Chiltern Way Academy Austen

Chiltern Way Academy Austen is a special school for pupils with autism, all of whom have an education, health and care plan. Since joining the Chiltern Way Academy Trust in April 2024, leaders have taken swift action to drive rapid improvement, including introducing an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum with clear pathways towards employment and future goals. Pupils are well supported to prepare for their next steps, and the school’s personal development provision is a standout feature, helping pupils build resilience, confidence and life skills.

Strengths

• Welcoming and inclusive school with a strong sense of belonging for pupils
• Daily routines, including orientation and regulation sessions, create a predictable and secure start to the day
• Ambitious curriculum with a clear 'golden thread' linked to meaningful future employment
• Broad academic and vocational pathways tailored to pupils' goals, including access to courses beyond the school where needed
• Strong personalised support for older pupils moving on to college, work experience and examinations
• Wide range of lunchtime clubs, trips, visits, outdoor learning and travel training
• Clear process for identifying learning gaps and additional needs when pupils join
• Well-organised learning environment with sensory spaces that help pupils regulate
• Skilled staff support the minority of pupils who struggle with behaviour to develop self-regulation strategies
• Exemplary personal development provision, including PSHE, life skills and preparation for adulthood
• Governance across the trust, local governing board and leaders shares a clear moral purpose
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• The new whole-school assessment system is not yet fully established, so leaders cannot fully understand pupils' progress through the new curriculum or identify gaps precisely
• Delivery of the new early reading programme varies, and some staff need further training to implement teaching methods consistently
• The reading curriculum requires further development, particularly for secondary-age pupils

In 2024–25 pupils at Chiltern Way Academy Austen attended 80.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 43.5% 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, 8.4% of pupils at Chiltern Way Academy Austen 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 Chiltern Way Academy Austen had 5.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 24.3% 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 Chiltern Way Academy Austen had 128 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 Chiltern Way Academy Austen received £29,541 and spent £27,791 for each of its 131 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £769,000 (£5,870 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Chiltern Way Academy Trust, income was £37,970 and spending £35,129 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 Basingstoke · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

Chiltern Way Academy Austen is part of Chiltern Way Academy Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Chiltern Way Academy Basingstoke Basingstoke
• Chiltern Way Academy Wokingham Wokingham
• The Orchard Way Academy High Wycombe
• Chiltern Way Academy Aylesbury

What is Chiltern Way Academy Austen's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chiltern Way Academy Austen is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Chiltern Way Academy Austen last inspected by Ofsted?

Chiltern Way Academy Austen was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Chiltern Way Academy Austen have?

Chiltern Way Academy Austen has 128 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chiltern Way Academy Austen cover?

Chiltern Way Academy Austen for pupils aged 4 to 16.

What are Chiltern Way Academy Austen's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 12.6, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Chiltern Way Academy Austen's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 29% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Chiltern Way Academy Austen?

Chiltern Way Academy Austen is at Shakespeare Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9BP.