Harris Academy Riverside

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2026

Pupils are welcomed to this friendly school with warmth. The morning 'rise and shine' line-ups set the positive tone for the day. Pupils value their voice being heard. They appreciate their regular check-ins with the headteacher and enjoy their hot chocolate. This contact enables them to make suggestions and give feedback about their experience at school. Pupils show gratitude for their teachers through the weekly 'staff shout-outs'. They value the mutually respectful relationships that they have with staff. These relationships allow pupils to feel secure in their learning journey. They know that their trusted adults will support them. Pupils are clear that their successes are celebrated by teachers who 'really care'. Pupils have a clear sense of community and show pride in the way that they build meaningful connections at school. This results in pupils being happy, polite and kind. They are clear that bullying is rare and dealt with effectively. Pupils behave with integrity and maturity at all times. They travel around the school site calmly and with purpose. This is as a result of the school’s ethos, 'Be kind, work hard and take responsibility'. Pupils value the diversity at school in both the staff and student population. They demonstrate a clear sense of belonging and pride in their school. Older students show a level of emotional maturity in the way they support younger pupils. Pupils enjoy their well-structured and sequenced lessons. They appreciate the broad curriculum on offer and achieve well. They study a wide range of subjects. Pupils know that what they learn is purposeful and relevant. They articulate the skills and qualifications that they will need for the future. Pupils value their time at school and attend well.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that the personal development and wellbeing programme allows pupils to develop a secure and detailed knowledge across all key stages.
• Leaders should ensure that the implementation of the curriculum is consistent across all key stages to ensure that all pupils have the best possible learning experience.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)