SchoolScoresRochester Riverside CofE Primary School
Free school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of THE PILGRIM MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Gas House Road, Rochester, ME1 1US
01634 471697 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 8 July 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
74 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Rochester comparisons use the 21 of its 34 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 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 | Rochester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 16th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 15th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 73% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 14th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 8% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 32% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 49 parents who had raised a concern 15th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 20% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 77% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 26 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 27% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 68% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 10th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 31%). 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. Rochester figures pool parents at the Rochester 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 72 |
| Of those, offered a place | 58 (81%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 167 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.2
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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 17th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.4% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 25th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 13% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.6% | 18.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 24th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 26th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 16.6% | 15.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 31st lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 29th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 19th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 52% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.8 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 62% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 33 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 87% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 28.1% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Margaret's at Troy Town CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 strong · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Andrew's School (Rochester) 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- All Faiths Children's Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), some aspects weaker 2025 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Nicholas CEVC Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Gordons Children's Academy, Junior 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gordons Children's Academy, Infant 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Hilltop Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024
- Temple Mill Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 8 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School?
88% of the 74 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 72 families put Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School as their first choice for 59 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 58 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 149069.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.