Foundation school · Wirral

Ridgeway High School

11–16Ages
858Pupils
SecondaryPhase
105097URN

Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, Prenton, CH43 9EB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jan 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.1per place

close to Wirral median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in WirralSelective

271 applications for 129 places · 12th of 20 in Wirral

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

37.7of 90

Wirral 39.4 England 46.0

16th of 20 in Wirral

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 30 January 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.1applications per place, Year 7

close to Wirral median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

271 applications · 129 places offered · 104 named it first

2026 2.1; Wirral median median 2.1
2025 1.7; Wirral median median 2.1
2024 1.6; Wirral median median 2.1
2023 1.4; Wirral median median 2.1
2022 1.5; Wirral median median 2.2
2021 1.6; Wirral median median 2.1
2020 1.8; Wirral median median 1.9
2019 1.8; Wirral median median 2.0
2018 1.4; Wirral median median 2.0
2017 1.8; Wirral median median 2.1
2016 2.1; Wirral median median 2.1
2015 2.5; Wirral median median 2.2
2014 2.7; Wirral median median 2.1

This school
Wirral median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	129	271	2.1	104	0.81
Sep 2025	178	298	1.7	144	0.81
Sep 2024	191	311	1.6	148	0.77
Sep 2023	208	285	1.4	130	0.63
Sep 2022	179	273	1.5	97	0.54
Sep 2021	178	285	1.6	107	0.60
Sep 2020	157	287	1.8	74	0.47
Sep 2019	170	307	1.8	99	0.58
Sep 2018	175	238	1.4	69	0.39
Sep 2017	159	290	1.8	78	0.49
Sep 2016	125	260	2.1	69	0.55
Sep 2015	137	339	2.5	84	0.61
Sep 2014	124	339	2.7	86	0.69

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

167 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.716th of 20 in Wirral

Wirral 39.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths21%16th of 20 in Wirral

Wirral 29% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths51%

Wirral 53% England 66%

This school
Wirral median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.16

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	167	37.7	21%	51%	–
2024/25	175	39.2	25%	53%	–
2023/24	171	36.5	22%	47%	−0.16
2022/23	162	37.4	23%	41%	−0.30

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Ridgeway High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

2.1applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Woodchurch High School
0.6 km · Wirral

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.5applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
Birkenhead High School Academy
1.7 km · Wirral

Good2023

4.7applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Upton Hall School FCJ
1.9 km · Wirral

Outstanding2022

2.0applications per place 65.6Attainment 8 Selective
St Anselm's College
1.9 km · Wirral

Standards maintained2025

2.0applications per place 63.1Attainment 8 Selective
Birkenhead Park School
2.3 km · Wirral

2026

1.9applications per place 39.1Attainment 8
Prenton High School for Girls
3.4 km · Wirral

Remains Good2022

2.5applications per place 40.8Attainment 8
Weatherhead High School
3.9 km · Wirral

Good2022

1.6applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
The Mosslands School
4.3 km · Wirral

Requires improvement2024

1.8applications per place 34.5Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 105097 · 344/4018
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 885 pupils · 858 on roll
Free school meals: 60.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 January 1900
Address: Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, Prenton, CH43 9EB
Local authority: Wirral

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources