Riverbank School

Riverbank School continues to demonstrate outstanding performance, as confirmed during its first ungraded inspection since 2017. The school excels in nurturing and empowering students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they receive tailored support to thrive both academically and personally. Strong partnerships with families and various services support a holistic approach to education, where pupils feel safe, valued, and encouraged to make their own choices. Opportunities for enriched experiences beyond the classroom further prepare pupils for their future. Staff at Riverbank School exhibit a committed and positive attitude toward their work, feeling supported and empowered to innovate. The curriculum is well-structured and adapted to meet students' needs, contributing to their successful transition into vocational training or the workplace after graduation. The school's leadership ensures a relentless focus on overcoming barriers to learning, fostering a respectful and constructive environment for all.

Strengths

• Strong partnerships with families and support services
• Positive and safe environment for students
• Tailored support for students with SEND
• High expectations and ambitions across the curriculum
• Relentless commitment to overcoming barriers to learning
• Effective reading interventions and engagement
• Diverse opportunities for extracurricular activities
• Empowered and active student council

In 2024–25 pupils at Riverbank School attended 91.3% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 23.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.3% of pupils at Riverbank School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Riverbank School had 9.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Riverbank School had 219 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Riverbank School received £26,676 and spent £24,188 for each of its 208 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £209,000 (£1,003 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust, income was £9,957 and spending £9,323 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Coventry · Coventry local authority: places and applications

Riverbank School is part of Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust, which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• Ernesford Grange Community Academy Coventry
• Sidney Stringer Academy Coventry
• Sidney Stringer Primary Academy Coventry
• Radford Primary Academy Coventry

What is Riverbank School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Riverbank School is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Riverbank School last inspected by Ofsted?

Riverbank School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Riverbank School have?

Riverbank School has 219 pupils on roll.

What age range does Riverbank School cover?

Riverbank School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is Riverbank School?

Riverbank School is at Princethorpe Way, Coventry, West Midlands, CV3 2QD.