Academy sponsor led · Hertfordshire

Ridgeway Academy

11–18Ages
875Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
146305URN

Herns Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 2AF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

1.3 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

278 applications for 168 places · 69th of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

37.4of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

73rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 3 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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

1.7applications per place, Year 7

1.3 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

278 applications · 168 places offered · 99 named it first

2026 1.7; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 1.8; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 2.1; Hertfordshire median median 3.3; as the previous school
2017 1.9; Hertfordshire median median 3.3; as the previous school
2016 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.4; as the previous school
2015 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3; as the previous school
2014 2.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.4; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
Hertfordshire median

Dashed bars: as Sir Frederic Osborn School (URN 117525), the previous school.

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	168	278	1.7	99	0.59
Sep 2025	168	246	1.5	88	0.52
Sep 2024	173	313	1.8	105	0.61
Sep 2023	194	399	2.1	174	0.90
Sep 2022	172	396	2.3	168	0.98
Sep 2021	177	422	2.4	176	0.99
Sep 2020	177	405	2.3	206	1.16
Sep 2019	207	391	1.9	167	0.81
Sep 2018 *	160	329	2.1	125	0.78
Sep 2017 *	164	306	1.9	100	0.61
Sep 2016 *	101	254	2.5	79	0.78
Sep 2015 *	103	247	2.4	78	0.76
Sep 2014 *	103	235	2.3	64	0.62

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

150 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)37.473rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths27%73rd of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths53%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.47

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	150	37.4	27%	53%	–
2024/25	153	35.7	25%	48%	–
2023/24	168	37.9	27%	51%	−0.47
2022/23	145	38.9	29%	57%	−0.36

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 AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 37.4Attainment 8
Monk's Walk School
3.0 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.7applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Stanborough School
3.1 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

3.2applications per place 49.3Attainment 8
The Sele School
5.3 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 35.1Attainment 8
Onslow St Audrey's School
5.5 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

1.3applications per place 36.1Attainment 8
Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School
5.8 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2022

3.0applications per place 54.5Attainment 8
Richard Hale School
7.1 km · Hertfordshire

Good2024

3.1applications per place 54.0Attainment 8
Simon Balle All-Through School
7.6 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Outstanding2024

5.4applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
Chancellor's School
8.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

3.1applications per place 51.0Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 146305 · 919/4031
Trust: Ambition Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,220 pupils · 875 on roll
Free school meals: 33.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2018
Replaced: Sir Frederic Osborn School (URN 117525)
Address: Herns Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 2AF
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Welwyn Hatfield

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