Academy sponsor led · Wiltshire

River Mead School

2–11Ages
261Pupils
PrimaryPhase
139260URN

Lowbourne, Melksham, SN12 7ED · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.7per place

close to Wiltshire median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Wiltshire

39 applications for 23 places · 75th of 125 in Wiltshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

38%met the expected standard

Wiltshire 62% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 1 October 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.7applications per place, Reception

close to Wiltshire median (1.9) 0.5 below England median (2.2)

39 applications · 23 places offered · 23 named it first

2026 1.7; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2025 2.0; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2023 1.8; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2022 2.2; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2021 2.5; Wiltshire median median 2.4
2020 1.4; Wiltshire median median 2.0
2019 1.5; Wiltshire median median 2.0
2018 1.7; Wiltshire median median 2.0
2017 2.0; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2016 1.3; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2015 1.8; Wiltshire median median 1.9
2014 0.9; Wiltshire median median 1.9

This school
Wiltshire median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	23	39	1.7	23	1.00
Sep 2025	28	55	2.0	28	1.00
Sep 2024	19	32	1.7	19	1.00
Sep 2023	30	54	1.8	28	0.93
Sep 2022	30	66	2.2	35	1.17
Sep 2021	23	58	2.5	21	0.91
Sep 2020	27	37	1.4	23	0.85
Sep 2019	24	37	1.5	23	0.96
Sep 2018	22	38	1.7	19	0.86
Sep 2017	18	36	2.0	14	0.78
Sep 2016	28	36	1.3	24	0.86
Sep 2015	28	49	1.8	26	0.93
Sep 2014	39	36	0.9	22	0.56

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 47% · Writing 50% · Maths 44% → all three 38% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard38%155th of 174 in Wiltshire

Wiltshire 62% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard47%

Wiltshire 77% England 78%

Higher standard21%

Wiltshire 33% England 33%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard50%

Wiltshire 73% England 75%

Greater depth12%

Wiltshire 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard44%

Wiltshire 74% England 77%

Higher standard6%

Wiltshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 100 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Wiltshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	38%	6%	102	100
2023/24	41%	0%	105	99
2022/23	28%	0%	100	99

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

River Mead SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.7applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
The Manor CofE VC Primary School
0.4 km · Wiltshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Aloeric Primary School
1.1 km · Wiltshire

Remains Good2022

2.2applications per place 42%met the SATs standard
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
1.4 km · Wiltshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Shaw CE Primary School
2.4 km · Wiltshire

Good2022

1.8applications per place 69%met the SATs standard
Bowerhill Primary School
2.4 km · Wiltshire

Good2024

1.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School
3.1 km · Wiltshire

Good2022

3.1applications per place 86%met the SATs standard
St George's Church of England Primary School, Semington
4.0 km · Wiltshire

Good2022

2.8applications per place 100%met the SATs standard
Lacock Church of England Primary School
4.2 km · Wiltshire

Good2024

2.0applications per place 57%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139260 · 865/2010
Trust: Equa Mead Learning Trust
Capacity: 210 pupils · 261 on roll
Free school meals: 45.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Replaced: Kings Park Primary School (URN 126476)
Address: Lowbourne, Melksham, SN12 7ED
Local authority: Wiltshire

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources