Ridgewood Community High School

Ridgewood Community High School continues to maintain a good standard of education, characterized by strong relationships between pupils and staff. Students enjoy their time at school and feel safe, supported in their academic pursuits, and prepared for future challenges. The curriculum is ambitious, offering a well-rounded experience that includes practical skills and personal development opportunities, which enhance their overall learning environment. However, there are some subjects in the curriculum that need further development to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between pupils and staff
• Ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils for future stages
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• Focus on personal development with diverse extracurricular activities
• High standards of behaviour and conduct among pupils
• Significant focus on improving reading skills for pupils

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum design is not fully developed in a small number of subjects, affecting pupil achievement

In 2024–25 pupils at Ridgewood Community High School attended 85.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 31.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.8% of pupils at Ridgewood Community High School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Ridgewood Community High School had 8.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Ridgewood Community High School had 192 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Ridgewood Community High School received £33,760 and spent £34,611 for each of its 192 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £511,000 (£2,663 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Burnley · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Ridgewood Community High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ridgewood Community High School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Ridgewood Community High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ridgewood Community High School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Ridgewood Community High School have?

Ridgewood Community High School has 192 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ridgewood Community High School cover?

Ridgewood Community High School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Ridgewood Community High School?

Ridgewood Community High School is at Eastern Avenue, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2AT.