Ridgefield Primary School

About Ridgefield Primary School

Ridgefield Primary School’s headline metrics stand out sharply against the Cambridgeshire local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 58%, Ridgefield achieves 80% — a full 22 percentage points higher. This places the school third out of 26 primary schools in Cambridge, putting it in the top 12% locally and the top 9% nationally. It’s a strong performance for a state primary with 226 pupils, especially given that 21.2% of its students are eligible for free school meals, a figure that suggests the school is serving a reasonably diverse intake. The school is oversubscribed by a ratio of 3.14 to one, with 91 applications for 29 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 27 of those 34 first-preference families received offers. That level of demand reflects a reputation that clearly extends beyond raw numbers.

Digging into the 2023/24 KS2 results, Ridgefield’s strengths are consistent across the core subjects. In maths, 93% of pupils reached the expected standard and 50% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 109. Reading saw 80% at expected and 33% at the higher level, averaging 107. Writing was similarly strong, with 90% at expected and 13% at higher. The combined expected standard of 80% is well above the national average, and the school’s ranking score of 80 places it in the top 25% of all primary schools nationally. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in 2013 rated the school Good overall, with Good leadership and management, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good. That’s a notable improvement from the previous inspection in 2011, when it was judged to require improvement overall and had a Requires Improvement rating for early years provision and leadership.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including an ICT suite, sensory room, sports hall, playing fields, forest school, library, music rooms and art studios. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, gymnastics and tennis, while clubs cover gardening, coding and eco club. SEND provisions are in place for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The school is oversubscribed and popular, so families should be prepared for competition in the admissions process. For parents seeking a primary with strong academic outcomes that outperforms the local average, Ridgefield is a clear contender. Its location in Cambridge means it sits within a competitive local market, and while the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is the University of Cambridge Primary School, 4.8 km away, Ridgefield’s own Good rating and strong results make it a solid choice for families who value measurable progress.

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