Riverbank School, Coventry
Riverbank School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Coventry, part of Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Riverbank School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Riverbank School are Park View (1.1 miles, Good); Baginton Fields Academy (1.2 miles); Tiverton School (1.2 miles, Good); and Waterside School (2.6 miles).
Park ViewBaginton Fields AcademyTiverton SchoolWaterside School
The trust
Riverbank School is one of 5 schools run by Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 26 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
52.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 36.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (32%), Asian (29%) and Black (19%).
Almost every pupil at Riverbank School has an education, health and care plan (219 of 219 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Coventry Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sowe Valley School (adjacent), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Riverbank School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Riverbank School issued 18 suspensions, 8.7 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from May 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2017 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
52.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Riverbank School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Riverbank School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Riverbank School is in Coventry; for families living there:
Apply to Coventry for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
2 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 Coventry is 14 (the median across 130 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
146%
Over capacity
219 pupils
150 places
69 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Coventry
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Coventry
Across Coventry council
Places available
4,567
Applications
4,348
Got 1st preference
82.1%
Got preferred school
94.6%
All secondary applications across Coventry council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
219
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
219
Total Pupils
159
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
9.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,507
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.7%
Overall absence
23.9%
Persistent absence
155
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Riverbank School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Riverbank School
What are GCSE results like at Riverbank School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Riverbank School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 0.3. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Riverbank School's Ofsted rating?
Riverbank School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Riverbank School?
No fixed boundary. When Riverbank School is oversubscribed, Coventry allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Riverbank School?
Riverbank School has around 219 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Riverbank School?
8.7% of sessions were missed at Riverbank School in 2024/25. 23.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Riverbank School?
Apply through Coventry's coordinated admissions process, naming Riverbank 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 Riverbank School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 2 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 Coventry is 14 (the median across 130 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Riverbank School?
Riverbank School is at Princethorpe Way, Coventry, West Midlands, CV3 2QD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)