Ridgeway High School, Prenton

In its own words: "Our vision at Ridgeway High School is a simple one: to transform lives through learning. It is at the heart of all that we do."

From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of the governing body, staff and students, I would like to welcome you to Ridgeway High School. We were graded Good in all areas by Ofsted in 2024. Inspectors said that we are a school where “pupils feel happy and safe” and where we “expect pupils to flourish both academically and socially” (Ofsted, 2024)."

Coming up: an open day on Monday 26 October 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Ridgeway High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 37.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in Wirral and 47 across England.

21% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Wirral and 47% in England.

That is down from 39.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.16: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 33.6, against 41.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 104 families put Ridgeway High School as their first choice and 271 named it as one of their preferences, for 129 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ridgeway High School are Woodchurch High School (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.5); Birkenhead High School Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); Upton Hall School FCJ (1.2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 65.6); and St Anselm's College (1.2 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 63.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Ridgeway High School.

Of the 171 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 55% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

60.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 193 pupils (22.5%) received SEN support and 76 (8.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Ridgeway High School had 80 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Upton Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Moorfields Avenue (opposite), 90 metres away.

In 2024/25, Ridgeway High School issued 247 suspensions, 27.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ridgeway High School are St Peter's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), Co-op Academy Hillside (0.4 miles), Fender Primary School (0.4 miles) and Townfield Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.