Aspire School

Aspire School is a special academy for pupils with autism and/or speech, language and communication needs, all of whom have EHC plans. Following a previous inspection that judged the school as requiring improvement, this inspection found the school performing well overall, with good judgements for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Early years provision is outstanding. Inspectors highlighted a happy, calm school where pupils are well supported, attendance is high and rising, and personal, social and emotional development is woven through school life. Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Strengths

• Early years provision is outstanding and exceptionally well matched to children's individual needs
• The school's three curriculum pathways are fit for purpose and mostly well established
• Early reading has a high profile and is taught with real expertise
• Pupils are happy, settle well and benefit from calm, skilful transitions
• Behaviour expectations are high but sensitively adapted to pupils' needs
• Personal, social and emotional development is threaded through all aspects of school life
• Pupils access a rich and varied range of experiences and wider opportunities
• Attendance is high and continues to rise
• The trust and school work constructively together, with a healthy balance of oversight, challenge and support
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Beyond early years, there are small variabilities in how well the curriculum is taught
• Some pupils do not secure the intended learning as well as they could because curriculum implementation is not consistently strong
• In some pathway three subjects, the most important subject content is not yet clearly defined
• Some pathway three pupils do not make as much progress through the curriculum as they could

In 2024–25 pupils at Aspire School attended 91.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 22.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Aspire School 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 Aspire School had 7.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Aspire School had 194 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: 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 Aspire School received £27,415 and spent £23,634 for each of its 188 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £342,000 (£1,819 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Bourne Alliance Multi Academy Trust, income was £8,479 and spending £8,618 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 Sittingbourne · Kent local authority: places and applications

Aspire School is part of Bourne Alliance Multi Academy Trust, which runs 4 schools. The nearest others:

• Grove Park Primary School Sittingbourne
• Bobbing Village School Sittingbourne
• Iwade School Sittingbourne

What is Aspire School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Aspire School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Aspire School last inspected by Ofsted?

Aspire School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Aspire School have?

Aspire School has 194 pupils on roll.

What age range does Aspire School cover?

Aspire School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Aspire School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Aspire School?

Aspire School is at Vellum Drive, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 5DA.