Ridgeway School, Bedford
Ridgeway School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Bedford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ridgeway School in detail
Ridgeway School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud to lead this thriving and growing learning community, that provides a high standard of education for children, young people and young adults from across Bedford Borough and the surrounding areas. We are an innovative and inclusive school, where the pupils are at the heart of everything we do."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Ridgeway School are Rivertree Free School (0.9 miles); Grange Academy (1.2 miles, Good); St John's School (1.7 miles, Good); and Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School (6.2 miles, Good).
Rivertree Free SchoolGrange AcademySt John's SchoolCambian Walnut Tree Lodge School
What parents say
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ridgeway School (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
37.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Ridgeway School has an education, health and care plan (125 of 125 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Ridgeway School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Kempston Hardwick Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Bower (opposite), 210 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Ridgeway School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ridgeway School excels at making every child feel valued and understood through tailored communication support and personalised learning. The school's commitment to preparing pupils for independence and adult life is exceptional, with all sixth form students progressing to further education or training. Staff create a genuinely respectful, calm environment where pupils develop confidence and friendships.
Key Strengths
- Excellent personalised care with bespoke communication methods that help all pupils access learning
- Strong curriculum tailored to individual needs, with communication and language integrated throughout
- Outstanding preparation for adulthood through life skills teaching and work experience
- Positive, calm school environment where pupils feel safe, valued and develop strong friendships
- All sixth form pupils progress to sustained post-19 education or training
Areas for Improvement
- Early reading activities not always precisely matched to pupils' abilities, slowing progress to formal phonics
- Inconsistent design of independent learning activities, meaning pupils don't always consolidate knowledge effectively
- Governors need stronger strategic oversight of educational quality following period of operational focus
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils able to express concerns to trusted adults and the school following external specialist advice on health and safety needs.
Extracurricular Activities
Art club, technology club, sports club, swimming, residential trips, community visits, summer music festival, school council, fundraising activities
Ridgeway School has successfully maintained good standards following recent leadership changes. The school provides excellent personalised care and communication support, helping pupils achieve their education and health care plan targets while preparing them well for adult life.
At a Glance
37.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
29 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Ridgeway School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ridgeway School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ridgeway School is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
0 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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
100%
Full
125 pupils
125 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,556
Applications
2,095
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
125
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Ridgeway School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
125
Total Pupils
82
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
7.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,524
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
12.9%
Overall absence
46.3%
Persistent absence
95
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Ridgeway School
What are SATs results like at Ridgeway School?
Of the pupils at Ridgeway School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Ridgeway School's Ofsted rating?
Ridgeway School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ridgeway School?
No fixed boundary. When Ridgeway School is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Ridgeway School?
Ridgeway School has around 125 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Ridgeway School have specialist SEN provision?
Ridgeway School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Ridgeway School?
12.9% of sessions were missed at Ridgeway School in 2024/25. 46.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ridgeway School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Ridgeway School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Ridgeway School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 0 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ridgeway School?
Ridgeway School is at Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)