Upper School

Welcome to our Deal campus.

When students first start at Ripplevale, they often bring with them difficulties that they have experienced at previous schools so our first priority is to make them feel welcome and safe. If a mainstream school education has not worked for our students, it is futile to offer them exactly the same again so we try to incorporate teaching a full curriculum but delivered in a different way. Sometimes it is necessary for students to start on a reduced timetable to ease students back into education and this will be tailored around their needs.

It is hoped that all students will take part in every aspect of the curriculum covering Maths, English, Science, Humanities, Food Technology, P.E, Life Skills, PSHE, Design & Technology, R.E, Computing and Outdoor Learning. These subjects are all taught by subject specific staff offering a variety of qualifications according to ability. It is also apparent though, that some students struggle with certain lessons and so bespoke timetables are put into place to ensure that every student feels comfortable with the balance of lessons they receive. We also run an Accelerated Reader programme from our school library providing books for students of all abilities allowing us to continually measure and assess accurately students’ reading age.

Ripplevale School also employ full-time staff delivering Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques and Wellbeing sessions. This ensures a completely holistic approach and offers our students support in whichever areas they need. In addition to this, we provide counselling sessions as well as Play Therapy, Drawing and Talking Therapy and EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

Whilst students are usually taught according to their age, we also have the opportunity to teach according to their stage of development too so that their ability is always catered for. Towards the end of Key Stage 3 we will decide, in consultation with parents, about which path is most suited into Key Stage 4 whether that be GCSEs, Functional skills or more vocational path. We know though, that the key to any academic success is for a student to feel secure and valued first and foremost.

School Day

School Hours are Monday to Thursday 08.30am until 3.25pm and 08.30am until 1pm on a Friday