Riversides School, Worcester

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Riversides School on 6 areas: 1 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to personal development is highly effective."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils make meaningful progress from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Many pupils who attend this school have not attended when at their previous settings."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have constructed an ambitious curriculum that sets out the essential knowledge pupils should learn over time."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify and understand pupils' needs as soon as pupils join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders set a clear direction for the school and focus on actions that improve pupils' experiences and outcomes."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve how well staff check and identify gaps in pupils' understanding, especially in the development of pupils' writing, to ensure all pupils make rapid progress in their learning"; "Leaders should ensure learning is consistently adapted, supported and modelled so pupils can access tasks successfully and apply their learning with increasing independence"; "Leaders should strengthen the therapeutic support offer for vulnerable pupils to reduce barriers to their academic and social development".

The nearest other special schools to Riversides School are Fort Royal (1.3 miles, Good); Regency Academy (1.5 miles, Good); New College Worcester (NMSS) (2.3 miles, Inadequate); and Gloverspiece School (3.4 miles).

Riversides School is one of 16 schools run by Central Learning Partnership Trust, an academy trust.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Riversides School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 94% 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 pupils behave well (81%).

Of the 9 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 44% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college and 11% into work.

74% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

Almost every pupil at Riversides School has an education, health and care plan (73 of 73 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Worcester Foregate Street Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St George's Square (opposite), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 524 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 Worcestershire (78), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Riversides School issued 19 suspensions, 27.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.