How many pupils attend River Academy?

River Academy has 373 pupils on roll.

What ages does River Academy take?

River Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is River Academy located?

River Academy is located in Reading, RG1 8EQ, Reading.

How do I apply to River Academy?

River Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How close do you need to live to get into River Academy?

On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at River Academy was 1.237 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.

How are Year 7 places decided at River Academy?

When River Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order, as well as children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children eligible for the pupil premium — Priority given to children eligible for the pupil premium. Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application (see Pupil Premium Priority notes); 3. Children of staff recruited to fill a skill-shortage area — Priority given to the children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area (this includes all staff groups), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary within categories 2-5, the child living closest to the school (straight line, home to front gates) is given priority. If distances are equidistant, random allocation undertaken by the local authority is used as the tie-break for categories 2-5. Random allocation is not applied to multiple-birth siblings (twins, triplets etc.) tied for the final place – all will be admitted, exceeding the PAN.

What is the largest ethnic background at River Academy?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 26.8% of pupils at River Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

River Academy: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

How close did you need to live?

1.237miles

was the furthest place offered on offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7). That is how far the last place reached in ONE year — not a boundary, and not a guarantee. It moves with the number of applicants, so treat it as a guide rather than a line on a map.

Last distance offered at River Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at River Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order, as well as children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children eligible for the pupil premium — Priority given to children eligible for the pupil premium. Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application (see Pupil Premium Priority notes).
3Children of staff recruited to fill a skill-shortage area — Priority given to the children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area (this includes all staff groups).
4Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority given to siblings of pupils attending the school at the time the application is received (where an older sibling is in Year 11, siblings will not be prioritised under this criterion).
5Other children — Other children.

If two applications tie: If a tie-break is necessary within categories 2-5, the child living closest to the school (straight line, home to front gates) is given priority. If distances are equidistant, random allocation undertaken by the local authority is used as the tie-break for categories 2-5. Random allocation is not applied to multiple-birth siblings (twins, triplets etc.) tied for the final place – all will be admitted, exceeding the PAN.

In addition to the PAN of 180, the school has 7 further places in its Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) for Year 7 children with an EHCP for moderate learning difficulties (MLD); ARP places are allocated outside these oversubscription arrangements, in consultation with Brighter Futures for Children. Children with an EHCP naming River Academy are admitted before the 5 numbered oversubscription criteria are applied and are not themselves one of the numbered criteria. Pupil Premium priority (criterion 2) covers children currently or in the last 6 years registered for free school meals (or whose parents receive qualifying benefits), children looked after by a local authority, and children previously looked after by an English or Welsh local authority for at least 24 hours who left care via adoption, a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

River Academy: key facts

How many pupils attend River Academy?: River Academy has 373 pupils on roll.
What ages does River Academy take?: River Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is River Academy located?: River Academy is located in Reading, RG1 8EQ, Reading.
How do I apply to River Academy?: River Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into River Academy?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at River Academy was 1.237 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at River Academy?: When River Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order, as well as children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children eligible for the pupil premium — Priority given to children eligible for the pupil premium. Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application (see Pupil Premium Priority notes); 3. Children of staff recruited to fill a skill-shortage area — Priority given to the children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area (this includes all staff groups), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary within categories 2-5, the child living closest to the school (straight line, home to front gates) is given priority. If distances are equidistant, random allocation undertaken by the local authority is used as the tie-break for categories 2-5. Random allocation is not applied to multiple-birth siblings (twins, triplets etc.) tied for the final place – all will be admitted, exceeding the PAN.
What is the largest ethnic background at River Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 26.8% of pupils at River Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How close did you need to live?

1.237miles

Last distance offered at River Academy, year by year →

How places are decided at River Academy

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after children and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order, as well as children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted.
2Children eligible for the pupil premium — Priority given to children eligible for the pupil premium. Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application (see Pupil Premium Priority notes).
3Children of staff recruited to fill a skill-shortage area — Priority given to the children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area (this includes all staff groups).
4Siblings of pupils attending the school — Priority given to siblings of pupils attending the school at the time the application is received (where an older sibling is in Year 11, siblings will not be prioritised under this criterion).
5Other children — Other children.

River Academy: key facts

How many pupils attend River Academy?: River Academy has 373 pupils on roll.
What ages does River Academy take?: River Academy admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is River Academy located?: River Academy is located in Reading, RG1 8EQ, Reading.
How do I apply to River Academy?: River Academy is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How close do you need to live to get into River Academy?: On offer day for 2025-26 (Year 7), the furthest place offered at River Academy was 1.237 miles from the school. That is the distance the last place reached in one year, not a boundary and not a guarantee — it moves with the number of applicants.
How are Year 7 places decided at River Academy?: When River Academy has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after children and previously looked after children — Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order, as well as children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted; 2. Children eligible for the pupil premium — Priority given to children eligible for the pupil premium. Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application (see Pupil Premium Priority notes); 3. Children of staff recruited to fill a skill-shortage area — Priority given to the children of staff who have been recruited to fill a skill-shortage area (this includes all staff groups), and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: If a tie-break is necessary within categories 2-5, the child living closest to the school (straight line, home to front gates) is given priority. If distances are equidistant, random allocation undertaken by the local authority is used as the tie-break for categories 2-5. Random allocation is not applied to multiple-birth siblings (twins, triplets etc.) tied for the final place – all will be admitted, exceeding the PAN.
What is the largest ethnic background at River Academy?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 26.8% of pupils at River Academy are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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