Dove House Academy, Basingstoke
Dove House Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Basingstoke, part of Solent Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dove House Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Dove House Academy are Maple Ridge School (0.2 miles, Good); Chiltern Way Academy Austen (0.6 miles, Requires improvement); Limington House School (1.6 miles, Good); and Saxon Wood School (1.8 miles, Good).
Maple Ridge SchoolChiltern Way Academy AustenLimington House SchoolSaxon Wood School
The trust
Dove House Academy is one of 6 schools run by Solent Academies Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
71 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dove House Academy (as of September 2025): 72% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 42 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college and 2% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
48.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Mixed (5%).
Almost every pupil at Dove House Academy has an education, health and care plan (238 of 238 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Dove House Academy provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Basingstoke Rail Station, about 720 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Jefferson Road (opposite), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 418 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, Dove House Academy issued 19 suspensions, 8.1 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 agoThis judgement is from September 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Dove House Academy excels at meeting the individual needs of every pupil and helping them achieve their best. Staff build warm, trusting relationships with pupils and skillfully adapt teaching to match their abilities and interests. The school is exceptionally well-prepared for supporting pupils' transition to adulthood through extensive careers guidance, work placements, and the development of independence and social skills.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional quality of care and support tailored to each pupil's physical, emotional and developmental needs
- Highly effective teaching that enables pupils to produce high-quality work and sustain concentration
- Comprehensive preparation for adulthood woven through the curriculum, including work experience and life skills
- Strong improvement in reading delivery with effective catch-up support for pupils who need it
- Excellent behaviour management resulting in a calm and purposeful school atmosphere
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff listening to pupils and supporting them to communicate their wishes and feelings in a safe and secure environment.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experience opportunities, accredited awards in academic and vocational subjects, GCSE qualifications for some pupils, careers education and guidance, work placements
Dove House Academy is a special school that provides high-quality care and education for pupils with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities. The school has maintained the excellent standards it was previously judged on, with effective action taken across all areas.
At a Glance
48.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
71 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Dove House Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Dove House Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Dove House Academy 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
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 17 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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
108%
Over capacity
238 pupils
220 places
18 pupils over capacity
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(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
238
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Dove House Academy provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
238
Total Pupils
166
Boys
72
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
38
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,570
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
22.3%
Persistent absence
215
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
Dove House Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Dove House Academy
What are GCSE results like at Dove House Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Dove House Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 4.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Dove House Academy's Ofsted rating?
Dove House Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Dove House Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Dove House Academy is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Dove House Academy?
Dove House Academy has around 238 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Dove House Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Dove House Academy provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Dove House Academy?
8.6% of sessions were missed at Dove House Academy in 2024/25. 22.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Dove House Academy?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Dove House Academy 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 Dove House Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 17 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 Dove House Academy?
Dove House Academy is at Sutton Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 5SU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)