Ridgeway Primary Academy, South Shields
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Ridgeway Primary Academy excels at creating a caring, supportive environment where every child feels valued and safe. The school offers exceptional wellbeing support with a full-time counsellor and provides outstanding enrichment experiences through Farm School, trips and visiting speakers that broaden pupils' horizons. Staff are highly skilled at supporting pupils with SEND and ensuring disadvantaged children access meaningful life experiences.
Key Strengths
- Excellent support for pupils' emotional wellbeing with a full-time counsellor and trained staff
- Strong early years curriculum that prepares children well for key stage 1
- Comprehensive enrichment programme including Farm School, residential trips and outdoor learning
- Effective identification and support for pupils with high levels of SEND
- Calm and orderly learning environment where pupils feel safe and know behavior expectations
Areas for Improvement
- Reading attainment is inconsistent - some pupils struggle with reading fluency beyond Year 1
- Handwriting skills are not being developed consistently across the school
- Teaching quality is not yet strong enough across all year groups and subjects
- Not all pupils have secure knowledge in subjects like science and history
- Staff training is not always focused on the most important areas for improvement
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Farm School (outdoor learning), educational visits, residential trips, visiting speakers, small animal care in school, regulation stations for emotional support
Ridgeway Primary Academy is a caring school that prioritizes pupil wellbeing and provides extensive enrichment activities. However, pupils are not as well prepared for the next stage of education as they should be, with inconsistent progress in reading and other foundational skills.
At a Glance
48.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 56% to 64%. Maths has improved from 60% to 66%. Writing has declined from 73% to 69%.
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
25.6
KS2
17
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
452 pupils
472 capacity
20 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - South Shields
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for South Shields
Admissions Demand - South Tyneside
Places available
1,882
Applications
1,486
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
Primary admissions across South Tyneside (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.74917%
Overall absence
19.49153%
Persistent absence
354
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ridgeway Primary Academy
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