Three Rivers Academy, Walton-on-Thames
Three Rivers Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Walton-on-Thames, part of The Howard Partnership Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 49th-highest of the 58 schools in Surrey with published results, and 2,234th of 3,298 across England. It was 84% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Surrey (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Three Rivers Academy in detail
Three Rivers Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Three Rivers Academy is a vibrant, caring and inspiring school. Learning is at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that every child should flourish and enjoy their time with us. We are proud of our inclusive ethos and high expectations, which we expect the whole school community to embrace."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include debating and Duke of Edinburgh.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Three Rivers Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.8 in Surrey and 47 across England.
41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Surrey and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 42.3.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.67: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 29.9, against 47.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.6 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.
Getting a place at Three Rivers Academy
For September 2026 entry, 114 families put Three Rivers Academy as their first choice and 353 named it as one of their preferences, for 227 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Three Rivers Academy are Esher Church of England High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50); Heathside Walton-on-Thames (1.6 miles); Thamesmead School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52.7); and Cobham Free School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than Three Rivers Academy.
Esher Church of England High SchoolHeathside Walton-on-ThamesThamesmead SchoolCobham Free School
The trust
Three Rivers Academy is one of 14 schools run by The Howard Partnership Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4 in 2024/25.
What parents say
270 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Three Rivers Academy (as of September 2025): 84% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 58% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (58%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 250 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.
Of the 65 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 48% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 22% into work. 13% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
In 2026, 156 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 86 (6.6%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Three Rivers Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 24 places, 25 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Walton-on-Thames Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beech Close (opposite), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 134 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Three Rivers Academy issued 181 suspensions, 13 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Three Rivers Academy are Bell Farm Primary School (0.1 miles), Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles), Burhill Primary School (0.7 miles) and Walton Oak Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Bell Farm Primary SchoolCardinal Newman Catholic Primary SchoolBurhill Primary SchoolWalton Oak Primary School
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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are happy and safe. The school has faced several challenges since the previous inspection, including the COVID-19 pandemic, but has maintained its resolute focus to progress. Pupils and staff are rightly proud of the improvements made but know there is still more to do. The school's high aspirations for pupils' behaviour and achievement are known widely. The school's values are evident in all classrooms. Everyone is encouraged to work together, be respectful and be aspirational. Pupils rise to meet these expectations regularly. Sixth-form students are excellent role models for younger pupils.
The school prioritises pupils' wider personal development. Personal, social and health education (PSHE), delivered expertly through 'Aware' lessons, teaches pupils vital knowledge and skills to prepare them for life in modern Britain. Student councillors are proud to contribute to the development of the school. Pupils aspire to take on positions of leadership. Many engage in the myriad of opportunities to develop their skills and talents. For example, pupils can take part in a wide range of sporting activities, engage in politics, develop vital debating skills or enjoy the popular film club. Sixth-form students enjoy leading activities for younger pupils, honing critical skills such as taking responsibility and time management.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve well, including disadvantaged pupils. Since the previous inspection, the school has focused on curriculum development and strengthening teaching. As a result, pupils' achievement is improving in most subjects, particularly in the sixth form. The school accurately identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including those in the specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND. Staff use this information to adapt learning to meet their needs. The school rightly recognises that there are still some aspects that could improve further. For example, the school has successfully improved attendance overall, but too many disadvantaged pupils, including pupils with SEND, are still absent from school too often. This means that they miss vital learning and risk falling further behind.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded 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 May 2019 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
24.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
270 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from -0.25 to -0.67 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 44.8 to 42.6 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 41% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 42.6 | 41.3% |
| Disadvantaged(75) | - | 29.9 | 10.7% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(194) | - | 47.5 | 53.1% |
| Boys(137) | - | 40.3 | 38% |
| Girls(132) | - | 45.0 | 44.7% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(39) | - | 40.1 | 35.9% |
| Non mobile(262) | - | 42.8 | 42% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 8 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 250 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.07%
Exclusion rate
181
Suspensions
13.01%
Suspension rate
75 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,391 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Three Rivers Academy
Term dates
Three Rivers Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Surrey's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Three Rivers Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Three Rivers Academy is in Surrey; for families living there:
- Surrey's school travel policy: Travel Assistance Policy for under 16s
- How to apply: Apply online for under 16 travel help
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 12 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle.
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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 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 Three Rivers Academy
Will you get a place at Three Rivers Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Three Rivers Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Three Rivers Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Three Rivers Academy.
- Surrey publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Three Rivers Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Three Rivers Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Surrey 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
84%
Available places
1,384 pupils
1,648 places
264 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Walton-on-Thames
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Walton-on-Thames
Across Surrey council
Places available
12,569
Applications
11,986
Got 1st preference
81.3%
Got preferred school
96.2%
All secondary applications across Surrey council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
156
SEN Support
86
EHC Plans
18.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Three Rivers Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 24 places, 25 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,311
Total Pupils
682
Boys
629
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
82
Teachers
16.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,123
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,184
Per pupil
£9205k
Total funding
£319k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.5%
Overall absence
26.8%
Persistent absence
1,241
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
Three Rivers Academy
Questions parents ask about Three Rivers Academy
What are GCSE results like at Three Rivers Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Three Rivers Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 42.6. 41% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Three Rivers Academy's Ofsted rating?
Three Rivers Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Three Rivers Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Three Rivers Academy is oversubscribed, Surrey allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Three Rivers Academy?
Three Rivers Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 84% of its 1648 places.
How big are the classes at Three Rivers Academy?
Classes at Three Rivers Academy average 23.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Three Rivers Academy?
Three Rivers Academy has around 1311 pupils on roll. 25% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Three Rivers Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Three Rivers Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 24 places, 25 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Three Rivers Academy?
9.5% of sessions were missed at Three Rivers Academy in 2024/25. 26.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Three Rivers Academy?
Apply through Surrey's coordinated admissions process, naming Three Rivers Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Three Rivers Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 12 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle. 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 Surrey is 13 (the median across 521 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Three Rivers Academy?
Three Rivers Academy is at Bell Farm Way, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 5EJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)