River Bank Primary School, Luton
River Bank Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Luton, part of Active Education Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 41 schools in Luton with published results, and 1,876th of 14,452 across England. It was 90% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Luton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
River Bank Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at River Bank Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Luton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (88% in reading, 92% in maths).
Getting a place at River Bank Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 106 families put River Bank Primary School as their first choice and 218 named it as one of their preferences, for 115 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at River Bank Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to River Bank Primary School are Denbigh Primary School (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 89% maths); William Austin Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 82% maths); William Austin Infant School (0.6 miles, Good); and Beech Hill Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 72% reading, 76% maths).
River Bank Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Denbigh Primary SchoolWilliam Austin Junior SchoolWilliam Austin Infant SchoolBeech Hill Community Primary School
The trust
River Bank Primary School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about River Bank Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (96%).
Who goes there
62.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (74%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 115 pupils (14.5%) received SEN support and 24 (3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Luton Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bath Road (outside), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 611 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Luton (296), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
River Bank Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to River Bank Primary School are Denbigh High School (0.2 miles), Stopsley High School (0.9 miles) and Icknield High School (1 mile).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
River Bank Primary School excels at helping all pupils achieve well, particularly those learning English as an additional language or with special educational needs. The school provides an exciting curriculum with memorable experiences, such as using virtual reality headsets, and maintains exceptionally high expectations for behaviour and learning. Parents are very happy with the education their children receive and the strong community spirit the school fosters.
Key Strengths
- Well-structured curriculum taught expertly with effective support for pupils learning English as an additional language -
- Strong reading programme with pupils reading fluently and confidently -
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and a calm, focused learning environment -
- Strong support for pupils with SEND who achieve highly -
- Extensive extra-curricular and enrichment programme
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Virtual reality learning experiences, healthy activities, enrichment programmes
River Bank Primary School is a vibrant and welcoming primary school where pupils love to learn and achieve highly. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since the previous inspection in 2019.
At a Glance
23.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
45 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.4
Avg class size
28.9
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
27
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with River Bank Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near River Bank Primary School.
- Attainment Plus ltd880m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to River Bank Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. River Bank Primary School is in Luton; for families living there:
- Luton's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for 0 to 25 year olds in education
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 44
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 44 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 36 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
13 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 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
Your chances of a place at River Bank Primary School
Will you get a place at River Bank Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against River Bank Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for River Bank Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to River Bank Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Luton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at River Bank Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Luton got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
760 pupils
840 places
80 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Luton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Luton
Across Luton council
Places available
3,222
Applications
2,863
Got 1st preference
92.6%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Luton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school has improved significantly.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
115
SEN Support
24
EHC Plans
17.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
793
Total Pupils
370
Boys
423
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
21.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,961
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,328
Per pupil
£4641k
Total funding
£289k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.5%
Overall absence
18.1%
Persistent absence
698
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
River Bank Primary School
Questions parents ask about River Bank Primary School
What are SATs results like at River Bank Primary School?
Of the pupils at River Bank Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is River Bank Primary School's Ofsted rating?
River Bank Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for River Bank Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When River Bank Primary School is oversubscribed, Luton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at River Bank Primary School?
River Bank Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 90% of its 840 places.
How big are the classes at River Bank Primary School?
Classes at River Bank Primary School average 29.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to River Bank Primary School?
River Bank Primary School has around 793 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at River Bank Primary School?
6.5% of sessions were missed at River Bank Primary School in 2024/25. 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to River Bank Primary School?
Apply through Luton's coordinated admissions process, naming River Bank Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does River Bank Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of River Bank Primary School: Attainment Plus ltd (880m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near River Bank Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 44 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 36 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 13 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Where is River Bank Primary School?
River Bank Primary School is at Bath Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 1ES.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)