The Ridgeway School, Farnham

Outstanding
Special
Academy special converter
Mixed
Ages 219

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Tom Byrne
Pupils:113
LA:Surrey
Phone:01252724562
Address:14 Frensham Road, Farnham, GU9 8HB
Trust:WEYDON MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 3 June 2025View full report
URN:141843
UKPRN:10053925
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Farnham and Bordon
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

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

42.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

30 responses
Would recommend97%
Child is happy100%
Well taught100%
Good progress90%
Feels safe97%
Well behaved97%
Bullying dealt with10%
Kept informed97%
Handles concerns67%
Wider development93%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

Reading0%
Maths0%
Writing0%

2024/25 academic year

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Social & online

Getting There

Bus Stops

Edward Road (adj)
158m · 3 min walk
Ridgway Hill Road (opp)
177m · 3 min walk
Ridgway Road (opp)
178m · 3 min walk
Langham Recreation Ground (adj)
253m · 4 min walk
Fox Road (adj)
402m · 7 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

Area Demand Pressure - Farnham

High pressure
New homes approved:1,225
Projected new pupils:221

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Farnham

Admissions Demand - Surrey

Low demand0.98x oversubscription

Places available

12,562

Applications

12,278

Got 1st preference

80.6%

Got preferred school

95.3%

Secondary admissions across Surrey (2025/26)

Inspection History(3)

3 June 2025
4 February 2020
5 June 2013
Outstanding
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

10.97663%

Overall absence

33.33333%

Persistent absence

90

Enrolments

Authorised10.42873%
Unauthorised0.5479%
Persistent (10%+)33.33333%
Severe (50%+)4.44444%

Absence trend

8.09808%
18/19
20.35084%
20/21
10.51509%
21/22
10.31502%
22/23
10.31859%
23/24
10.97663%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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