CHOOSING a school for your children can be a difficult decision, you have to consider everything from distance to overall performance.

There are 34 places including primary and secondary schools and colleges across Andover which are routinely inspected to ensure they are meeting education standards.

Ofsted, which regulates educational institutions across the country, is responsible for publishing the results of such inspections.

There are four Ofsted ratings in total:

Grade 1: Outstanding

An outstanding school provides exceptionally well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them for the next stage of their education or employment at the highest possible level.

"Educational institutions which are rated as ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED are exempt from routine OFSTED inspection unless they are nurseries, special schools or Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)."

Grade 2: Good

"A good school provides well for the needs of its pupils and prepares them effectively for the next stage of their education or employment.

"Schools rated as ‘good’ receive a one-day short inspection every three years, or a full inspection if the school’s performance has changed dramatically."

Grade 3: Requires Improvement.

"A school that requires improvement is not inadequate, but neither is it satisfactory.

"Schools which are rated as requiring improvement will receive another full OFSTED inspection within two years in order to monitor their progress."

Grade 4: Inadequate

"An inadequate school has significant weaknesses and is failing to prepare its students effectively for the next stages of their lives.

"The management and leadership, however, are judged to be Grade 3 or above. Schools graded as inadequate will receive regular OFSTED inspections.

"If the management team of a Grade 4 school is not judged to be Grade 3 or above, it will be ranked as a Special Measures school.

"An inadequate school has significant weaknesses and is failing to prepare its students effectively for the next stages of their lives. The management and leadership, however, are judged to be Grade 3 or above.

Schools graded as inadequate will receive regular OFSTED inspections. If the management team of a Grade 4 school is not judged to be Grade 3 or above, it will be ranked as a Special Measures school."

We've put together the results of every school in Andover that has been inspected by Ofsted in the last 18 months.

Pilgrims' Cross CofE Aided Primary School

3 Requires Improvement - inspected January 2020

The Mark Way School

1 Outstanding – inspected February 2020

Abbotts Ann Church of England Primary School

2 Good - inspected March 2020

Balksbury Junior

School 2 Good - inspected October 2019

Vigo Primary School

3 Requires Improvement – inspected May 2019

Hatherden Church of England Primary School

4 Inadequate - inspected July 2019