Harris Academy Riverside, Purfleet

Good
Secondary
Free schools
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.4km)Possible (~3.5km)Unlikely (~4.5km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Rachel Sofianos
Pupils:1,111 / 1,096 capacity
LA:Thurrock
Phone:01375802060
Address:London Road, Purfleet, RM19 1QY
Trust:HARRIS FEDERATION
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2017

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:144750
UKPRN:10064838
Constituency:Thurrock
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school creates a warm, welcoming environment where every child is valued and supported. Pupils achieve well because teachers are skilled at adapting their teaching, and the school has excellent systems to spot and help any pupil who needs extra support early on. The school's strong focus on building positive relationships and clear expectations means pupils want to come to school and behave well.

Key Strengths

  • Excellent attendance rates that are above national average, including for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Consistently good behaviour with a purposeful and productive learning environment
  • Inclusive culture with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils
  • Strong leadership with clear vision and high expectations across the school
  • Well-designed curriculum including languages such as Mandarin tailored to pupils' needs

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Culture day celebrations, visits to partner schools and universities, careers programme with external speakers and industry experts, staff shout-outs, regular check-ins with headteacher

Harris Academy Riverside is a welcoming and inclusive school where pupils achieve well and feel safe. The school maintains high attendance rates and strong behaviour through clear expectations and supportive relationships.

At a Glance

30.1%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

23.0

Avg class size

46

Total classes

15 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Purfleet Rail Station
299m · 5 min walk

Bus Stops

Harris Riverside Academy (o/s)
41m · 1 min walk
Railway Station (E-bound)
161m · 3 min walk
Linnet Way (Eastbound)
198m · 3 min walk
London Road Lindon Close (Eastbound)
528m · 9 min walk
War Memorial (opp)
695m · 11 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

101%

Over capacity

1,111 pupils

1,096 capacity

15 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Purfleet

High pressure
New homes approved:33
Projected new pupils:6

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Purfleet

Admissions Demand - Thurrock

Low demand1.03x oversubscription

Places available

2,362

Applications

2,437

Got 1st preference

76.0%

Got preferred school

92.8%

Secondary admissions across Thurrock (2025/26)

Inspection History(102)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.73513%

Overall absence

13.5%

Persistent absence

1,000

Enrolments

Authorised3.37011%
Unauthorised2.36502%
Persistent (10%+)13.5%
Severe (50%+)2.7%

Absence trend

3.06156%
18/19
4.1226%
20/21
5.91592%
21/22
7.51113%
22/23
5.88386%
23/24
5.73513%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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