Riverside Primary School
Gillingham, ME8 8ET · Medway · primary school
Check the area around this school
43rd of 56 primary schools in Medway we can score, 76 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 — 3.0/10 against 2,066 of them, against 2.7/10 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 | 56.0 · 30 | 40% | 1.18 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 25% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Riverside Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 2.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (3.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2025.
Getting in
The published school roll is 453 pupils against a stated capacity of 390. 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
Since the latest inspection was in July 2025, what specific actions have been taken to address the areas highlighted by inspectors? How does the school support pupils who are working towards the expected standard in core subjects?
What Ofsted said about Riverside Primary School
Overview
Riverside Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a welcoming environment where pupils are “understood, included and celebrated” and achieve well, particularly in English and mathematics. Staff work closely with the trust to ensure pupils thrive in a safe and settled setting.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “care and compassion” for one another and behave politely, contributing to a happy school atmosphere.
- The curriculum is “broad and balanced,” with learning adapted very well for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Teachers possess “strong subject knowledge” and effectively check learning in English and mathematics, quickly addressing misconceptions.
- Significant improvements in phonics teaching have been made, with staff delivering the programme “consistently well and with fidelity.”
- There is an “exceptionally wide personal development programme” that fosters aspiration through community links and diverse activities.
Areas to improve
- Checks on what pupils know and remember are not fully developed in subjects beyond English and mathematics, making it difficult to build securely on retained knowledge.
- The school should ensure teachers can accurately establish and build on what pupils know across the whole curriculum to address gaps in learning.
Safeguarding
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 | 63% |
| 2023/24 | 65% |
| 2024/25 | 56% |
| 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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