Rivertree Free School is a special free school in Bedford for children and young people aged 2 to 19. It supports autism and severe learning.
- Ages 2–19
- 126 pupils
School details
- Type
- Special free school
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 126 (places for 200)
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Davis
- Part of
- Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
- Opened
- 10 February 2025
- Free school meals
- 34.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bedford
- School reference (URN)
- 150792
Needs it supports
2 needs: autism, severe learning
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Bedford (2)
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 Bedford 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
Read the latest inspection report
There’s no grade to show. Read this school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Contact and getting there
Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8QP
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Greys Education Centre Alternative provision · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Grange Academy Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- St John's School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
By need in Bedford: Autism (7) · SEMH (3) · Severe learning (3) · Moderate learning (2)
Questions about Rivertree Free School
How do I get a place at Rivertree Free 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 Rivertree Free School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Rivertree Free School support?
Autism and severe learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Rivertree Free School take?
Aged 2 to 19, boys and girls.
What is Rivertree Free School’s Ofsted rating?
There’s no overall grade to show. Read the school’s latest inspection report on the Ofsted website.
Where is Rivertree Free School?
Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 8QP, in Bedford.
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.