The Ridgeway Church of England (C) Primary School

About The Ridgeway Church of England (C) Primary School

The Ridgeway Church of England (C) Primary School, a small state primary in the Vale of White Horse, presents a mixed picture when set against the Oxfordshire local authority average for Key Stage 2. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 61 per cent, Ridgeway achieves 50 per cent, placing it below the county norm. However, the school’s reading results are notably strong: 93 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, and 36 per cent reached the higher standard, both well above what you might expect from a school of this size. In maths, 64 per cent hit the expected mark, but only 14 per cent achieved the higher standard, and the combined higher standard figure drops to just 7 per cent. This suggests a school where reading is a clear strength, but where maths and writing outcomes are more variable and pull down the headline figure.

Ofsted’s most recent ungraded inspection in March 2024 confirmed that the school remains Good, a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2014. The inspection breakdown shows Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. With only 89 pupils on roll against a capacity of 98, the school is small and intimate, and the pupil-teacher ratio is likely to be favourable. Progress scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is difficult to gauge how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school’s national ranking for the combined expected standard places it in the bottom 50 per cent of primary schools, at the 77th percentile nationally, and 35th out of 47 schools in the Vale of White Horse.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 19 applications for 10 places and nine first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.9. This suggests a loyal local following despite the middling headline results. Facilities include a Forest School, gymnasium, library, music rooms, playing fields and a chapel, and the school offers a broad range of clubs from drama and art to gardening and science club. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For families who prioritise a Church of England ethos, strong reading outcomes and a small, community-focused setting over top-tier academic rankings, Ridgeway could be a good fit. The nearest outstanding-rated primary is Stockham Primary School, 3.4 kilometres away, for those who want to compare options.

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