Rivermead School is a special academy in Gillingham, Medway, for children and young people aged 4 to 16. It supports speech and language, autism, SEMH and 1 other need.
- Ages 4–16
- 163 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 4 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 163
- Headteacher
- Miss Shelley Campbell (Headteacher)
- Part of
- Rivermead Inclusive Trust
- Opened
- 1 January 2016
- Free school meals
- 55.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Medway
- School reference (URN)
- 142555
Needs it supports
4 needs: speech and language, autism and 2 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Medway (6)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Medway (3)
Social, emotional and mental health
- Social, emotional and mental health Other schools for this in Medway (7)
Sensory and physical
- Physical disability Other schools for this in Medway (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Medway council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, September 2014; school remains Good (February 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2024).
Contact and getting there
Forge Lane, Gillingham, ME7 1UG
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Will Adams Academy Alternative provision · Ages 14–17 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Alchemy School Independent · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.0 mile
- The Robert Napier School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 1.0 mile
By need in Medway: SEMH (8) · Autism (7) · Speech and language (4) · Moderate learning (2) · Severe learning (2) · PMLD (2) · Hearing (2) · Vision (2) · Physical (2)
Questions about Rivermead School
How do I get a place at Rivermead School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Rivermead School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Rivermead School support?
Speech, language and communication, autism, social, emotional and mental health and physical disability. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Rivermead School take?
Aged 4 to 16, boys and girls.
What is Rivermead School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Rivermead School?
Forge Lane, Gillingham, ME7 1UG, in Medway.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.