Riverwalk School, Bury St. Edmunds
Riverwalk School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Bury St. Edmunds, part of Consortium Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Riverwalk School in detail
Riverwalk School in its own words
In its own words: "Riverwalk is a special educational needs school in Suffolk which caters for young people with severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), as well as physical and mobility difficulties. Suffolk County Council administers the admission process. All our students have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Riverwalk School has 205 places."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Riverwalk School are Priory School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); Sir Peter Hall School (2.1 miles); Pushforward Primary School (2.6 miles); and Abbey Gardens School (2.7 miles).
Priory SchoolSir Peter Hall SchoolPushforward Primary SchoolAbbey Gardens School
The trust
Riverwalk School is one of 14 schools run by Consortium Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
41% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Riverwalk School has an education, health and care plan (217 of 217 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Riverwalk School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 215 places, 221 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hardwick Middle School (opposite), 300 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Riverwalk School issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Riverwalk is a happy school. Pupils with complex needs receive skilful support. The safe culture helps them settle well.
Throughout the school, the clear, consistent structure supports pupils to behave well. They enjoy their friendships with peers. Pupils are friendly and polite, saying 'Hi' and holding doors open for adults. Children in the early years respond well to repeated routines. Sensory activities, such as massage and tai chi, mean pupils are ready to focus on learning. Pupils who need it get help with eating and hygiene. Those who can use the play equipment without support. Pupils build their independence and resilience.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has been through a period of changes in leadership. This has included joining a new trust. When Ofsted visited in June 2023, the school was in decline. The school and the trust have acted with urgency to reverse this. They have implemented a clear vision for high-quality education. While this is the case, the pace of change has been steep. This has not been communicated and managed as effectively as it might have been. Staff are proud to work in the school. However, some are unsettled, and do not buy into the school's vision as much as it wants.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years, Sixth form.
At a Glance
41.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Speech and language, Autism, Physical +2
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Riverwalk School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Riverwalk School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Riverwalk School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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
101%
Over capacity
217 pupils
215 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bury St. Edmunds
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bury St. Edmunds
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,475
Applications
7,204
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
217
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Riverwalk School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 215 places, 221 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
217
Total Pupils
165
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
7.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,888
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.9%
Overall absence
34.4%
Persistent absence
192
Enrolments
Absence trend
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
Questions parents ask about Riverwalk School
What are SATs results like at Riverwalk School?
Of the pupils at Riverwalk School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Riverwalk School's Ofsted rating?
Riverwalk School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for Riverwalk School?
No fixed boundary. When Riverwalk School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Riverwalk School?
Riverwalk School has around 217 pupils on roll. 41% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Riverwalk School have specialist SEN provision?
Riverwalk School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 215 places, 221 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Riverwalk School?
10.9% of sessions were missed at Riverwalk School in 2024/25. 34.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Riverwalk School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Riverwalk 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 Riverwalk School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Riverwalk School?
Riverwalk School is at Mayfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 2PD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)