The Mark Way School, Andover
The Mark Way School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Andover. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2020)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Mark Way School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Mark Way School are Norman Gate School (0.1 miles, Good); Wolverdene Special School (0.5 miles, Good); and Icknield School (0.6 miles, Outstanding).
What parents say
20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Mark Way School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 74% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 68% to a further education college.
Who goes there
55.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Mark Way School has an education, health and care plan (118 of 118 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
The Mark Way School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Andover Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Winton School (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 287 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, The Mark Way School issued 5 suspensions, 4.2 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 February 2020, 6 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
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is an exceptionally caring school that truly gets to know each pupil and provides highly individual support. Teachers are skilled at adapting their teaching to help every child learn well, and pupils feel safe, supported and genuinely want to be in school. The school goes far beyond academics, developing pupils' confidence, communication skills and understanding of important life issues like relationships and online safety.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised, ambitious curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and starting points
- Exceptional identification and review of pupils' barriers to learning with rich understanding of each child
- Exemplary pupil behaviour supported by a values-based rewards system and skilled staff interactions
- Strong focus on language and communication development with daily reading and phonic support
- Comprehensive personal development woven throughout, including trips, clubs and enrichment activities
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff do not consistently apply the school's early reading approaches, which slows some pupils' phonics learning
- The school does not always make best use of assessment information to target learning at specific gaps in pupils' knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, clubs, visits, enrichment experiences
The Mark Way School is an exceptionally inclusive special school where all pupils have SEND. The school has maintained outstanding standards, with pupils achieving highly and progressing very successfully to education, employment or training.
At a Glance
55.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
20 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with The Mark Way School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Mark Way School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Mark Way School 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
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 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
105%
Over capacity
118 pupils
112 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Andover
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Andover
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(12)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
118
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Mark Way School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
118
Total Pupils
90
Boys
28
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
6.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,049
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.5%
Overall absence
17.4%
Persistent absence
121
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
The Mark Way School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Mark Way School
What are GCSE results like at The Mark Way School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Mark Way School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 10.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Mark Way School's Ofsted rating?
The Mark Way School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2020, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Mark Way School?
No fixed boundary. When The Mark Way School is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Mark Way School?
The Mark Way School has around 118 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Mark Way School have specialist SEN provision?
The Mark Way School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Mark Way School?
6.5% of sessions were missed at The Mark Way School in 2024/25. 17.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Mark Way School?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Mark Way School 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 The Mark Way School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 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 The Mark Way School?
The Mark Way School is at Batchelors Barn Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1HR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)