Chiltern Way Academy Austen, BASINGSTOKE
Chiltern Way Academy Austen is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 16 in Basingstoke, part of Chiltern Way Academy Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Chiltern Way Academy Austen in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chiltern Way Academy Austen are Dove House Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding); Maple Ridge School (0.7 miles, Good); Limington House School (2.2 miles, Good); and Saxon Wood School (2.2 miles, Good).
Dove House AcademyMaple Ridge SchoolLimington House SchoolSaxon Wood School
The trust
Chiltern Way Academy Austen is one of 6 schools run by Chiltern Way Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chiltern Way Academy Austen (as of September 2025): 58% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (69%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 69% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college.
Who goes there
26.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Chiltern Way Academy Austen has an education, health and care plan (128 of 128 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Basingstoke Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shelley Close (sw-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 261 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Chiltern Way Academy Austen issued 28 suspensions, 21.4 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a welcoming school where pupils thrive and develop a strong sense of belonging. The school excels at personal development, teaching pupils valuable life skills like mindfulness and money management that they enthusiastically remember and apply. Older pupils receive excellent personalised support to prepare them for their next steps, including help with college courses, work experience and exam readiness.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding provision for personal development with excellent PSHE curriculum covering mindfulness, finance management, and life skills
- Strong sense of belonging with predictable daily routines including 'orientation and regulation sessions' that help pupils regulate behaviour
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum with clear pathways supporting pupils towards meaningful employment and tailored academic and vocational routes
- Fantastic range of lunchtime clubs and growing trips, visits and outdoor learning opportunities
- Calm, respectful school environment with skilled staff who understand behaviour and teach pupils self-regulation strategies
Areas for Improvement
- New whole-school assessment system not yet fully established, so school cannot fully understand pupil progress through the curriculum or identify knowledge gaps
- Inconsistent delivery of the early reading programme across the school, with some staff lacking secure understanding of teaching methods
- Staff need further training and development to deliver reading curriculum with consistency and confidence, particularly for secondary-age pupils
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Lunchtime clubs (quiet club, board games, sports), trips, visits, outdoor learning opportunities, travel training
Chiltern Way Academy Austen is a special school for pupils with autism that has made significant improvements since joining the Chiltern Way Academy Trust in April 2024. The school provides a welcoming, inclusive environment with a newly established ambitious curriculum and excellent personal development support.
At a Glance
26.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
64 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 22% to 29% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 22% to 29% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 22% to 29% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Chiltern Way Academy Austen
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chiltern Way Academy Austen from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chiltern Way Academy Austen is in Hampshire; for families living there:
Apply to Hampshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 27
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 25 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
128 pupils
128 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - BASINGSTOKE
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for BASINGSTOKE
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,392
Applications
13,874
Got 1st preference
90.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
128
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
128
Total Pupils
102
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
5.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,152
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
19.8%
Overall absence
43.5%
Persistent absence
138
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Chiltern Way Academy Austen
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Chiltern Way Academy Austen
What are GCSE results like at Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Chiltern Way Academy Austen achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Chiltern Way Academy Austen's Ofsted rating?
Chiltern Way Academy Austen's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
No fixed boundary. When Chiltern Way Academy Austen is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
Chiltern Way Academy Austen has around 128 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
19.8% of sessions were missed at Chiltern Way Academy Austen in 2024/25. 43.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Chiltern Way Academy Austen on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 27 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 25 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chiltern Way Academy Austen?
Chiltern Way Academy Austen is at Shakespeare Road, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire, RG24 9BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)