Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #77 in Hertfordshire public Top 42% UK

Ridgeway Academy

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

personMrs Sarah Mitcherson

corporate_fareALBAN ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onWelwyn Garden City, AL7 2AF

language Visit Website phone 1707351350

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

904

trending_up

Attainment 8

35.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#75 in Hertfordshire

#2,973 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Ridgeway Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Welwyn Garden City, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Ridgeway Academy is an academy sponsor led in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ALBAN ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 929 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.7, placing the school #75 in Hertfordshire and #2,973 of 3,216 nationally. 24.80% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 7.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 16 A-level subjects. 24.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 11.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.38 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.8 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

35.7

Grade 5+ E&M

24.80%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)7.5%

Entering EBacc15.70%

EBacc APS2.93

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.47

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

37.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8.30%

EBacc APS3.1

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.36

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

38.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc6%

EBacc APS3.09

2022

Progress 8 Score

-1.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS2.44

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc4%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc5%

EBacc APS3.33

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

86%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

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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

-0.38

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*1.4%

Achieving A*–A11.0%

Achieving A*–B24.7%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate90.0%

A-level subjects offered16

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.14

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate82.40%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate97.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 June 2025

Inspection Report

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11 January 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2025-06-03

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2023-01-11

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-09-12

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2015-06-30

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

11.9%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.8%(63 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 929 pupils. During this period, there were 111 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 11.9%, which is above 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)	929	111	11.9%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	931	108	11.6%	7.8%	3
2023/24 (Summer term)	940	118	12.6%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	947	81	8.6%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	964	97	10.1%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	899	97	10.8%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	904	86	9.5%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	916	47	5.1%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	894	73	8.2%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	897	101	11.3%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	902	82	9.1%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	841	32	3.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	844	5	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	849	64	7.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	746	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	746	30	4.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	746	57	7.6%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	629	38	6.0%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	631	34	5.4%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	634	62	9.8%	3.8%	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.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 75 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 37 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 36 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 35 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 29 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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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.

76.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

78.0%Positive

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

28.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree16%

agree50%

disagree20%

strongly disagree8%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree19%

agree46%

disagree22%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree29%

agree30%

disagree14%

strongly disagree15%

don't know2%

not applicable10%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree13%

agree31%

disagree18%

strongly disagree32%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree27%

agree54%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree25%

agree52%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree22%

agree49%

disagree18%

strongly disagree9%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree25%

agree62%

disagree5%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree34%

agree53%

disagree7%

strongly disagree3%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree22%

agree42%

disagree15%

strongly disagree7%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes75%

no25%

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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 Hertfordshire

Dame Alice Owen's School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Parmiter's School

St Clement Danes School

Sandringham School