Learners of today Leaders of tomorrow
Welcome from the Principal
“Riddlesdown Collegiate is an outstanding school.”
Ofsted, 2023
Welcome to Riddlesdown Collegiate – an outstanding school and a very special place in which young people learn and grow.
As part of The Collegiate Trust, our mission is to provide an inclusive, highquality education for every student. We are proud to be a school where young people are known, valued, supported, and challenged to fulfil their potential –regardless of their background or starting point. Our commitment is to ensure all students leave us not only with excellent qualifications but also with the confidence, character, and skills they need to lead happy and successful lives.
At the heart of our approach are the strong, traditional VALUES of The Riddlesdown Commitment, which guide our students to develop the behaviours, attitudes, and aspirations that underpin long-term success. We set high academic standards while delivering exceptional pastoral care, ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, and motivated to succeed.
Our dedicated and passionate staff work collaboratively to deliver the very best provision, using our superb facilities and resources across our spacious and well-equipped site. Central to our inclusive ethos is the “small schools” model. When students join us in Year 7, they become part of one of four Colleges – Aquila, Orion, Pegasus, or Phoenix – each with its own Headteacher and team. This structure ensures strong relationships, personalised support, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Beyond our core provision, we offer specialist opportunities that enrich the educational experience. The Creative and Performing Arts (CPA) College delivers a first-class arts education in our outstanding @RC arts centre, while the MacKay College provides expert, personalised inclusion support, helping all students to flourish. Many of our students continue into College VI, our dedicated post-16 provision, where they further their qualifications and prepare for university, careers, and adult life.
At Riddlesdown Collegiate, we are proud of our inclusive, caring, and highachieving community. Our students are happy, confident, and ambitious – and they leave us ready to make a positive difference in the world. I hope this prospectus gives you a clear insight into the exceptional opportunities we offer. I warmly invite you to visit us in person to see our VALUES in action and experience the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of our school.
Mr Daniel Osborne, BSc (Hons), NPQH Principal
“There is a real sense of community at Riddlesdown. I don’t think I would have felt as much of a part of a community if I had gone to another school.”
College VI Student
Our Mission is summarised in our Motto:
“Learners of today. Leaders of tomorrow”
At Riddlesdown we believe the success of our students depends upon a partnership between Collegiate staff, students and parents/guardians.
THE RIDDLESDOWN COMMITMENT
Riddlesdown Collegiate
Our Mission is summarised in our Motto:
“Learners of today. Leaders of tomorrow”
At Riddlesdown we believe the success of our students depends partnership between Collegiate staff, students and parents/
Our Mission is summarised in our Motto:
Our Mission is summarised in our Motto:
“Learners of today.
Leaders of tomorrow”
At Riddlesdown we believe the success of our students depends upon a partnership between Collegiate staff, students and parents/guardians.
“Learners of today. Leaders of tomorrow” Riddlesdown we believe the success of our students depends upon a partnership between Collegiate staff, students and parents/
Value Each Other Aim High Lead by Example
Use and Develop Your Talents
To live by our VALUES, we are committed to being:
To live by our VALUES, we are committed to being: kind and respectful to all proud of our appearance and our environment ambitious for ourselves and for others positive role models and ambassadors, inside and outside of the Collegiate determined to give our best e orts in all we do as we strive for excellence every day resilient, and demonstrating perseverance in the face of challenge
alue Each Other
im High Lead by Example Use and Develop Your Talents Excel in Your E orts Stick at It
Behaviour in the school is exemplary. Pupils are kind and caring towards
To live by our VALUES, committed to being: kind and respectful proud of our appearance environment ambitious for ourselves others positive role models ambassadors, the Collegiate determined to in all we do as we excellence every resilient, and demonstrating perseverance challenge
Ambition
We aim for students to find joy at school. Staff are ambitious for students to excel, and students strive to meet these expectations knowing that staff are there to support them to achieve their potential every step of the way. We are ambitious for every student to receive an inclusive, equitable, academic and farreaching education enabling them to grow as thinking young people and active citizens who are ready to take positions of responsibility in a happy and successful future. Whether for university, for apprenticeships, for work or for a future that has not yet been planned, our purpose is to prepare our young people to fulfil their potential in the rest of their lives.
The key to our students’ success is the purposeful pairing of academic qualifications and personal development. The Collegiate’s motto, “Learners of today, Leaders of tomorrow”, indicates the emphasis that we place on developing those personal and leadership qualities in all of our students through participation in a wide range of co-curricular and cultural activity, both inside and outside of the Collegiate, locally across the country and abroad. Leadership is about taking responsibility for oneself and those around you and making a positive contribution to the team – we are ambitious for every student to develop leadership qualities that will build confidence and character.
“ Pupils are extremely hardworking, polite and proud of their school” and “Staff have very high expectations for pupils in all aspects of school life. They encourage pupils to take ownership of their learning.”
Ofsted, 2023
At Riddlesdown we recognise that enrichment activities are a vital component of holistic education. These activities enrich students’ school experience and support the development of essential skills. There is a broad selection of activities for students to get involved in that allow students to pursue their passions, develop their talents, to be challenged and broaden their horizons. Our enrichment provision aspires to provide diverse, inclusive and meaningful experiences. We have over one hundred co-curricular activities on offer for our students to explore and be part of. Every student at Riddlesdown should take part in at least one co-curricular activity.
Our vision is to provide enriching, inclusive, and educational trip experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. Through carefully planned local, national, and international visits, we aim to broaden students’ horizons, deepen their understanding of the curriculum, and foster personal development, resilience, and global awareness. We believe that real-world experiences are vital for inspiring curiosity, building confidence, and creating lifelong memories. We hold an annual Cultural Learning week for all Key Stage 3 students to explore new and exciting cultural experiences from visiting the Tate Modern, The Natural History Museum and Kew Gardens. Other activities involve learning Ju-jitsu, the steel pans and developing their sense of business through our Dragons Den. We run an extensive programme of trips and visits, offering a wide range of local, national, and international experiences. Highlights include our annual ski trip, the History department’s visit to Ypres, and the Classics department’s trip to Hadrian’s Wall.
The Collegiate is a hive of activity with students involved in a range of sports, including teams that represent the Collegiate in local, regional and national competitions annually. The Christmas and Summer concerts showcase the talents of our Chamber Choir, Junior and Senior Orchestras, Jazz Band and range of vocal and instrumental groups, whilst the annual musical production brings together the skills developed through the art, DT, dance, drama and music curriculum, and supported by our exceptional team of students from our technical theatre club. Every year our students develop their independence and leadership skills through our Duke of Edinburgh programme.
At Riddlesdown Collegiate we believe that engaging in exceptional co-curricular activities, trips, visits, and cultural learning experiences can have a profound impact on a young person’s development. These opportunities broaden horizons by exposing them to new environments, perspectives, and ways of thinking beyond the classroom. They foster confidence, independence, and adaptability while nurturing creativity, teamwork, and empathy. Cultural learning in particular deepens appreciation for diversity and global citizenship, equipping young people with the skills and mindset to thrive in an interconnected world.
“ The @RC stands as a distinguished centre of creativity and sporting excellence within the Collegiate, providing an environment where students are inspired to innovate, lead, and excel. This outstanding facility fosters intellectual curiosity, artistic expression, and athletic achievement, enabling young people to discover their passions, refine their talents, and cultivate the resilience, confidence, and vision to make a lasting impact.”
Headteacher, CPA College
Improvement
We believe in a determination to strive for continuous improvement. Trying to be a little better every day leads to strong, ongoing and sustainable progress. Learning more and knowing more each day leads to knowledgeable and skilled individuals who can make a positive contribution to the community and the world beyond. At Riddlesdown, examination results are consistently high and this is achieved by a determination to continually strive to improve. In 2023, OFSTED stated, “leaders ensure that all pupils receive an exceptional education. The focus on academic rigour, creative and cultural learning enables pupils to excel.” This reflects the commitment we make to improvement, constantly striving to develop and strengthen the quality of our provision.
At the Collegiate, improvement means more than academic progress. We are as passionate about developing our staff as we are about developing our students and place a great focus on personal and professional growth for all members of the community. It is this emphasis on continuous improvement that enables our students and staff to fulfil their potential.
“ I learnt far more than I could ever have hoped for. I now know what I want to do when I leave Riddlesdown.”
Student
“ The ‘collegiate system’ ensures that pupils all have trusted adults in the school. This enables leaders of each college to know their pupils very well and ensure they are safe.”
Ofsted, 2023
The culture of continual learning and improvement encourages our students to be ambitious in all they do. Staff strive to continually improve and develop the best curriculum content and teaching approaches so that students’ interest is sparked by engaging lessons within excellent facilities on an attractive and impressive site. At the heart of successful learning are knowledge, skills and understanding. We continually strive to select and refine teaching approaches, using research to inform our practice. This enables students to develop their learning in order to provide a platform for further study, a great career, and happy adult life.
Our curriculum delivers this learning through an extensive range of traditional and modern courses, alongside fantastic opportunities beyond the classroom. To support learning and progress, students are allocated to classes within their College and teachers then personalise the learning to meet the individual needs of students so that they are able to fulfil their potential.
“ Staff and pupils build extremely positive relationships.” Ofsted, 2023
People
We put people at the centre of all that we do. Our school belongs to the students, staff, parents and governors and it is only through the value we place on each individual and the relationships between them that we can achieve the success that our students deserve. We know that strong partnerships and collaboration towards achieving each young person’s potential is a fundamental part of our mission and so we take an approach that forges strong professional relationships between all members of our school community. We use our VALUES to teach the consistent habits which will support our young people to develop confidence, character and resilience. We promote respect and consideration and always expect each other to act and talk in ways that demonstrates this.
Our work to guarantee successful transition from primary to secondary school starts as soon as you have been made an offer of a place. We know that the transfer from primary to secondary school is momentous for every family. Although the benefit of new and impressive facilities can be exciting, the potential overwhelming nature of a secondary school can seem daunting after building strong relationships through the intimacy of a small school. Riddlesdown Collegiate brings together the strengths of primary school with its College structure and opportunities of secondary school with its impressive facilities and makes sure the transition is smooth and effective. To begin building strong and lasting relationships, each student is either visited in their primary school or, should the student be the only one transferring from a particular primary school, is invited with parents to the Collegiate in June to begin to familiarise themselves with others in the same situation.
“ Leaders ensure that pupils have opportunities to contribute positively to society” and “Pupils have access to a range of leadership opportunities. For instance, they work with local primary schools to deliver a computer science master class session. An active student leadership group coordinates work with charities in the local community.” Ofsted, 2023
College VI
After the first five years at Riddlesdown, students transfer into College VI. Here they utilise all of the skills and attributes gained over Years 7 to 11 and focus on higher levels of study. Within College VI there is a full programme of A Level courses (and some other Level 3 courses also), providing study combinations for everyone from aspiring doctors to fashion designers. The usual route is to study three A levels across two years, although the most able students are able to study four subjects for two years. The development of leadership skills continues through the Student Committees which make decisions about aspects of College VI work; mentoring and teaching of younger students enables our senior students to be strong role models across the Collegiate.
Preparation for next steps, which for the vast majority of our College VI students is university, is vital. Throughout College VI, students are not only supported to achieve the necessary grades but also to develop the life skills to thrive when leaving home for the first time. A full guidance programme means students are well placed to make informed career choices. Students lead a plethora of societies themselves, developing thinking and debate across a broad range of topics, ideas, and issues.
Full details on the courses offered and the entry requirements are in the College VI Handbook.
“ I think the best aspect of College VI is the teaching. The teachers know each student personally and are more than willing to help with any problems.”
College VI Student
“ Students in the sixth form receive a great deal of support to future education and employment.”
Ofsted, 2023
“ There is a thriving student leadership group and many highly successful student-led societies in the sixth form.”
Ofsted, 2023
“ The teaching was first class. It enabled me to go out into the world with a great work ethic. I now run my own production company and work as an Actor. The range of extracurricular activities and the facilities at Riddlesdown are brilliant. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had whilst studying there.”
College VI Student
“ I have met lifelong friends and teachers who have gone that extra mile for me. There is an obvious emphasis on working hard to meet your full potential but the College is also somewhere I can relax and have fun too.”
College VI Student
Riddlesdown Collegiate
Honister Heights Purley Surrey CR8 1EX
Tel: 020 8668 5136 Fax: 020 8660 9025
Email: admin@riddlesdown.org @RiddlesdownC
www.riddlesdown.org
