A PRIVATELY run special needs school, which charges up to £139,000-a-year in fees, has been told it ‘requires improvement’.

Grateley House School, which caters for children with Asperger Syndrome and other similar conditions, was recently given the rating after an Ofsted inspection in June.

The report states that the Grateley-based school, which charges an annual fee of £139,000 for boarding students and a £69,500 fee for day students, requires improvement in its leadership and management.

The school, based in Pond Lane, currently has 61 pupils.

Students are ordinarily referred to the school through an Education Health Care Plan and their placements funded by local authorities.

One major area of concern was the “high turnover of staff ” at the school, run by UK-wide provider, Cambian Group.

The inspection team, led by Sian Thornton, said in the report: “There has been considerable staff turnover in the recent period.

“Leaders and Cambian Group officers are aware of the concerns, including about further changes due to take place this summer.

“Pupils, staff and parents expressed concerns to inspectors, particularly about the effects of high staff turnover on pupils’ welfare and adults’ workloads.”

Another area of concern was that the checks of the independent visitor, who supports the welfare of boarding school students, “did not meet requirements”.

The report states: “Directors recently identified shortcomings in reports from the ‘independent person’ who visits the school to support pupils’ welfare.

“As a result, suitable changes have been made.

“Directors were not aware, however, that the independent person did not visit the residential provision when children and young people were present, for example in the evenings or at weekends.

“The independent person has therefore been unable to evaluate satisfactorily the effectiveness of the care provided and whether pupils are safeguarded.”

The school’s most recent report is a major step down from their previous inspection in 2013, when the school achieved Outstanding in all areas.

However much of the school’s work was still highly praised by inspectors, who highlighted the “strong ethos of care and attention to pupils needs”.

Teachers at the school were acknowledged for their “good understanding” of their pupils special educational needs.

The outcomes for pupils were also rated as good, with the report stating 66 per cent of current GSCE students are on track to achieve at least five passes.

Despite the criticism of the leadership, head teacher Greg Sorrell was highly praised.

A Cambian spokesperson said: “After receiving Outstanding or Good ratings at Grateley House School over the last five years, Cambian were disappointed to have received this recent rating.

“We were pleased however, that all the outcomes for Education and Care were rated as good and we are committed to ensure that areas noted by the inspectors are addressed.”