SchoolScoresRidgeway Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of TYNE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
Park Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8AB
0191 455 2865 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 February 2026 , published 8 May 2026.
In short: 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 6% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 6% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 2% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 6% of 329 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 13% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 46 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 7% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 22 parents of children with SEND Higher than 5% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 36% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 6% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
59 pupils in this year group.
51% — 11 points below the South Tyneside average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 51% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 64% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 69% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 66% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in South Tyneside. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 52 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 52 |
| Of those, offered a place | 52 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 82 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 11th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 49.6% | 36.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 2.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 99% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 36.0% | 19.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 12th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Lower than 13% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.8% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.5% | 13.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.2 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Lower than 17% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 10th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 50% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.6 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 15th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 19% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.8 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 10th highest of 21 state primary schools in South Shields. Higher than 30% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.4% | 8.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Harton Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mortimer Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashley Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cleadon CofE Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, South Shields 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Forest View Primary 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanhope Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 86% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Academy (South Shields) 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2010, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ridgeway Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ridgeway Primary Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Ridgeway Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Ridgeway Primary Academy?
62% of the 47 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Ridgeway Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Ridgeway Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 52 families put Ridgeway Primary Academy as their first choice for 52 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 52 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 139124.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.