CP Riverside School, Nottingham
CP Riverside School is a secondary school for pupils aged 13 to 16 in Nottingham, part of East Midlands Education Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2022.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
CP Riverside School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades CP Riverside School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Strong standard. "This is an inclusive school."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme is extensive."
Achievement - Expected standard. "The school helps pupils to achieve both academically and personally."
Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have an informed and accurate understanding of school attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate and informed understanding of the curriculum and teaching across the school."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders use their detailed and insightful analysis of the school to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of their provision."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all staff have high expectations of what every pupil can achieve and adapt their teaching accordingly so that pupils achieve the best possible outcomes".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Getting a place at CP Riverside School
Across Nottingham, 80% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 94% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Nottingham lodged 376 appeals against secondary school offers; 304 reached a hearing and 48 succeeded (15.8% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to CP Riverside School are The Nottingham Emmanuel School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.1); The Becket School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.3); Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology (1 mile, Good, Attainment 8 51.5); and Clayfield House (1 mile).
The Nottingham Emmanuel SchoolThe Becket SchoolNottingham University Academy of Science and TechnologyClayfield House
The trust
CP Riverside School is one of 24 schools run by East Midlands Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.3 in 2024/25.
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 4 pupils (100%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Wilford Village Tram Stop, about 290 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crossgate Drive, 100 metres away.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to CP Riverside School are Victoria Primary School (0.1 miles), St Patrick's Catholic Primary and Nursery School (0.2 miles), South Wilford Endowed CofE Primary School (0.4 miles) and Welbeck Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Victoria Primary SchoolSt Patrick's Catholic Primary and Nursery SchoolSouth Wilford Endowed CofE Primary SchoolWelbeck Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at CP Riverside School
Pupils enjoy school. They feel happy and safe and know that there are members of staff who will listen to them if they have any concerns. Every pupil has a 'coach' with whom they meet regularly. Pupils and staff have positive and productive relationships. Pupils are supported to raise their aspirations, behave well and re-engage with education. Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that staff would deal with any instances of unkindness or inappropriate behaviour that may occur. Staff use a range of effective strategies to remove barriers to pupils' learning and wellbeing. Pupils make substantial progress from their starting points. Pupils enjoy a range of subjects and understand how what they are learning in school will help them in the future. They know that a secure knowledge of reading and mathematics will be beneficial to them in their adult lives. They are well prepared for their next steps. Almost all pupils move on to purposeful and sustained college courses. Most pupils are rarely absent. Some have significantly improved attendance since joining the school. Pupils understand that regular attendance is important for their learning and future prospects. They also do not want to miss school as they feel a sense of belonging at CP Riverside. Pupils learn how to stay safe at school, at home and in the community. Staff actively promote pupils' emotional wellbeing and encourage them to take care of themselves. Pupils appreciate the variety of enrichment opportunities that the school provides. Trips and other experiences broaden pupils' horizons and develop their talents and interests.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that all staff have high expectations of what every pupil can achieve and adapt their teaching accordingly so that pupils achieve the best possible outcomes.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 14 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
CP Riverside is an inclusive school where every child feels valued and supported. Staff provide excellent pastoral care and have established strong relationships with pupils, helping them build resilience and independence. The school excels at removing barriers to learning and ensuring all pupils, regardless of their background or needs, leave with meaningful qualifications and progress to purposeful college courses.
Key Strengths
- Inclusive approach that effectively supports all pupils including those with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and vulnerable pupils
- Strong personal development programme with extensive extracurricular activities in sport, music and art
- Excellent safeguarding culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
- All pupils gain qualifications including GCSEs and functional skills, with every pupil moving to an appropriate college place
- Positive relationships between pupils and staff built on high expectations and established routines
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in the quality of work produced across different subjects - not all pupils produce consistently high-quality work
- Variation in staff expectations of what pupils can achieve across the curriculum
- Some pupils occasionally late to school due to transport issues
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sport, music, art, trips, enrichment activities
CP Riverside School is an inclusive school where all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, are helped to achieve, belong and thrive. The school has established a positive culture of safeguarding and provides extensive personal development opportunities.
At a Glance
25.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with CP Riverside School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to CP Riverside School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. CP Riverside School is in Nottingham; for families living there:
Apply to Nottingham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 28
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 21 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
8%
Available places
4 pupils
50 places
46 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Nottingham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Nottingham
Across Nottingham council
Places available
3,708
Applications
3,688
Got 1st preference
80.3%
Got preferred school
94.1%
All secondary applications across Nottingham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
4
Total Pupils
3
Boys
1
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
0.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,725
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
CP Riverside School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about CP Riverside School
What is CP Riverside School's Ofsted rating?
CP Riverside School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for CP Riverside School?
No fixed boundary. When CP Riverside School is oversubscribed, Nottingham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to CP Riverside School?
CP Riverside School has around 4 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to CP Riverside School?
Apply through Nottingham's coordinated admissions process, naming CP Riverside School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near CP Riverside School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 28 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 21 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Nottingham is 37 (the median across 119 schools, same distance and years).
Where is CP Riverside School?
CP Riverside School is at Riverside Way, Nottingham, NG2 1DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)