SchoolScoresRiverside Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of RMET
St Edmunds Way, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8ET
01634 623500 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 November 2019.
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 | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 June 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Gillingham (Medway) comparisons use the 13 of its 23 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 10 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 | Gillingham (Medway) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 14% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 88% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 9th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 88% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 80% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 17 parents whose child had been bullied 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 19% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 41% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 36 parents who had raised a concern 9th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 14% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 73% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 18 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 20% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 58% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77%said yes | 82% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 10%). 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. Gillingham (Medway) figures pool parents at the Gillingham (Medway) 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.
56% — 5 points below the Medway average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 56% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 61% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 62% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 62% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 Medway. 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 | 56 |
| Of those, offered a place | 56 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 106 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 15 places for visual impairment; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.3% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.4% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 18.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 66% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 15.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 36% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 13th lowest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Lower than 36% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 63% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.7 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.4 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 23 state primary schools in Gillingham (Medway). Higher than 91% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 32.0% | 16.3%* | 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
- St Margaret's CofE Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Margaret's Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), improved significantly 2025
- Miers Court Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2021 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thames View Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parkwood Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holywell Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hartlip Endowed CofE Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Twydall Primary School and Nursery 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fairview Community Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Riverside Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Riverside Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 June 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Riverside Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 6 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Riverside Primary School?
77% of the 43 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Riverside Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Riverside Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 56 families put Riverside Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 56 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 144135.
- 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.