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Ridgeway Academy
Herns Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 2AF, Hertfordshire
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
12.8 / 100
Bottom 13%
Better than 13% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Good
Pupils
929
Capacity
1,220
Ages
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
76%
Summary
With a Good rating from Ofsted, this secondary school offers a supportive environment for students aged 11-18. While the GCSE Attainment 8 score of 35.7 and a 48% pass rate in English and Maths at grade 4 or above indicate room for improvement, 62% of students progress to university, which is a positive outcome. Parent satisfaction is moderate at 64%, suggesting some areas for enhancement in community engagement.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 3 June 2025Quality Of Education: GoodPersonal Development: GoodBehaviour & Attitudes: GoodLeadership & Management: Good
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 35.7 | Bottom 7% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 48% | Bottom 12% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 25% | Bottom 9% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 16% | Bottom 7% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 5% | Bottom 7% UK |
University Destinations
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Progression to university% of sixth-form leavers who went on to study a degree at a UK university. Includes all universities. National average ~55%. | 62% | Above avg |
| Top-third universities% of leavers who went to a top-third university (Russell Group and equivalents — the most academically selective institutions). National average ~18%. | 6% | Below avg |
Based on 50 leavers (DfE Destinations data, latest available year).
Parent View (252 responses)
★★★★★3.3
Good range of extra-curricular
90%
Good range of subjects
82%
My child feels safe
81%
My child is happy
79%
Progress is communicated
73%
My child makes good progress
73%
School has high expectations
72%
School supports development
66%
I'd recommend this school
64%
Behaviour is good
64%
School keeps me informed
59%
School responds to concerns
51%
Pupil Ethnicity
White British75.3%
White Other7.0%
Mixed W+B Carib.3.8%
Black African3.4%
Mixed W+B African2.2%
Mixed W+Asian1.9%
Mixed Other1.7%
Asian Other1.0%
Asian Indian1.0%
Other0.5%
Asian Pakistani0.5%
Gypsy/Roma0.4%
Black Caribbean0.4%
Black Other0.2%
Asian Chinese0.2%
White Irish0.1%
Asian Bangladeshi0.1%
Location
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51.80217, -0.17906 · AL7 2AF
School details
Local authorityHertfordshire
RegionEast of England
URN146305
School typeAcademy sponsor led
Websiteridgeway.herts.sch.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What is Ridgeway Academy rated by Ofsted?
Ridgeway Academy was rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 3 June 2025.
Is Ridgeway Academy a good school?
Ridgeway Academy scores 12.8/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the bottom 13% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
What do parents say about Ridgeway Academy?
Based on 252 Ofsted Parent View responses, Ridgeway Academy receives a satisfaction score of 67% across all parent survey questions.
How do pupils perform at Ridgeway Academy in GCSEs?
Ridgeway Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.7. 48% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near AL7 2AF?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near AL7 2AF with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.