The Ridgeway School, Farnham
The Ridgeway School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Farnham, part of Weydon Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Ridgeway School in detail
The Ridgeway School in its own words
In its own words: "A voice for all to enable lifelong opportunities: Facilitating individual expression to enable lifelong opportunities. Have a strong sense of belonging and to have the knowledge and skills to be able to self-advocate, be independent, be socially and emotionally resilient, to lead as full a life as possible, fulfilling their potential both now and in the future."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a school for young people with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties, additional and complex needs, from the ages of 2 to 19."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, drama and Lego.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Ridgeway School are The Abbey School (0.6 miles, Outstanding); More House School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); Inclusion School Aldershot (3.3 miles); and Pathways Education (4.1 miles, Good).
The Abbey SchoolMore House SchoolInclusion School AldershotPathways Education
The trust
The Ridgeway School is one of 18 schools run by Weydon Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Ridgeway School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 6 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
40.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%), Asian (6%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at The Ridgeway School has an education, health and care plan (111 of 113 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
The Ridgeway School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Farnham Rail Station, about 1120 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Edward Road (adjacent), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Ridgeway School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Ridgeway School issued 1 suspension, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 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 June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Ridgeway School is passionate about giving all pupils a voice and preparing them well for adulthood. Staff are highly skilled at identifying when pupils need additional support and responding with care and expertise. Through a carefully adapted learning environment and specialist care, pupils develop independence, communication skills and confidence to engage fully in their learning.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally well-planned and ambitious curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and stage of development
- Excellent phonics teaching using multi-sensory approaches adapted for each pupil
- Communication at the heart of school approach, with skilled staff and therapists helping pupils express themselves
- Exemplary pupil progress across all curriculum areas, especially in sixth form
- Excellent behaviour supported by consistent strategies and positive relationships between pupils and staff
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff responding swiftly and sensitively to pupils' needs to keep them calm, engaged and safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Weekly community activities including visiting local parks and shops, nature walks, celebration days such as Nigeria day, work experience placements on local farms and in shops and cafes, tuck shop activities, structured social activities
The Ridgeway School is a special school for pupils aged 2-19 with complex learning and medical needs. The school has maintained outstanding standards with an exceptionally well-planned curriculum and highly skilled staff who support pupils to achieve ambitious outcomes.
At a Glance
40.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
30 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Ridgeway School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Ridgeway School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Ridgeway School is in Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 2
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 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
Area Demand Pressure - Farnham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Farnham
Across Surrey council
Places available
12,569
Applications
11,986
Got 1st preference
81.3%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
111
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Ridgeway School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
113
Total Pupils
71
Boys
42
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
5.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,839
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.0%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
90
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 The Ridgeway School
What are SATs results like at The Ridgeway School?
Of the pupils at The Ridgeway School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Ridgeway School's Ofsted rating?
The Ridgeway School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Ridgeway School?
No fixed boundary. When The Ridgeway School is oversubscribed, Surrey allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Ridgeway School?
The Ridgeway School has around 113 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Ridgeway School have specialist SEN provision?
The Ridgeway School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Ridgeway School?
11% of sessions were missed at The Ridgeway School in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Ridgeway School?
Apply through Surrey's coordinated admissions process, naming The 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 The Ridgeway School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 2 fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Ridgeway School?
The Ridgeway School is at 14 Frensham Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8HB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)