Riverside School Catchment Area
Riverside School is a community special not applicable school in Orpington, Bromley , serving pupils aged 3-19, with 357 pupils, and a capacity of 319 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-19
Age range
357
Pupils
319
Capacity
112%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2019
Riverside School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Riverside School?
The catchment area for Riverside School is the geographic zone Bromley uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bromley publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Riverside School is set by Bromley and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bromley publishes the 2027 Riverside School numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bromley before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bromley catchment area documents →Riverside School: heavily oversubscribed at 112% capacity
Riverside School has a published admission number of 319 places. 357 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 112%. At 112% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bromley allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 40.1% of pupils at Riverside School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of Orpington.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bromley publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Bromley school admissions →
Riverside School: School Information
- Full address
- Main Road, St Paul's Cray, Orpington, BR5 3HS
- Local authority
- Bromley
- School type
- Community special school
- Phase of education
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 3-19 years
- Free school meals
- 40.1% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 135232
Other Not applicable Schools in Orpington
If Riverside School is oversubscribed, these not applicable schools in Orpington are the next closest alternatives.
Browns School Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BR6 7PH
Dorton College of Further Education Catchment Area
Special post 16 institution · BR6 0TE
TLC The Learning Centre Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BR2 8LD
Bromley Beacon Academy Catchment Area
Academy special sponsor led · BR6 9BD
Woodview Catchment Area
Other independent special school · BR5 4EP
Nearest not applicable schools by distance
These are the not applicable schools closest to Riverside School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Riverside School
What is the catchment area for Riverside School? ▾
The catchment area for Riverside School is the geographic zone Bromley uses to prioritise admissions when this not applicable school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bromley publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Riverside School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Riverside School currently has 357 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 319 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Riverside School? ▾
Admission to Riverside School is managed by Bromley. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Riverside School cover? ▾
Riverside School is a not applicable school in Orpington, Bromley, serving pupils aged 3-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Riverside School? ▾
Riverside School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.