Riverside Junior School, Hebden Bridge

In its own words: "At Riverside school we believe that all children have an entitlement to a broad and varied education; broad in its content and varied in the approach by which it is delivered. We will help our pupils be the best that they can be through inspiring and exciting learning experiences inside and outside the classroom."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Riverside has been serving the families and community of Hebden Bridge for more than one hundred years. It began its life in 1909 as a United District Secondary School and became Riverside Junior School in 1964."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Riverside Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 75% in Calderdale and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 67% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

Across Calderdale, 97% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Calderdale lodged 45 appeals against primary school offers; 19 reached a hearing and 3 succeeded (15.8% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Riverside Junior School are Central Street Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Stubbings Infant School (0.2 miles, Good); Hebden Royd CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, 83% reading, 67% maths); and Heptonstall Junior Infant and Nursery School (0.8 miles).

34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Riverside Junior School (as of September 2025): 91% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

5.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 22 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 14 (11.9%) 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.

Riverside Junior School has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

Riverside Junior School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hebden Bridge Station, about 490 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

28 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hebden Bridge New Rd, 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Calderdale (102).

In 2024/25, Riverside Junior School issued 5 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.