The River School

Since September 2025, Emma Ellin. She has extensive experience in leadership – both in education and church ministry. She has been involved in education for many years – her senior leadership positions include being head of maths at Cranleigh School.

Proudly non-selective and a genuine all-through school. Entrance by taster days, as many as needed (usually five). Children may enter at odd times and the school is happy to work with parents in most situations up to the end of year 9, although

Rare for those in primary school not to move up to seniors. After GCSEs, they head off to Worcester Sixth Form College, other independent sixth forms (eg King’s, RGS) and local state schools including Christopher Whitehead and Tudor Grange. Heart of

In 2025, 34 per cent 9-7 at GCSE.

Parents choose the River School for its inclusive, nurturing environment and family feel rather than hardcore academics. So this is not the school for tiger parents and is very much a pressure-free zone, with homework only handed out ‘only if it adds

Although the school has a policy of not going above 20 per cent SEND (‘We are not a special school or alternative provision’), the reality is plenty of neurodiversity, with 15 per cent on the SEND register and some other students besides who – for

Art, which has its own studio, is popular, including at GCSE, and with good results. ‘I’m off to the GCSE exhibition tonight and really looking forward to it – not least the cheese and wine!’ grinned one parent. We met the highly regarded art teacher

Two hours of PE a week, with extra for GCSE students studying PE (three students when we visited). With a focus on individual and small-group sports like basketball, netball, table tennis, badminton, rounders and athletics, the school holds its hands

Pastoral care is what this school is all about, its small size enabling every member of staff – especially the form tutors and mentors – to know every child well, including what causes anxiety (and it doesn’t take much for some of these children) and

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Smiley, chatty and not above playing games like Capture the Flag well into senior school, these students are less streetwise and sophisticated than at the local town independents. ‘The school is a bubble, in the best possible way, although they are

Very competitive fees for the area – for any area, actually – and the school offers five per cent sibling discount and means-tested bursaries of up to 50 per cent.

The antidote to a hothouse education, this understated, unpretentious and nurturing school suits children who thrive in a small, very inclusive environment. Christian, yes, but not as religious as its marketing suggests. If only we could clone it and