviour can be more unsettled at social times.

"Pupils report hearing disrespectful language around the school site, and some younger pupils report feeling intimidated by groups of older pupils. However, most pupils say that they feel safe. If bullying happens, it is mostly dealt with effectively. However, not all staff deal with incidents consistently well, and sometimes this means that pupils do not always report their concerns to staff."

READ MORE: Aldworth on its way to becoming "good" school Ofsted reports

Headteacher Chris Rice said they were working hard to address the concerns raised.

He said: "We are very pleased that the report highlights many positive areas and recognises both the improvements that have been made in recent years and the contribution that staff and students have made to these.

"In particular, it is promising to see that Ofsted has highlighted our work to support ‘personal development’, which has been rated as ‘Good’.

"The areas identified for improvement were already on our School Development Plan prior to inspection and we are continuing to work hard to address these as rapidly as possible."

Mr Rice said the school is being supported by the local authority to make improvements and is keeping parents "closely informed" about its progress. 

He paid tribute to his staff who are committed to the success of all the school students, as well as parents and governors. 

Mr Rice took over as headteacher in September 2022, after previously being Head of School for one year. 

The inspection at the school took place on February 7 and 8. 

A prior inspection, in June 2019, also graded it as 'requires improvement'. 

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Ofsted also commended Aldworth School for its "increasingly ambitious curriculum plans to consider the intended learning for all pupils", including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Leaders at the school were commended for the improvements they have made to their work to support pupils with SEND by quickly identifying their needs.