The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College

Overview

The Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College is described as an “inclusive and aspirational school” where pupils “achieve very well” due to an “ambitious” curriculum. Leaders maintain “high expectations” for behaviour, creating a “calm and orderly environment” where bullying is rare and students feel safe.

Strengths

• The curriculum is designed with “considerable thought and care,” ensuring pupils “build securely on prior learning” and revisit key concepts.
• Teachers are “subject experts” who present information clearly and routinely check for understanding, helping disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND to “achieve well.”
• Sixth-form students receive “effective feedback” and engage in “demanding” work, developing independence and subject expertise.
• There is an “embedded reading culture” with strong support for early readers and one-to-one mentoring for sixth-form students.
• Leaders have a “clear vision” shared by staff and governors, fostering a community that works “effectively together” with a “continuous drive towards improvement.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should develop a culture encouraging all pupils to demonstrate “greater self-control” and “consistently positive attitudes” when unsupervised, as some do not always make the right choices.
• Leaders need to further develop the careers programme, specifically by “improving the quality of work experience for sixth-form students.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with a “strong culture” where leaders are “tenacious when working with external agencies” to ensure positive outcomes for vulnerable pupils.