Riverside School, Tadcaster, Tadcaster

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Riverside School, Tadcaster on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school provides a sense of community."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that there is a well-ordered, broad curriculum offer for pupils."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children settle quickly in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff generally identify barriers to pupils' learning and/or wellbeing quickly and accurately."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "There is a comprehensive programme focused on developing pupils into active citizens, aligned with the school's vision."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Outcomes for pupils in national tests at the end of key stage 2 are broadly in line with national averages."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Those responsible for governance are unclear about what the school does well, what its main priorities are or how they oversee its work."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should formalise and ensure consistent implementation of their procedures and processes so that every pupil is adequately supported and challenged"; "Leaders, including governors, should ensure that the strategic direction for the school is clearly defined and that they have a secure understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development so that they can take appropriate action to drive improvement across all areas of the school's work"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils, particularly disadvantaged pupils, develop the foundational knowledge that they need, especially in spelling and handwriting, so that they achieve all that they can by the end of key stage 2".

In its own words: "At Riverside Primary School, children can join us when they turn 3 years old. We offer up to 30 hours funded places for children from the term after their 3rd birthday."

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Riverside School, Tadcaster reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (75% in reading, 76% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Riverside School, Tadcaster as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 32 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Riverside School, Tadcaster are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.1 miles, 78% reading, 22% maths); Tadcaster Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 100% reading, 86% maths); St Mary's Church of England Controlled Primary School Boston Spa (3.3 miles, Requires improvement, 88% reading, 88% maths); and Bramham Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 90% reading, 79% maths).

Riverside School, Tadcaster's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Riverside School, Tadcaster is one of 17 schools run by Yorkshire Learning Trust, an academy trust.

10% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 40 pupils (11.1%) received SEN support and 11 (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 a moderate learning difficulty.

Riverside School, Tadcaster has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 8 places, 3 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Ulleskelf Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Westfield Crescent (adjacent), 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

Riverside School, Tadcaster recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.