A watchdog has handed a £65,000 per year school which has more horses than pupils a mixed review.

Hawthorn in Chartham, near Canterbury, was graded “Requires Improvement” after Ofsted inspectors discovered shortcomings in teachers’ approach to English and maths.

Located on a bucolic five-acre plot, the special school caters for children with complex emotional and learning needs, helping them build confidence and life skills through outdoor work and animal therapy.

Despite Hawthorn being handed the second lowest score in Ofsted’s four-point grading scale, the watchdog said it provided “a haven of calm and positivity”.

The watchdog stressed the site at Chalkhill Farm – which opened last year and cares for nine horses – made its five pupils feels “safe, valued” and rarely absent.

The inspection found teachers’ subject knowledge is strong, and that they present information clearly to pupils, but not enough time is spent learning core subjects.

“Leaders’ expectations for pupils’ learning across the academic curriculum, including in reading, English and mathematics lack ambition,” Ofsted penned in a report after its first inspection.

“Lessons in key subjects are insufficiently frequent, and learning does not always build sequentially,” the inspector wrote.

“Consequently, pupils do not learn and achieve as well as they should.”

In terms of its pupils and approach to learning, Hawthorn is unique – it currently has more horses on site than pupils.

Speaking after the inspection, headteacher Sarah Watson claimed the watchdog was “not interested” in looking at pupils’ horse care folders, which would have illustrated their “cross-curricular work, including maths and English”.

Ms Watson clarified all Hawthorn pupils - of which there are currently five - complete regular lessons, but that the number of classes scheduled for each child increases as they settle in and gain confidence.

She explained how, at the time of the inspection from February 4 to 5, the New House Lane centre had been open for just 18 weeks.

“All pupils are making more progress than they would have been at other schools, where they would most likely have refused to attend,” she added.

“We think that the inspection was very early and made it difficult for us to provide much evidence on how we are applying our curriculum or the academic progress that pupils are making.

“In terms of our ‘Requires Improvement’ grade, we are a new school and should be improving.”

Fees at the not-for-profit institution range from £45,000 to £65,000, depending on the needs of the child.

Asked about the high cost, Ms Watson explained some pupils require 2:1 support from teachers, or additional services such as an occupational or speech therapist.

“We charge fees that are below those charged by many of the independent special schools in Kent, but we have nine horses plus other animals and provide horse-riding.”

Inspectors also highlighted a lack of systems to ensure pupils engage with a range of texts, writing: “Opportunities to increase pupils’ literacy skills, to widen their horizons and to increase their confidence and enjoyment in reading are therefore limited.”

Ms Watson says the school is prioritising reading as part of its curriculum development and that improvement in the area is a work in progress.

She added that Hawthorn would like to offer a wider range of opportunities than it does currently, but has been hampered by the current SEN crisis in schools.

“We aim to build young adults who know that they have a future and will contribute positively to society.

“Ofsted saw the power of what we have already achieved, and we look forward to welcoming them back in two years.”