Ridgeway Primary Academy is a mainstream primary school in South Shields, South Tyneside, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 141 of its 452 pupils (31.2%) were getting SEN support and 18 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 452 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in South Tyneside.
31.2% get SEN support
141 of 452 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
18 of 452 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication67
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia39
- Autism20
- Social, emotional and mental health14
- Physical disability14
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 452 (places for 472)
- Headteacher
- Mr Alex Golden
- Part of
- Tyne Coast Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 48.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- South Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 139124
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask South Tyneside council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Report card, February 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in February 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Early yearsExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceNeeds attention
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, September 2021).
Contact and getting there
Park Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8AB
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Epinay Business and Enterprise School Special school · Ages 4–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Harton Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Park View School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Lord Blyton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Harton Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 0.9% 0.7 miles
- St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15%, EHC plans 1.3% 0.7 miles
- St Wilfrid's RC College Secondary · Ages 11–19 · SEN support 11.6%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in South Tyneside SEND schools in South Tyneside
Questions about Ridgeway Primary Academy
How many pupils at Ridgeway Primary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 141 of the 452 pupils (31.2%) were getting SEN support and 18 (4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Ridgeway Primary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (67 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (39 pupils) and autism (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Ridgeway Primary Academy?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Ridgeway Primary Academy?
Through South Tyneside council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Ridgeway Primary Academy?
You can ask for Ridgeway Primary Academy to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Ridgeway Primary Academy have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Harton Academy, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Ridgeway Primary Academy?
Park Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8AB, in South Tyneside.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.