River Primary School
Dover, CT17 0PP · Kent · primary school
Check the area around this school
302nd of 425 primary schools in Kent we can score, 460 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.5/10 against 3,450 of them, against 3.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 62.0 · 44 | 62% | 2.68 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 3.0 · 29 | 38% | 1.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
River Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 62.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. 3.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (3.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Coding, Poetry, Forest School, Dance, TTRS, and Come and Sing clubs, as well as Girls Football, Sports Frenzy Football, and Dodgeball.
Getting in
The published school roll is 384 pupils against a stated capacity of 427. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific steps are taken to raise the proportion of students reaching the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about River Primary School
Overview
Pupils describe the school as “inclusive and friendly,” taking pride in their community and leadership roles. The school delivers a “broad and ambitious curriculum” with strong support for reading and mathematics, though inconsistencies remain in handwriting instruction and curriculum adaptation for pupils with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Pupils “love their inclusive and friendly school” and are “proud to be a part of the River Primary School community.”
- Reading is a “top priority,” with effective daily phonics teaching and support enabling pupils who fall behind to “catch up.”
- Recent work to strengthen mathematics teaching has had a “very positive impact on pupils’ learning.”
- The school has a “strong inclusive ethos,” effectively identifying needs and engaging with external specialists to support pupils with SEND.
- Leaders and governors are “passionate about the school” and maintain “clear oversight of all aspects of the school’s performance.”
Areas to improve
- Ensure all pupils acquire foundational English skills, particularly handwriting, so that transcription does not “hinder them achieving as well as they could.”
- Ensure teachers consistently adapt the curriculum for pupils with SEND so they receive work appropriate to their needs and can “close key gaps in their learning.”
- Improve staff responsiveness to inattentive classroom behaviour and “boisterous behaviour on the playground” to ensure the behaviour policy is followed consistently.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 60% |
| 2023/24 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 62% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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