Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #1 in Swindon public Top 8% UK

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Adrian Cush

corporate_fareTHE WHITE HORSE FEDERATION

location_onSwindon, SN4 9DJ

language Visit Website phone 1793846100

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,600

trending_up

Attainment 8

53.5

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GCSE Rank

#1 in Swindon

#585 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College is a Academy converter secondary school in Swindon, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College is an academy converter in Swindon, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE WHITE HORSE FEDERATION. The school has approximately 1,573 pupils on roll, of whom 17% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53.5, placing the school #1 in Swindon and #585 of 3,216 nationally. 61.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 26.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 19 A-level subjects. 57.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 31.7% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.07 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

53.5

Grade 5+ E&M

61.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)26.0%

Entering EBacc76.30%

EBacc APS5.08

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17.40%

EBacc APS4.61

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS4.47

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

54.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS4.54

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS4.52

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS4.5

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*9.0%

Achieving A*–A31.7%

Achieving A*–B57.8%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate96.2%

A-level subjects offered19

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate95.30%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate98.70%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate98.8%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

18 April 2023

Inspection Report

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03 March 2020

Inspection Report

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01 March 2016

Inspection Report

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12 September 2012

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-04-18

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Outstanding

2016-03-01

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2012-09-12

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-11-19

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.5%(39 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,573 pupils. During this period, there were 57 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,573	57	3.6%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,564	81	5.2%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,598	76	4.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,603	86	5.4%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,599	69	4.3%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,603	47	2.9%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,600	45	2.8%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,601	37	2.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,611	20	1.2%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,626	14	0.9%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,628	12	0.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,648	21	1.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,642	6	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,646	13	0.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,586	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,586	20	1.3%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,589	22	1.4%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,551	13	0.8%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,542	33	2.1%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,539	20	1.3%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,412	9	0.6%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,419	15	1.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,409	12	0.9%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,308	12	0.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,310	18	1.4%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,309	9	0.7%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 58 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 55 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 48 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 10 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

71.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

14.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree39%

agree42%

disagree12%

strongly disagree6%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree23%

agree40%

disagree23%

strongly disagree11%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree21%

agree25%

disagree15%

strongly disagree15%

don't know3%

not applicable20%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree33%

agree26%

disagree12%

strongly disagree30%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree36%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree40%

agree39%

disagree15%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree30%

agree48%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree55%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree44%

agree48%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree28%

agree41%

disagree14%

strongly disagree10%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes74%

no26%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Swindon

Swindon Academy

Nova Hreod Academy

Lydiard Park Academy

The Deanery CofE Academy

Abbey Park School

The Commonweal School