Classpot

Ridgeway Primary Academy

South Tyneside, NE34 8ABPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2026
KS2 Results
50%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
61 1st-choice / 60 places
Ranking
#10,610
of 13,686 nationally

About Ridgeway Primary Academy

Ridgeway Primary Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 61 first-preference applications for 60 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 59 of those families receiving an offer. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 91 applications for its 60 Reception places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.52. This level of demand suggests parents in South Tyneside view it favourably, though no formal parent satisfaction survey data is available to confirm this. The school is led by headteacher Alex Golden and serves 461 pupils aged 3 to 11, operating just below its full capacity of 472. A significant proportion of its intake — 48.4 per cent — qualifies for free school meals, well above the national average, reflecting the community it serves. Ridgeway is a state-funded primary academy with a non-religious character and offers nursery provision for younger children.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPark Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE34 8AB
HeadteacherAlex Golden
Local AuthoritySouth Tyneside
Number of Pupils461
Free School Meals (FSM)48.4%
School Capacity461 / 472 (98% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

23 Sept 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (23 Sept 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Sports HallDining HallPlaying FieldsOutdoor PlaygroundMusic RoomsForest SchoolLibraryArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

SwimmingAthleticsTennisRoundersCricketNetballCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubGardeningCodingChessScience ClubChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Ridgeway Primary Academy

Ridgeway Primary Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.