Ridgewell Church of England Primary School

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School demonstrates a strong commitment to safeguarding and creating a positive learning environment for pupils. While attendance has improved, particularly for disadvantaged students, there remain significant concerns over the overall academic achievement of pupils, especially in writing. The school operates with a small number of students which can lead to fluctuating data, and leaders are aware of the need for consistent, effective teaching across all subjects. Some improvements have been initiated, but these are still at an early stage and need to be expanded to ensure all pupils are well-prepared for future learning.

Strengths

• Strong commitment to safeguarding practices.
• Effective support for improving attendance, particularly among disadvantaged pupils.
• Positive behavior and relationships foster a safe learning environment.
• Broad personal development curriculum prepares pupils for future life.
• Supportive approaches for pupils with SEND.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent quality of teaching affecting pupil knowledge retention.
• Pupils do not achieve expected levels, particularly in writing.
• Leaders' actions are not resulting in timely improvements in teaching consistency.
• Gaps in early years education need addressing for better preparation for Year 1.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Ridgewell Church of England Primary School attended 94.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

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, 0.0% of pupils at Ridgewell Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). 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 Ridgewell Church of England Primary School had 13.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

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, 30.9% of pupils at Ridgewell Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

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 primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Ridgewell Church of England Primary School received £10,748 and spent £9,538 for each of its 57 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £105,000 (£1,842 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust, income was £7,530 and spending £7,249 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Halstead · Essex local authority: places and applications

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School is part of The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Great Yeldham Halstead
• Belchamp St Paul Church of England Primary School Sudbury
• Colne Engaine Church of England Primary School
• Rivenhall Church of England Primary School Witham
• Howbridge Church of England Junior School Witham
• St James the Great Church of England Primary School Colchester
• William Martin Church of England Junior School Harlow
• William Martin Church of England Infant and Nursery School Harlow
• Christchurch Church of England Primary School Chelmsford
• St Cedd's Church of England Primary School Southminster

What is Ridgewell Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ridgewell Church of England Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was Ridgewell Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does Ridgewell Church of England Primary School have?

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School has 55 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ridgewell Church of England Primary School cover?

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Ridgewell Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ridgewell Church of England Primary School?

Ridgewell Church of England Primary School is at Church Lane, Ridgewell, Halstead, Essex, CO9 4SA.