Ridgeway Secondary School

What Ridgeway Secondary School does

Ridgeway Secondary School is a state-funded academy serving students aged 11-16 (Years 7-11) from a single campus on Evesham Road, Astwood Bank, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. The school is operated by Ridgeway Academy Trust (a company limited by guarantee, company number 08284164) and sits within the Shires Multi Academy Trust (company number 761079), which provides shared governance, teacher development, and back-office resources. Core delivery is a full secondary curriculum culminating in GCSEs, with the Class of 2024 results described by the school as setting a new academic benchmark. Operations are supported by an integrated digital stack: Microsoft Office 365 and Outlook for productivity and communications; Arbor as the Management Information System; EPraise for student engagement and rewards; ParentPay for cashless catering and trip payments; and Padlet for Early Help resource boards. The school's product surface extends beyond statutory curriculum into the Elite Performer Programme (mentorship, recognition, academic flexibility and funding access for gifted students in sport, acting, and singing), the Ridgeway 360 Student Award (a four-pillar holistic development framework covering academic, physical, mental health/wellbeing, and social skills), and a Mock Trial competition via Young Citizens.

The business model is government-funded education delivery: per-pupil state funding flows through the Trust, supplemented by catering receipts (Shires Catering meals paid via ParentPay) and ancillary income such as the 'Hire our Facilities' service. The school charges no tuition fees and operates as a non-profit under exempt-charity status, with surpluses reinvested into provision. Recruitment is event-driven via October open evenings, headteacher-led school tours, an 'Open Door' visitor policy, and primary-school transition programmes; admissions are administered through Worcestershire County Council. Customer segments span mainstream Years 7-11 students, Pupil Premium / disadvantaged learners, students with SEND, and Elite Performers, each served by dedicated programmes (Pupil Premium strategic lead, SENDCo-led SEND provision, dedicated Elite Performer mentors). Strategic posture is one of demonstrable turnaround: attendance at 93.5% in 2023-24 versus a national average of 91%, persistent absence reduced from 39.4% (2021-22) to 13.9% (2023-24) versus 26.7% nationally, and 2025 recognition including a Pearson National Teaching Awards 'Making a Difference' whole-school award plus a Bronze for Headteacher Mr Ball.

Name

Ridgeway Secondary School

Legal name

Ridgeway Academy Trust

Website

https://ridgewaysecondary.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ridgeway Secondary School is a state-funded UK academy serving students aged 11-16 (Years 7-11) in Redditch, Worcestershire, operated by Ridgeway Academy Trust within the Shires Multi Academy Trust, delivering GCSE curriculum plus the Elite Performer Programme and Ridgeway 360 Award.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC)

Keywords

• Secondary education services
• GCSE curriculum provision
• Academy school education
• Student development programmes
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Redditch

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: As a secondary school operated by Ridgeway Academy Trust and part of Shires Multi Academy Trust, the school receives government funding for education delivery based on student enrollment numbers.
2. Catering Services: Hot meals cooked on site by Shires Catering, paid in advance using ParentPay online cashless system.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ridgeway Secondary School is a state-funded academy secondary school providing full-time education for students in Years 7-11 (ages 11-16) in Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcestershire. It delivers the national curriculum including GCSE subjects, personalised learning and SEND support, pastoral and mental health services, careers guidance, and enrichment/extra-curricular programmes, alongside dedicated student-development offerings such as the Ridgeway 360 award and the Elite Performer Programme for gifted students in sport and the performing arts.

Product overview

Ridgeway Secondary School operates as a secondary educational institution providing a comprehensive curriculum and student development ecosystem. The school's core educational offerings include traditional academic subjects supplemented by specialized programmes such as the Elite Performer Programme for students excelling in sport, acting, and singing, and the Ridgeway 360 Student Award for holistic personal development. The school maintains digital infrastructure including its official website, catering services through Shires Catering, and various student management systems. The institution participates in external competitions including Mock Trial competitions and holds the School Games Gold Mark Award for sporting achievements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Education (Years 7-11 Curriculum) Full-time statutory secondary education for students aged 11-16 delivered at the Astwood Bank campus, covering the national curriculum with GCSE preparation across subject areas, teaching hours of 32 hours 55 minutes per week.
• Elite Performer Programme A structured talent-development programme for gifted students in sport, acting and singing, providing individual mentorship, public recognition with badges, academic flexibility and access to funding opportunities. Featured a mentorship visit from Chelsea and England footballer Hannah Hampton in November 2024.
• Ridgeway 360 Student Award A holistic development programme challenging students to grow across four pillars - Academic Growth, Physical Development, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Social Skills - through community involvement, personal interests and skill-building activities.
• School Meals Catering Service Hot meals cooked on site by Shires Catering with termly rotating menus catering for all allergies and dietary requirements, paid in advance via the ParentPay online cashless system. Includes Free School Meals provision for eligible students.
• Mock Trial Competition Annual competition organised by Young Citizens giving students firsthand insight into the justice system through presenting real case arguments in court settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Whole school attendance improved to 93.5% (2023-24), above national average of 91%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shires Multi Academy TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRidgeway Secondary School is part of the Shires Multi Academy Trust, an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee (company number 761079). The trust provides collaborative resources, teacher development opportunities, and shared governance across member schools. Registered address: 1366 Evesham Road, Astwood Bank, Redditch, B96 6BD.
• Astwood Bank Cricket ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity sports provider supporting school sporting activities. Students from Ridgeway participate in cricket programmes and competitions through this partnership.
• Alcester Rugby ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity rugby club partner supporting school PE programmes and offering students pathways to club-level participation.
• Gloucester Rugby ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional rugby club partnership supporting elite performer programme and school rugby development.
• Birmingham Rockets Basketball ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasketball club partner supporting school basketball sessions (held at Ridgeway) and providing pathway to club competition.
• Worcester Cricket ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity cricket club supporting school cricket programmes and providing pathways to club-level cricket.
• University of GloucesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for post-16 planning, providing students with insights into university life through drop-down day sessions.
• Worcester ApprenticeshipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers assemblies across Years 8-11 introducing students to apprenticeship pathways and career options.
• Royal British Legion (Astwood Bank Branch)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerously financially supported the Year 9 RAF Cosford educational trip.
• FTD Brothers (Alzheimer's Charity)minorOthersLocal charity dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Ridgeway students partnered with the charity for a week of fundraising activities including visits to primary schools and Orange Day event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Heart of England School: Secondary school in the broader West Midlands region. Comparable on age range and academic model, though operating in a different (Solihull) catchment from Ridgeway.

Direct peers

• Arrow Vale RSA Academy: A Redditch-area secondary school serving a similar catchment to Ridgeway. Directly comparable on geography, age range (secondary), and academy/non-profit state-funded model, making it the most direct peer for enrollment competition and benchmarking.
• St Augustine's Catholic High School: Redditch-area secondary school serving a similar age range. Comparable on curriculum structure, GCSE delivery and local catchment competition.
• Trinity High School Redditch: Redditch secondary school in the same local admissions geography. Comparable on age range, state funding model and core curriculum offer.
• Tudor Grange Academy Redditch: A Redditch secondary school competing in the same local admissions market as Ridgeway. Comparable on age range, state-funded status and curriculum model; useful peer for GCSE outcomes and attendance benchmarking.

Others

• Shires Multi Academy Trust: The multi-academy trust of which Ridgeway is a member. Comparable as the umbrella operating model and governance structure that defines how Ridgeway is run, scaled and funded at the central level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RidgewaySec
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ridgewaysecondary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ridgeway-secondary-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ridgeway Secondary School