Riverdale School (P North)
Contributing · State
- Year levels
- 1–6
- Total roll
- 366
- Enrolment zone
- Yes
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 95 Slacks Road, Awapuni, Palmerston North
- Territorial authority
- Palmerston North City
- Phone
- 06-3542416
- office@riverdale.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Palmerston North · schools in Manawatū-Whanganui
Can my child go here?
This school has an enrolment scheme, so a place is not open to every address. How enrolment zones work
Loading zone map…
Zone boundaries shown here are approximate. Ministry of Education data warns these boundaries do not have high spatial precision and can place neighbouring addresses on different sides of a line. This is not a confirmation of enrolment eligibility — always confirm directly with the school. Zone geometry also does not reflect enrolment priority rules (siblings, special character categories, ballots) — it shows the mapped boundary only.
Check if your address is in zone →
Source: Ministry of Education, CC BY 3.0 NZ
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
What is on offer beyond the classroom?
The sports, arts, clubs and groups this school names on its own website. Not a complete list of what any school offers, and not a count — a school that names more here has written more down, which is not the same as doing more.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- On offer
- Te Puawai
Te Puawai is a Whakangahau group that practices every week and performs at various functions.
- Ngā Tewhatewha
Ngā Tewhatewha is our elite Year 3-6 Kapa Haka group.
- School Choir
Our School Choir is open to children of all ages, and we hold weekly practices and perform regularly throughout the year.
- School Band
Every year, auditions are held for the School Band
- Dance Explorers
The Dance Explorers are our elite Dance Team.
- Te Puawai
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 275
- Māori
- 85
- Pacific
- 23
- Asian
- 51
- MELAA
- 5
- Other
- 0
- International
- 0
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 01 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 63 |
| Year 02 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 54 |
| Year 03 | 18 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 56 |
| Year 04 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 64 |
| Year 05 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 62 |
| Year 06 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 59 |
| Year 07 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Year 08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 78 | 24 | 64 | 14 | 0 | 272 | 0 | 366 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 56 |
| Age 06 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 58 |
| Age 07 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 56 |
| Age 08 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 64 |
| Age 09 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 62 |
| Age 10 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 62 |
| Age 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Age 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 78 | 24 | 64 | 14 | 0 | 272 | 0 | 366 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
7.4%
| Riverdale School (P North) | 7.4% |
|---|---|
| Manawatū-Whanganui Region | 45.5% |
| Contributing | 35.6% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 15.7% |
| Māori | 33.7% |
| Pacific | 160.5% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 7.4% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| Riverdale School (P North) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Manawatū-Whanganui Region | 6.2% |
| Contributing | 3.5% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| Riverdale School (P North) | 0% |
|---|---|
| Manawatū-Whanganui Region | 2.8% |
| Contributing | 1.5% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 426
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- All students taught in English/other setting
- Urban / rural
- Large urban area
- Date opened
- 5 September 1965
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 2
- Last reviewed
- 1 September 2025
- Latest report
- School Report
- Report type
- Review report
- Board assurance
- not reported
What this report states about the school
As stated in ERO’s report of 1 September 2025 — not necessarily the position now. Each line quotes the sentence it came from.
- Year levels
- Years 1 to 6
provides education for students in Years 1 to 6
- Years 1 to 6
The roll ERO recorded, and when
ERO writes a roll into each report it publishes: a count taken for that report, on the day shown, by the review team that was there. The Ministry of Education’s current roll for this school is 366 — the figure at the top of this page, and the one to use for how big the school is now. These are a different measurement by a different body, so they will rarely agree, and a difference between them is not a change in the school.
November 2018
429
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 19 February 2019
This is one count taken for one report. It says what the roll was on that day, and nothing about how the roll has moved.
What ERO wrote in its latest report
This is ERO’s report of 1 September 2025 — “School Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.
School Report
Tēnā koutou e mau manawa rahi ki te kaupapa e aro ake nei, ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa. Mā wai rā e kawe, mā tātau katoa.
We acknowledge the collective effort, responsibility and commitment by all to ensure that the child remains at the heart of the matter.
Every New Zealand state and state integrated school has an ERO review at least once every four years to evaluate what is working well for learners and what needs to be improved.
About the School
Riverdale School provides education for students in Years 1 to 6. 50% of students identify as Pākeha | New Zealand European and 21% identify as Māori . The school’s vision statement is Empowering successful inquiring learners and its Ngā Matapono are leadership, creative, excellence and self-managing .
Education Counts provides further information about the school’s student population, student engagement and student achievement, school enrolments and school zones. educationcounts.govt.nz/home
An explanation of the terms and judgements used in this report can be found here: Reporting | Education Review Office
What we know about learner success
This section provides a summary of learner success and wellbeing. The judgments are based on the ERO School Improvement Framework and the evidence provided to ERO during the evaluation.
How well are learners succeeding? Learners experience high levels of success and make excellent progress; outcomes are similarly high for all groups.
What is the quality of teaching and learning? Learners benefit from excellent quality teaching practice that improves progress and achievement in reading, writing and mathematics.
How well does the school curriculum respond to all learners needs? Learners have rich opportunities to learn across the breadth and depth of the curriculum. There is a consistent focus on supporting learners to gain foundational skills in literacy and mathematics. Learners with complex needs are well supported to achieve their education goals.
How well does school planning and conditions support ongoing improvement? School planning and conditions to support high quality education for learners are driving excellent school performance.
How well does the school include all learners and promote their engagement and wellbeing? The school successfully promotes learners’ engagement, wellbeing and inclusion.
How well does the school partner with parents, whānau and its community for the benefit of learners? The school reports usefully and accurately to parents / whānau about their child’s learning, achievement and progress. The school responds well to a wide range of information gathered through community consultation, to inform strategic planning and curriculum decisions.
Student Health and Safety The school board is taking reasonable steps to ensure student health and safety.
Achievement in Years 0 to 8
This section is about learner achievement. It outlines how well learners across the school meet or exceed the expected curriculum level of The New Zealand Curriculum in foundational skills.
Less than a third Less than half Small majority Large majority Most Almost all
0 to 33% 34 to 49% 50 to 65% 65 to 79% 80 to 90% Over 90%
Reading Most learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are equitable for all groups of learners.
Writing A large majority of learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are equitable for all groups of learners.
Mathematics Most learners meet or exceed the expected curriculum level. Results are equitable for all groups of learners.
Attendance
This section is about school attendance and the progress the school is making towards meeting the Government target of 80% regular attendance.
The large majority of learners attend school regularly.
The school is approaching the target of 80% regular attendance.
The school has a suitable plan in place to improve attendance.
Regular attendance is not yet improving towards or beyond the target.
Assessment
This section is about how the school assesses learner progress and achievement.
The school uses an appropriate approach and reliable practices to find out about achievement against the curriculum.
Assessment information is used well to adjust teaching practices to ensure ongoing improvement in teaching and student progress.
Progress
This section is about how well the school supports all learners to make sufficient progress.
The school has good quality planning to increase the rate of progress for all groups of students.
The school has significantly improved achievement and progress for those learners most at risk of not achieving since the previous review.
The school has significantly extended achievement and progress for learners working at or above curriculum levels since the previous review.
The school is making progress towards meeting Government reading, writing and mathematics targets and/or pānui, tuhituhi and pāngarau targets and is likely to meet them by 2030.
Next steps for improvement
This section provides more detail for the school to include in its strategic and annual planning for ongoing improvement across the school. It outlines what the school is doing well and identifies actions for improvement.
Areas of Strength
Leaders drive evidence-based improvements and set high expectations for teaching and learning and whānau engagement.
The School Board works with leaders to implement the school’s vision and values to achieve agreed goals and targets; resourcing is aligned to support learner-focused improvement goals and strategies.
Self-review processes are robust, and a culture of continuous improvement is well embedded school wide. Data is used effectively to inform initiatives, interventions for learners and teaching and learning programmes.
Teaching and learning reflect learners’ strengths, needs and interests and builds on existing knowledge and skills to promote wellbeing, inclusion and progress.
Curriculum planning integrates learning across subjects, and targeted professional learning strengthens teaching practices throughout the school.
There are high quality practices in place for identifying and tracking progress for learners who may need additional support, including effective transition through the school and pastoral care provisions.
Te reo Māori and te āo Māori are increasingly woven into every aspect of the curriculum, reflecting the school’s strategic commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori learner success.
Students are highly engaged, reflective learners who can communicate their strengths as learners, demonstrating confidence and positivity towards learning.
Key priorities
Embed the revised English and Mathematics curriculum areas into classroom practices.
Align changes in assessment requirements to current school wide processes.
Further embed consistent teaching strategies that accelerate progress and achievement for all students.
Monitor and strengthen processes to increase regular student attendance.
Actions to bring about improvement
Every six months:
leaders and teachers analyse students’ attendance, progress and achievement information to inform next steps and respond with targeted interventions for identified groups of students
teachers review and refine classroom practices and processes to align with revised English and Mathematics curriculum requirements
Annually:
the School Board and leaders review attendance, achievement and wellbeing outcomes and report to the community and use this information to inform next steps, in partnership with whānau, students and teachers.
Expected Outcomes
High levels of student achievement and equity of outcomes.
The refreshed English and Mathematics curriculum, along with new assessment requirements, are implemented throughout the school.
Levels of attendance meet or exceed the Government’s target of 80%.
Regulatory and Legislative Requirements
This section of the report is about how the school meets regulatory and legislative requirements.
Board Assurance with Regulatory and Legislative Requirements
This section of the report reviews the school's policies, procedures, documentation, and checks that it meets all regulations, maintains a safe environment, and supports students' wellbeing.
During this review the Board has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements in the following areas:
Board Administration
Yes
Curriculum
Yes
Management of Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Personnel Management
Yes
The next public report on ERO’s website will be a School Report and is due within four years.
Me mahi tahi tonu tātau, kia whai oranga a tātau tamariki Let’s continue to work together for the greater good of all children
Sharon Kelly Director of Schools (Acting)
1 September 2025
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 2 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).