SchoolScoresRiver Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Lewisham Road, River, Dover, CT17 0PP
01304 822516 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 7 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
84 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Dover comparisons use the 13 of its 22 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 9 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Dover | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 11th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 12th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 26% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 57% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 69 parents who had raised a concern 10th highest of 11 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 19% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 22% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 73% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 12th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dover. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Dover figures pool parents at the Dover schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
61 pupils in this year group.
62% — about the same as the Kent average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Kent. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 57 |
| Of those, offered a place | 54 (95%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 167 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 12 places for speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Kent | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.3% | 27.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.2% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 12th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 15.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Lower than 79% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 14.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 26% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.4 | 20.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 49% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.7 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 14th highest of 21 state primary schools in Dover. Higher than 38% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 14.4%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Temple Ewell CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- White Cliffs Primary and Nursery School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Green Park Community Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed with concerns 2023 · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shatterlocks Infant and Nursery School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025
- Whitfield Aspen School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barton Junior School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Martin's School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Priory Fields School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Charlton CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Vale View Community School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is River Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 7 January 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did River Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend River Primary School?
77% of the 84 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend River Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is River Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 57 families put River Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 54 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 118393.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.