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The Costello School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Academy

Crossborough Hill, London Road, Basingstoke RG21 4AL · costelloschool.co.uk · 01256 321263

On the mapSearch near RG21 4AL

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
47.3
average Attainment 8 score. Hampshire 45.5, England 46
Last distance offered
1.53 mi
2.46 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Hampshire Council
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,160
40 over 1,120 places · 104%
Local authority
Hampshire
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
18.1%
First language not English
15.3%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Bohunt Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 1.53 mi (2.46 km) from the school. Source: Hampshire Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 187 families put the school first and 211 places were offered; 86% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 250 (Places 260)250September 2023: 265 (Places 254)265September 2024: 210 (Places 256)210September 2025: 140 (Places 217)140September 2026: 187 (Places 211)187Places 211
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262111870.986%
September 2025Sept 20252171400.6100%
September 2024Sept 20242562100.896%
September 2023Sept 20232542651▲79%
September 2022Sept 2022260250192%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20261.53 mi2.46 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.3, and 49.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hampshire it was 45.5, and across England 46.

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 46.8 (England 46.3)46.82017/18: 47.3 (England 46.5)47.32018/19: 48.1 (England 46.7)48.12021/22: 50.9 (England 48.8)50.92022/23: 45.9 (England 46.3)45.92023/24: 46.3 (England 45.9)46.32024/25: 47.3 (England 46.0)47.3England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●47.346.0
▲49.6%45.4%
▲69.2%64.8%
▲80.8%40.5%
▲4.494.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form0.9+0.5
Sixth form college56.9−6.5
Further education28.9+3.9
Apprenticeship5.5+4.6
Employment0.9−1.8
Not in a lasting destination6.4+1
Activity not captured0.5−0.4

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected The Costello School on 10 February 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
10 Feb 2026
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2021

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Nov 2021Good
    Quality of educationGood
    Behaviour and attitudesGood
    Personal developmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementGood
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Mar 2018Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • May 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Jun 2012Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

79% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (228 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
79%
Positive
71%
Replies
228
19% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school▼77% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe●83% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▼70% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn▼69% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well●76% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests▼67% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼71% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 86% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼39% agreeEngland 43%

based on 43 parents (19%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼59% agreeEngland 63%

based on 57 parents (25%) with SEND

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