Ringwood Waldorf School, Ringwood
Ringwood Waldorf School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Ringwood. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2025)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ringwood Waldorf School in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Ringwood Waldorf School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What parents say
188 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ringwood Waldorf School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 89% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (89%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 40 pupils (16.1%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ringwood Waldorf School.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashley Cottages (w-bound), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 59 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and violence and sexual offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Dorset (25), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); Ofsted Parent View; 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
Early Years
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 May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ringwood Waldorf creates a truly special community where children thrive emotionally and academically. The school excels at developing well-rounded individuals with exceptional behaviour, strong values and a genuine love of learning. With its wide range of enrichment activities, strong pastoral care and inclusive approach, the school ensures every child matters and has opportunities to discover their talents and interests.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and attitudes, with high levels of kindness, politeness and empathy towards one another
- Warm, nurturing relationships between staff and pupils with strong pastoral care
- Excellent enrichment opportunities including creative activities like blacksmithing, printmaking and pottery, plus educational visits
- Strong early reading provision that develops fluent readers by middle school
- Comprehensive careers guidance and post-16 education preparing students well for future pathways
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment strategies are not consistently effective in identifying when pupils are ready to progress, which can slow their learning
- Adaptations to support pupils with SEND are not securely in place throughout the school, making it difficult for them to retain key knowledge and vocabulary
- Need for more consistent support and guidance for staff in meeting the needs of pupils with SEND
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with secure systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Blacksmithing, printmaking, pottery, community work experience placements, volunteering, charity events (sponsored walks), educational visits to London and Germany, sports, creative arts
Ringwood Waldorf School has improved rapidly since its last inspection and is now rated Good overall. The school provides a nurturing, inclusive environment where pupils develop strong values and exceptional behaviour.
About
Ringwood Waldorf School is an Independent School for 3-18 year olds located on the edge of the New Forest, near the Dorset and Hampshire border. Established in 1974, the school was founded on the principles of Waldorf education and follows a unique curriculum that aligns learning with children's natural developmental stages.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
188 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Ringwood Waldorf School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
Keep up with Ringwood Waldorf School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 16
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight.
16 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
3 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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 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
79%
Available places
248 pupils
314 places
66 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Ringwood
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ringwood
Across Dorset council
Places available
2,797
Applications
2,105
Got 1st preference
97.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across Dorset council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
40
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
16.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
248
Total Pupils
111
Boys
137
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Ringwood Waldorf School
Questions parents ask about Ringwood Waldorf School
What are GCSE results like at Ringwood Waldorf School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Ringwood Waldorf School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Ringwood Waldorf School's Ofsted rating?
Ringwood Waldorf School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025.
Does Ringwood Waldorf School meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in May 2025, Ringwood Waldorf School met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Ringwood Waldorf School?
Ringwood Waldorf School has around 248 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Ringwood Waldorf School?
Ringwood Waldorf 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 Ringwood Waldorf School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 18 slight. 16 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 3 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 Dorset is 3 (the median across 184 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ringwood Waldorf School?
Ringwood Waldorf School is at Folly Farm Lane, Ashley, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2NN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)