SchoolScoresThe Costello School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of BOHUNT EDUCATION TRUST
Crossborough Hill, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AL
01256 321263 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 February 2026 , published 20 April 2026.
In short: 6 expected, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
228 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Hampshire comparisons use the 12 of its 72 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 60 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 6th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 45% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 77% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 6th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 48% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 81% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 40% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 69% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 38% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 39% | 48% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 196 parents who had raised a concern Joint 6th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 51% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 70% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 58 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 11 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 50% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 57% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 5th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hampshire. Higher than 44% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79%said yes | 78% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Hampshire figures pool parents at the Hampshire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
250 pupils in this year group.
50% — 5 points above the Hampshire average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 50% | 45% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 47.3 | 45.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
224 pupils in this year group.
94% — 2 points above the Hampshire average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 94% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 6% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 57% | 40% | 13% |
| Further education college | 32% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 95% | 94% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hampshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 211 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 187 |
| Of those, offered a place | 160 (86%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 497 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6% | 21.6%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 54% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 4.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.2% | 13.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8% | 8.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.8% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 58% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.0% | 21.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 32% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 23.6 | 20.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 33% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0% | 7.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.25% | 0.09% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 50% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.8 | 16.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 7 state secondary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 31% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.3% | 13.2%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Queen Mary's College 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- The Vyne Community School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cranbourne 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Blue Coat School Basingstoke 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
- Everest Community Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 23% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brighton Hill Community School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 2 expected · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2023 · 68% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Costello School's Ofsted rating?
The Costello School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Costello School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 50% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Costello School?
79% of the 228 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Costello School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Costello School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 187 families put The Costello School as their first choice for 211 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 160 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138287.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.