Releasing Potential School, Ridgway
Releasing Potential School is an independent school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Ridgway. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Releasing Potential School in detail
Releasing Potential School in its own words
In its own words: "The success with young people who struggled in conventional school environments led to the registration of an Independent School in 2017 and an Alternative Provision in 2024, both of which cater for children with an Education Health Care Plan. From these humble beginnings, Releasing Potential has grown into a comprehensive educational organisation."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Releasing Potential School are Bere Clinic School (3.8 miles, Good); Madani Academy (4.7 miles, Good, selective); Mayville High School (5.9 miles, selective); and Portsmouth High School GDST (6 miles).
Bere Clinic SchoolMadani AcademyMayville High SchoolPortsmouth High School GDST
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Releasing Potential School has an education, health and care plan (41 of 41 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedhampton Rail Station, about 480 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 218 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school excels at supporting pupils who have struggled in traditional education settings. Teachers build genuine relationships with students and create a calm, nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The unique approach combines outdoor learning with personalised support, helping pupils gain confidence, qualifications and real work experience preparing them for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils built on trust and positive role modelling
- Well-sequenced, tailored curriculum focused on outdoor education that meets individual needs
- Excellent support for behaviour and attendance, with pupils appreciating the calm, nurturing environment
- Strong personal and social development programme helping pupils build resilience and independence
- Effective post-16 provision preparing students for employment or further education
Areas for Improvement
- Staff need clearer guidance on how to adapt learning to meet both curriculum objectives and individual EHC plan targets simultaneously
- Some recently refined school systems and processes are not yet fully embedded, and staff need better support to implement them consistently
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's award, cookery competitions, brick laying and mechanics training, work experience in printshop, trips, activities with visitors
Releasing Potential School is a highly inclusive school where all pupils have an education, health and care plan, many having experienced disrupted education previously. The school has improved significantly since its last inspection and is now rated Good overall.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with Releasing Potential School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
41 pupils
50 places
9 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,392
Applications
13,874
Got 1st preference
90.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
41
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
41
Total Pupils
41
Boys
0
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Releasing Potential School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Releasing Potential School
What is Releasing Potential School's Ofsted rating?
Releasing Potential School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2025.
Does Releasing Potential School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in September 2025, Releasing Potential School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Releasing Potential School?
Releasing Potential School has around 41 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Releasing Potential School?
Releasing Potential School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Releasing Potential School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Releasing Potential School?
Releasing Potential School is at 7 Kingscroft Court, Ridgway, Ridgway, PO9 1LS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)