Rivertree Free School, Bedford
Rivertree Free School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Bedford, part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Rivertree Free School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Rivertree Free School are Grange Academy (0.3 miles, Good); Ridgeway School (0.9 miles, Good); St John's School (0.9 miles, Good); and Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School (5.4 miles, Good).
Grange AcademyRidgeway SchoolSt John's SchoolCambian Walnut Tree Lodge School
The trust
Rivertree Free School is one of 4 schools run by Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, an academy trust.
All 4 schools in Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Who goes there
34.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 27.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (39%), Asian (22%) and Mixed (16%).
Almost every pupil at Rivertree Free School has an education, health and care plan (126 of 126 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Rivertree Free School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 127 places, 127 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedford Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Gulliver Close (opposite), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 221 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 Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
No inspection data available
At a Glance
34.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Rivertree Free School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Rivertree Free School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Rivertree Free School is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 14 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
1 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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
63%
Available places
126 pupils
200 places
74 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,556
Applications
2,095
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
126
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Rivertree Free School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 127 places, 127 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
126
Total Pupils
93
Boys
33
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
8.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,167
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.5%
Overall absence
24.6%
Persistent absence
57
Enrolments
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
Rivertree Free School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Rivertree Free School
What is the catchment area for Rivertree Free School?
No fixed boundary. When Rivertree Free School is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Rivertree Free School?
Rivertree Free School has around 126 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Rivertree Free School have specialist SEN provision?
Rivertree Free School has a SEN unit for autism and severe learning difficulties: 127 places, 127 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Rivertree Free School?
7.5% of sessions were missed at Rivertree Free School in 2024/25. 24.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Rivertree Free School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Rivertree Free 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 Rivertree Free School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 14 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 1 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Rivertree Free School?
Rivertree Free School is at Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8QP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)