North Star 180°

Aspire Academy is performing well overall, demonstrating a good quality of education and effective leadership. The school has established positive relationships between staff and pupils, ensuring that students feel safe and are eager to attend. With a focus on supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the curriculum is designed to cater to the diverse range of needs, helping students to thrive and achieve recognized qualifications as they prepare for post-16 opportunities. The recent leadership changes have fostered a strong vision for improvement, positively impacting pupils' development in a short timeframe.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils
• Effective support for pupils' special educational needs
• Ambitious and individualized curriculum
• High expectations for pupils' learning and behaviour
• Improvements in pupils' behaviour and attendance
• Focus on personal and social development
• Commitment to safeguarding and pupil welfare

Areas for Improvement

• Need for improved assessment strategies in the wider curriculum
• Underdeveloped subject leadership across wider curriculum subjects

In 2024–25 pupils at North Star 180° attended 82.7% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 39.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 18.4% of pupils at North Star 180° were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 North Star 180° had 6.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2023–24, 47.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 16.2%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 North Star 180° had 105 pupils, 99.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; autistic spectrum disorder.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 North Star 180° received £34,037 and spent £33,034 for each of its 103 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £229,000 (£2,227 per pupil).

Across all 3 schools of North Star Academy Trust, income was £40,177 and spending £39,306 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bath · Bath and North East Somerset local authority: places and applications

North Star 180° is part of North Star Academy Trust, which runs 3 schools. The nearest others:

• North Star 82° Bristol
• North Star 240° Bristol

What is North Star 180°'s Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for North Star 180° is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was North Star 180° last inspected by Ofsted?

North Star 180° was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does North Star 180° have?

North Star 180° has 105 pupils on roll.

What age range does North Star 180° cover?

North Star 180° for pupils aged 4 to 16.

What are North Star 180°'s SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is North Star 180°?

North Star 180° is at Frome Road, Odd Down, Bath, BA2 5RF.