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OpenOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 109742

Ridgeway School

Community special school · Bedford · MK42 7EB

Ages 2–19 · 125 pupils · Bedford

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Overall absence

14.4%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2025-05-11

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence14.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)40.8%
Unauthorised1.6%
Authorised absence
12.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
5.3%
Enrolments in measure
76

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill100%

125 pupils · 125 places

Pupils on roll
125
Boys / girls
82 / 43
School capacity
125
Capacity fill
125 / 125 (100%)
Free school meals
36.2%
FSM pupils
38
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 2–19

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

3 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community special school
Headteacher
Mr Joe Creswick (Executive Head)

Location

Address
Hill Rise, Kempston
Postcode
MK42 7EB
Town
Bedford
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Bedford
District
Bedford
Constituency
Bedford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community special school, Ages 2–19, in Bedford, Bedford, 125 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 36.2%. SEN provision includes: SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability….

Open schools in Bedford
104
Academies among open schools in Bedford
46% (48)
Open schools in MK42
26
Open schools in Bedford LA
86

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BedfordNear MK42

  • Kempston Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 7EB · Bedford

    Ages 11–18

    • Att837.3
    • P8-0.1
    • Absence8.8%

    0.1 miles away

  • Balliol Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedford · MK42 7ER · Bedford

    Ages 2–11

    • KS254%
    • Absence4.4%

    0.4 miles away

  • Kempston Rural Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Kempston · MK42 7FJ · Bedford

    Ages 5–11

    • KS274%
    • Absence4.5%

    0.5 miles away

  • Greys Education Centre

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy alternative provision converter

    Bedford · MK42 7AB · Bedford

    Ages 5–16

    0.7 miles away

  • Bedford Road Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Bedford · MK42 8QH · Bedford

    Ages 5–11

    • Absence6.5%

    0.9 miles away

  • Springfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bedford · MK42 7LJ · Bedford

    Ages 4–11

    • KS225%
    • Absence7.4%

    1.1 miles away

  • Daubeney Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 7PS · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

    • Att835.6
    • P80.0
    • Absence9.2%

    1.1 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Joe Creswick (Executive Head)
Telephone
01234402402
Website
http://www.ridgewayschool.org.uk/

Official links