Rivers Primary Academy
104%
Capacity
465
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Rivers Primary Academy
Rivers Primary Academy in Walsall stands out sharply against the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the Walsall average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 61%, Rivers achieves 82% — a full 21 percentage points higher. This places the school sixth out of 58 primary schools in the borough, comfortably inside the top 10% locally. The school also performs well above the national average on the same metric, ranking in the top 9% of all primary schools in England. With 47.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national average — these results are particularly notable, suggesting the school is effectively supporting a cohort with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage.
Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, Rivers shows consistent strength across individual subjects. In reading, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard and 43% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 108. Maths saw 83% at the expected level and 27% at the higher level, with an average score of 106. Writing was similarly strong, with 83% meeting expectations and 17% reaching greater depth. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2022 rated it Good across all categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — a clean sweep of Good grades that matches its previous inspection in 2015.
Rivers Primary Academy is a three-form entry school that is clearly popular with local families. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 92 applications for 57 places, with 54 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 1.61. The school offers a nursery provision for children from age three, and its facilities include a sensory room, forest school area, music rooms, and a chapel. SEND provision covers a broad range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. With clubs ranging from choir and drama to eco club and film club, plus sports including swimming, gymnastics and tennis, this is a well-resourced primary that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes in a diverse, inclusive setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Livingstone Road, Walsall, Walsall, WS3 1LY |
| Headteacher | Rebecca Bailey |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Number of Pupils | 465 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 47.7% |
| School Capacity | 465 / 446 (104% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (82%)
1202nd of 13,686
Nationally
116th of 1,378
In West Midlands
6th of 58
In Walsall
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
82%
Expected Standard
12%
Higher Standard
'22/23
72%
'23/24
82%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed57
92
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
54 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British48.2%
- Asian12.7%
- Black10.1%
- Mixed8.8%
- White (other)4.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
18
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Rivers Primary Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Livingstone Road, Walsall
Walsall, WS3 1LY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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