Riverside Primary Academy, Gateshead
Riverside Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Gateshead, part of Oak Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 35 schools in Gateshead with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. It was 65% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Gateshead (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Riverside Primary Academy in detail
Riverside Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Our Governing Body, Leadership Team, and I share a clear vision for our school. We are committed to securing the best possible outcomes for our students and the wider community we serve. In 2012, we chose to become an academy, allowing us the freedom to make decisions that best benefit our children and families."
From the headteacher's welcome: "We understand that choosing a nursery and school for your child is an important decision so we want you to know as much as possible about our nursery."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Riverside Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (85% in reading, 78% in maths).
Getting a place at Riverside Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Riverside Primary Academy as their first choice and 69 named it as one of their preferences, for 34 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 Riverside Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Riverside Primary Academy are St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Dunston (0.4 miles, 82% reading, 73% maths); St Michael's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 90% maths); Dunston Hill Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 81% reading, 75% maths); and St Johns Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 50% reading, 67% maths).
Riverside Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, DunstonSt Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolDunston Hill Community Primary SchoolSt Johns Primary School
The trust
Riverside Primary Academy is one of 7 schools run by Oak Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
In 2026, 88 pupils (29.1%) received SEN support and 5 (1.7%) 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 Dunston Rail Station, about 720 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barry Street (e-bound), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Riverside Primary Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Riverside Primary Academy are Kingsmeadow Community School (0.6 miles) and Emmanuel College (1.3 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); 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); 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
27.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 85% to 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.9
Avg class size
23.7
Infant (KS1)
27.3
KS2
10
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Riverside Primary Academy
Information for parents and carers
14 Sep 2026
Year 5&6 Girls Football Team!
12 Nov 2025
We Will Remember Them
11 Nov 2025
Reception Buddies
21 Oct 2025
100% attendance assembly with Mrs Goodfellow!
21 Jul 2025
Sports Day 2025 Photos
11 Jul 2025
From Riverside Primary Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Riverside Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Riverside Primary Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Gateshead
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Riverside Primary Academy.
- Active Future Gateshead Wraparound CareAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Riverside Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Riverside Primary Academy is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 10 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 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 Riverside Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Riverside Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Riverside Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Riverside Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Riverside Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Gateshead, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Riverside Primary Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Gateshead 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
65%
Available places
271 pupils
420 places
149 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gateshead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gateshead
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
88
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
30.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
302
Total Pupils
154
Boys
148
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
18.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,564
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,519
Per pupil
£1720k
Total funding
£118k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
10.8%
Persistent absence
249
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
Riverside Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Riverside Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Riverside Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Riverside Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Riverside Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Riverside Primary Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2013 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Riverside Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Riverside Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Riverside Primary Academy?
Riverside Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 65% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Riverside Primary Academy?
Classes at Riverside Primary Academy average 26.9 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Riverside Primary Academy?
Riverside Primary Academy has around 302 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Riverside Primary Academy?
4.4% of sessions were missed at Riverside Primary Academy in 2024/25. 10.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Riverside Primary Academy?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Riverside Primary Academy 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 Riverside Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Riverside Primary Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Active Future Gateshead Wraparound Care (registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Riverside Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 10 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Riverside Primary Academy?
Riverside Primary Academy is at Colliery Road, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9DX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)