North Ridge Community School

North Ridge Community School is a welcoming, inclusive all-through special school where pupils feel safe, happy and valued. Inspectors found exceptionally positive behaviour, strong relationships and a sharp focus on personal development, with pupils benefiting from a wide range of experiences and meaningful opportunities to contribute to school life. The curriculum is ambitious, early years provision gives children a strong start, early reading is taught effectively, and sixth-form students are well supported with careers, independence and transition. Leadership is strong, staff morale is high, and trustees provide effective support. The main area for improvement is that some teachers do not always choose the most appropriate activities to deliver the curriculum, particularly for pupils with more complex needs. As a result, some pupils do not secure the knowledge and skills they need before moving on. In the sixth form, the curriculum sometimes does not build on what pupils have learned previously. Safeguarding is effective. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first inspection under section 5. The school is an academy special converter within Nexus Trust, caters for pupils aged 3 to 19 with complex special educational needs and/or disabilities, and all pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school has grown rapidly and its pupil needs have become more diverse.

Strengths

• Welcoming and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and happy
• Exceptional pupil behaviour and strong positive relationships with staff
• Ambitious curriculum supported by a consistent lesson model across the school
• Strong early years provision with effective communication and sensory support
• Effective early reading teaching with expert support and well-structured steps
• Rich personal development and a wide range of wider experiences
• Strong sixth-form support for careers, independence and next steps
• High staff morale and effective trust support
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers do not choose the most appropriate activities to deliver the curriculum
• Pupils with complex needs do not always secure knowledge before moving on
• Sixth-form curriculum sometimes does not build on pupils’ prior learning

In 2024–25 pupils at North Ridge Community School attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 25.0% 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, 1.9% of pupils at North Ridge Community 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 North Ridge Community School had 8.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.4% 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 North Ridge Community School had 181 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty.

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 2024–25 North Ridge Community School received £26,466 and spent £25,431 for each of its 161 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £625,000 (£3,881 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, income was £26,093 and spending £25,319 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 Doncaster · Doncaster local authority: places and applications

North Ridge Community School is part of Nexus Multi Academy Trust, which runs 22 schools. The nearest others:

• Bader Academy Doncaster
• Heatherwood School Doncaster
• Pennine View School Doncaster
• Coppice School Doncaster
• Hilltop School Rotherham
• Crags Community School Rotherham
• West Riding Academy Barnsley
• The Willows School Rotherham
• Abbey School Rotherham
• Kelford School Rotherham

What is North Ridge Community School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for North Ridge Community School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was North Ridge Community School last inspected by Ofsted?

North Ridge Community School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does North Ridge Community School have?

North Ridge Community School has 181 pupils on roll.

What age range does North Ridge Community School cover?

North Ridge Community School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are North Ridge Community School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is North Ridge Community School?

North Ridge Community School is at Tenter Balk Lane, Adwick-le-Street, Woodlands, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN6 7EF.