Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary School.
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School, Welling
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Welling. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 9 schools in Welling with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 85% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bexley (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 76% in Bexley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (86% in reading, 88% in maths).
Getting a place at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School as their first choice and 71 named it as one of their preferences, for 26 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School are Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Leigh Stationers' Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 93% maths); Hook Lane Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 78% maths); and Alderwood Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths).
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary SchoolLeigh Stationers' Primary AcademyHook Lane Primary SchoolAlderwood Primary School
Who goes there
7.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 35 pupils (10.2%) received SEN support and 9 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Falconwood Station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Northumberland Avenue Falconwood, 260 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bexley (284).
Suspensions and exclusions
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
7.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 86% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 88% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.3
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
26.9
KS2
13
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School.
- Kip McGrath Welling520m away · Not yet graded
- Cherry Tree Kids Club @ Leigh Stationers' Primary Academy580m away · Not yet graded
- Witty Kids After School Club760m away · Not yet graded
- WIT TUTORS920m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School is in Bexley; for families living there:
Apply to Bexley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
85%
Available places
359 pupils
420 places
61 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Welling
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Welling
Across Bexley council
Places available
3,221
Applications
2,637
Got 1st preference
91.4%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All primary applications across Bexley council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
35
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
12.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
342
Total Pupils
168
Boys
174
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,312
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,307
Per pupil
£1998k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
11.0%
Persistent absence
335
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 92% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School is oversubscribed, Bexley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 85% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Classes at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School average 26.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School has around 342 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School in 2024/25. 11% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Apply through Bexley's coordinated admissions process, naming Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 4 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School: Kip McGrath Welling (520m away, registered, not yet graded), Cherry Tree Kids Club @ Leigh Stationers' Primary Academy (580m away, registered, not yet graded) and Witty Kids After School Club (760m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
Where is Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School?
Bishop Ridley Church of England VA Primary School is at Northumberland Avenue, Welling, Kent, DA16 2QE.