A HAMPSHIRE school remains in special measures, despite making progress since a scathing Ofsted inspection.

Test Valley School, in Stockbridge, was rated 'inadequate' by inspectors last October.

The report slammed the school, which has 421 pupils, for poor behaviour and a negative culture.

In May, it had a monitoring visit where inspectors said that some progress had been made, but it remains rated as inadequate and in special measures.

In a letter from inspector Michelle Lower to executive principal Jo McKeown, it said: “Test Valley School remains inadequate and requires special measures. Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the category of concern to be removed.

“The school may not appoint early career teachers before the next monitoring inspection. 

READ MORE: Hampshire school slammed in scathing inspection

“Following the last inspection, you were recruited in January 2023 to improve the standards in the school. In this time, you have significantly increased the capacity of the school leadership team.

“Leaders are clearer in their ambition for the curriculum. In an increasing number of subjects, leaders have carefully ordered the knowledge and skills that pupils need to know. 

“The curriculum is not yet being implemented in an effective way to enable all pupils to learn well. Teachers have been provided with a framework to help them teach lessons in the ‘Test Valley Way’. This includes clear and consistent starts to all lessons and regular questioning opportunities. However, this is not yet well embedded by all. Teachers do not regularly check how much knowledge pupils have retained before moving on. Therefore, not all pupils are learning as well as they should. Leaders plans to develop pupils reading are clear and thoughtful. However, this has not yet been implemented. This means that pupils who need additional support to read well are not yet getting the help they need. 

“Many pupils told inspectors that there has been a positive shift in the way pupils behave in school.

“Pupils do not see the importance of reporting the use of discriminatory language. To address this, you have developed a responsive personal, social and health education curriculum to educate pupils about the impact of prejudicial behaviour.”

In a letter to parents, Mrs McKeown said: "I am delighted that the team was able to see the impact of the work that has been going on at all levels of the organisation, since January this year and were able to cite tangible improvement in all areas that the school was asked to focus on. We were extremely pleased with the feedback we got from the lead inspector.

"Although the report acknowledges good improvement and the clear ambition we have for our pupils and our shared successes.

"I am extremely proud of the hard work of staff, pupils and the support you have offered us in the work we have done so far. Be assured that we will continue to work hard to ensure Test Valley School goes from strength to strength."

The school has a capacity of 780 meaning it is currently barely half full.