Ridgeway Infant School
92%
Capacity
248
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Ridgeway Infant School
Ridgeway Infant School in Derby was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement. The school has maintained this Good standard, as confirmed by an ungraded inspection in 2023. For a school catering to children aged 4 to 7, the most telling academic metric is the Key Stage 2 performance of its feeder junior schools, but Ridgeway itself focuses on early years and infant education. The school’s leadership and management were also rated Good, alongside its overall effectiveness. With 248 pupils on roll against a capacity of 270, the school is popular but not yet at full capacity, though it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 123 applications for 61 places. This suggests strong local demand, particularly as 53 of those applications were first-preference choices.
While Ridgeway Infant School does not publish its own SATs results—these are measured at Key Stage 2 in Year 6, which falls outside its age range—the local authority context provides useful comparison. The Derby local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 55, and Ridgeway’s feeder schools sit among the top performers in the area. The school’s Ofsted report highlights strong early years provision, though specific breakdowns for quality of education and behaviour were not provided in the latest data. The school’s previous inspection in 2012 rated it Requires Improvement, making the jump to Good a notable turnaround. Parents considering Ridgeway can look to the broader Derby primary landscape: only five of the 74 primary schools in the local authority are rated Outstanding, with the nearest being St George’s Catholic Voluntary Academy just 0.1 km away.
Ridgeway Infant School offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, ICT suite, gymnasium, playing fields, library, and chapel, which is unusual for a state infant school. Sports provision covers football, rounders, swimming, netball, gymnastics, and cross country, while clubs include coding, chess, gardening, eco club, and choir. The school supports children with a variety of special educational needs, including Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs, Speech, Language & Communication needs, Visual Impairment, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and other difficulties. With 24.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively diverse catchment. Oversubscription means parents should apply early, as the 2.02 oversubscription ratio indicates strong competition. This school suits families seeking a Good-rated infant school with a broad extracurricular offer and strong SEND support, within easy reach of an Outstanding alternative if needed.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Uplands Avenue, Derby, Derby, DE23 1GG |
| Headteacher | Tamara Dale |
| Local Authority | Derby |
| Number of Pupils | 248 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.6% |
| School Capacity | 248 / 270 (92% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed61
123
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
53 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian51.1%
- White British27.0%
- Mixed13.3%
- White (other)1.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ridgeway Infant School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Uplands Avenue, Derby
Derby, DE23 1GG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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