Ripley Court School Prospectus

A leading co-educational Nursery & Preparatory School for pupils aged 3-11

Welcome

Inspiring inquisitive minds, creating opportunities and nurturing potential

Ripley Court is a leading co-educational Nursery and Preparatory School Set in 19 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside. At the core of our school’s values is the provision of exceptional pastoral care coupled with a challenging and stimulating education to enable our pupils to develop holistically and achieve their full potential.

Our nurturing, forward-thinking approach to learning, and outstanding teachers, inspire and support our pupils to become confident, independent learners equipped for life beyond the classroom.

In 2023, Ripley Court commemorates its 130th anniversary. In 2019, Ripley Court School merged with the Reed’s School Foundation, marking an exciting chapter in the school’s growth and development.

Visits to Reed’s are part of Ripley Court School’s academic programme; pupils have the advantage of accessing advanced facilities at Reed’s School, including a new Indoor Cricket Centre that features five cricket nets equipped with the latest PitchVision cricket analysis system. Additionally, there is the FutureTech building (a vision for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)).

Values & Pastoral

We want children to enjoy their childhood for as long as possible whilst developing and progressing both academically and socially.

Values & Pastoral

At Ripley Court, we want children to enjoy their childhood for as long as possible whilst developing and progressing both academically and socially. Pupils are the heartbeat of this vibrant school. The warm family atmosphere within the school community makes Ripley Court School exceptional. The small class sizes and connections between the pupils and their teachers help our children to feel nurtured, happy, and valued. We support our pupils to become confident, inquisitive, and compassionate learners who embody our values of perseverance, aspiration, curiosity, and kindness. We celebrate the uniqueness of every individual child.

Ripley Court was rated ‘Excellent’ for pastoral care by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Our seamless through school experience delivers a calm approach to learning. Small class sizes and the family atmosphere mean that children interact happily across year groups in a balanced nurturing environment.

A buddy system is in place whereby pupils are paired with a child in a different part of the school. This promotes friendship and fosters a greater sense of belonging and an inclusive school community.

The House system allows pupils to develop a sense of belonging in a genuinely cohesive environment. By dividing the school into four smaller groups, pupils of all ages work together. The house system is inclusive of all learning areas. We host an inter-house Sports Day, Swimming, Football, Netball, Cross-Country, Aquathlon, Tennis and Table Tennis, an inter-house music competition and cross-curricular (Mathletics, quizzes, Pancake Day, and cake baking) events.

Leadership

Each Year 6 pupil has a carefully appointed leadership position where they undertake a wide range of duties including Library, Assembly, Computer room, Little Court and Photography.

Leadership

As seniors in the School, Year 6 pupils are role models to those in the lower years. Each year 6 pupil has a carefully appointed leadership position where they undertake a wide range of duties including Library, Assembly, Computer room, Little Court and Photography. The Head of School and Deputy are the School’s ambassadors, and their role is to lead on outreach initiatives, and represent the School at open events and end-of-year festivities.

The House Captains and Deputies lead their houses in a range of interhouse activities throughout the year and those who thrive on the sports field are selected to captain their team. The School Council of elected representatives from each Form meet with the Headmistress once a half-term to discuss plans and initiatives. All pupils at Ripley Court School are encouraged to be considerate, responsible, and independent and they are given numerous opportunities to get involved in the school’s life.

Academic

Our dedicated pastoral care and specialist teachers provide a positive learning experience to benefit the children’s development and wellbeing.

Ripley Court School Prospectus

Academic

At Ripley Court, we offer a warm, creative, and academically ambitious environment where children thrive. We instil a love of learning from an early age by making learning fun through our exciting and stimulating curriculum.

Lessons are brought to life through practical learning, visiting speakers, workshops, and educational trips, which enhance our curriculum and ensure our pupils are engaged, curious and inspired as they progress through the school. Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) enrichment programme teaches pupils a diverse set of skills and subjects that resembles real life and creates opportunities for independent learning, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

We are committed to supporting each child to discover, and develop, their individual talents through our broad and varied curriculum and the wealth of extra-curricular activities offered.

Small class sizes and setting in Mathematics and English, from Year 3, ensure our pupils are suitably challenged.

Specialist teaching begins from Nursery and builds during the pupils’ time with us. Pupils in Years 5 and 6 benefit from Specialist teaching in all their lessons. From Reception to Year 3, pupils receive Specialist teaching in Music, PE/Games, Swimming, Forest School, French, and Dance, and from Year 3, Art, and Food Technology.

The pupils of Ripley Court School are both nurtured and challenged. They progress to senior school equipped with the learning skills needed to fulfil their potential and become independent thinkers for life beyond the classroom.

Our pupils’ impressive 11+ results and numerous scholarships to leading senior schools speak volumes about the thorough preparation they receive at Ripley Court. Year 6 pupils are frequently awarded scholarships and exhibitions for academics, sports, music, drama, art, and all-round ability in their chosen secondary schools.

Partnership with Parents

At Ripley Court, we see learning as a partnership and aim to keep parents informed through a range of different avenues. The School’s website and social media along with the bi-weekly Court Circular Newsletter and regular communication to parents provide information about the breadth of the learning in all year groups. Termly reports and parents’ meetings give regular feedback and encourage collaboration between the school, teachers, and parents.

Outdoor Learning

Ripley Court is set in 19 acres of countryside in the picturesque village of Ripley.

Outdoor Learning

With extensive playing fields, our own Forest School and an indoor swimming pool, Ripley Court is an idyllic environment for educating our pupils and building solid foundations. A great deal of learning takes place outside of the classroom.

Within our stunning grounds, children have the space and freedom to explore, which means happy children go home muddy after a day of playing football at breaktime with their friends, exploring at Forest School or even sledging in the snow.

Sport

We place an emphasis on fun and enjoyment, establishing a life-long love of sport.

Sport

Ripley Court has a thriving sporting culture with a core aim of promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. The school boasts excellent facilities, with sixteen acres of land dedicated to playing fields, and access to advanced sporting facilities at Reed’s School. Pupils play happily across age groups, learning to work and play as a team while developing a range of interpersonal skills.

Ripley Court’s sporting facilities include tennis and netball courts, playing fields for rugby, football, hockey, and cricket, a timber-clad cricket pavilion, an indoor sports hall, and a challenging crosscountry course. The indoor heated swimming pool provides a luxurious setting for swimming.

Outside the classroom, pupils are offered a wide range of activities with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment

to establish a lifelong love of sport. Little Court pupils have two-hour sessions with professional coaches, and from Year 3, children have four hours of team games, in addition to swimming and plenty of outdoor play. The school’s beautiful grounds enhance its sporting offering, enabling it to host many sports fixtures against other schools.

The varied programme creates a vibrant school life inside and outside the classroom.

Co-curricular

We offer a wide range of clubs and activities which enables children to broaden their skills and abilities whilst enjoying exciting new experiences. The varied programme creates a vibrant school life inside and outside the classroom. Club provision before, during and after school empowers children to experience a wide array of stimulating activities where they can enjoy new hobbies, learn new skills, and find talents and interests in areas outside of the usual curriculum offerings. Alongside the breakfast club and after school care provision (Court Jesters and Court Squires), we have a full range of seasonal, cultural, sporting, and creative clubs; these include LTA Tennis, Swim Squad, Ballet, Touch Rugby, Touch Typing, Food Tech Club, Design Club, Lego, Mindfulness Colouring, Drama, Young Magicians, Knit and Natter Club, Chess Club, Disco Dancing, Little Court Disco, Archery, Judo, Bush Craft, Athletics and Skateboarding to name a few.

The recent merger with Reed’s School has provided exciting opportunities to further enrich the broader curriculum including access to their new Indoor Cricket Centre and the FutureTech building (a vision for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)). This gives our pupils the opportunity to participate in coding days and work collaboratively to build Lego robotics.

Beyond the Classroom

Learning is brought to life through practical learning experiences and, during the academic year, pupils participate in a variety of trips.

Some are closer to home with visits to Ripley High Street and others enjoy day trips to London or historical sites. Away fixtures are played at a range of schools and our inclusive approach means that all pupils are involved in competitive sport. Alongside this, pupils from Year 3 to 6 have a residential trip in the Summer Term with Year 6 visiting

France. The shorter trips, generally closer to home, include Activities Week, a PGL outdoor pursuits and beach cleans. Our Pupils in the Upper Court visit Haslemere Museum, Battle Abbey and Rochester Castle, Noah Woods Science Centres, Butts Hill Farm, and paddling and Kayaking at South Water.

The Arts

All pupils learn to express themselves creatively in Art, Music and Drama. We encourage children with differing abilities and talents whilst also providing specialist teachers to nurture those who excel in the arts.

The Arts

The Arts are an essential and vibrant part of life at Ripley Court School. All pupils learn to express themselves creatively through Art, Music, and Drama, with specialist teachers to nurture their creativity.

The Music department features a terrific teaching studio, theatre, and music tuition rooms. In addition to class music lessons, every child learns to play an instrument. Additionally, approximately twelve peripatetic music teachers provide individual instrumental tuition.

The Music department at Ripley Court encourages a love of music and showcases talent through half-termly tea-time concerts. Our pupils have the opportunity to participate in a range of musical ensembles, including a wind ensemble, orchestra, and rock band. All Little Court children participate in the choir, and Upper Court pupils can join the prep choir (Court Singers). Our young choir members recently collaborated with The Reed’s School choir in a stunning performance at Cadogan Hall, featuring songs from

movies and musicals. Additionally, the Court Singers participated in a Choral Day led by renowned composer and conductor Bob Chilcott at Wellington College.

A converted 18th-century stable serves as a charming theatre for all children to learn acting and performing skills. The school sports hall also transforms into a larger arena for spectacular productions such as ‘Bugsy Malone,’ ‘The Lion King,’ and ‘Matilda,’ all performed to great acclaim. The ‘Ripley’s Got Talent’ contest, Nativity Concert, and Summer Dance Extravaganza for Little Court and Upper Court School Productions are renowned Ripley Court productions! As with everything we do, every child has the opportunity to participate.

The LAMDA Department is where children learn confidence, presentation skills, clear diction, and teamwork. The addition of Drama as a subject provides an opportunity for every child to participate in performing arts, and fosters creativity, self-expression and social skills.

The Art Department has a reputation for achieving a high standard, with many pupils receiving scholarships in recent years. All children take art as part of their curriculum. Years 3 to 6 benefit from specialist teaching in a bright and inspiring purpose-built art room. Children use textiles, clay, paint, and fine drawing to develop their motor skills and encourage creative thinking.

Outreach

We have strong links with the community and local charities and our motto, Non Nobis Solem (not for ourselves alone), reminds us of our commitment to those around us.

Outreach

At Ripley Court School, we teach the children to be kind, charitable citizens who are aware of the world around them. We have strong links with the community and local charities and our motto, Non Nobis Solem (not for ourselves alone), reminds us of our commitment to those around us.

One of the charities we cooperate with is ‘Together With Music’. Created by Intergenerational Music Maker (IMM), an organisation well known for their support of local nursing homes, “Together With Music” allows Ripley Court to share some well-deserved cheers, songs and music with our senior citizens residing in care homes. The School also has close links with the local church, and we support the community by collecting food, Christmas gifts and clothes, for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Caring for the environment is a way of life at Ripley Court; the children are committed to making the world a more sustainable place. Litter picking is embedded in our school calendar and pupils in Years 1 to 6 are invited to join ‘The Green Team’. We invite speakers such as beekeepers, waste busters and heathland educators to motivate a healthy, greener way of life.

Ripley Court School were awarded Plastic Free Status from Surfers Against Sewage, and in 2020, Ripley Court School was nominated as a finalist for the Independent Schools of the Year award in the Environmental Achievement category. Given the consistently high standard of more than 300 nominations, we are incredibly proud to be placed in the top six schools.

Ripley Court School Prospectus

Nursery & Transition

The Nursery is housed in its own purpose-built area but is very much a part of the whole school, sharing specialist French, Swimming, Dance, Music and Forest School teachers.

Nursery & Transition

The Nursery children experience an exciting and inspiring education in a secure and relaxed environment. In the Nursery, we believe that children learn best through exploration, discovery, and play and so they are encouraged to explore, investigate, question, collaborate, making learning more meaningful, engaging, suitably challenging and fun.

Children join The Nursery in the term of their third birthday.

The Nursery runs two sessions a day during term time. A morning session from 08:30 to 12:00, or 12:30 if children stay for lunch, and an afternoon session

from 12:30 to 15:30. Court Jesters after school care is available to children who need to remain in school until 18:00. The Nursery is housed in its own purpose-built area but is very much a part of the whole school, sharing specialist French, Swimming, Dance, Music and Forest School teachers. The environment allows for unique nurturing for individual growth and attention.

Further exciting opportunities allow the pupils to engage with the local community.

With the Nursery being an integral part of Ripley Court School, the children find it an easy transition into Reception.

“Little Court Nursery has a lovely feel about it and extremely good teaching. Set in beautiful grounds it prides itself on its pastoral care and creates an environment where the child feels held. Having sampled two of the other nurseries in the area before moving to Ripley Court School Nursery, its level of care and learning is far superior in every sense. The change in our son was marked in the transition and now he loves every day at Ripley Court School Nursery.” Parent

Little Court

Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2)

A varied and balanced curriculum gently introduces children to school life and enables them to develop their interests and talents.

Little Court

Little Court is our pre-prep Department, housed in its own dedicated building, but very much an integral part of the school.

Little Court is where inquisitive minds come to learn, build trusting relationships, grow in confidence, develop independence and a positive attitude towards learning. Taught in small classes by experienced teachers and qualified teaching assistants, it is here where our Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children make great progress.

A varied and balanced curriculum gently introduces children to school life and enables them to develop their interests and talents. Our variety of co-curricular activities and specialist Music, French, Swimming, Ballet, Forest School teachers, and Sports coaches, deliver a well-rounded, nurturing, and inspiring learning environment.

Food Technology is a very popular subject at Ripley Court. From Year 2 upwards, pupils are taught by a specialist Food Technology teacher, whilst younger children use the food technology room with their class teachers.

There are also plenty of outdoor learning opportunities. The children enjoy rugby, football, netball, hockey and tennis as part of their lessons, and for a fee, the children can have additional lunchtime clubs of netball and tennis through external coaching.

In addition to the sporting opportunities, children can also choose to join clubs such as LAMDA, Chess and one-onone music lessons.

Every child is encouraged to participate in a class assembly, and their involvement in the annual end of year Dance Extravaganza and Nativity play is where children shine and gain confidence through participation and recognition.

The small classes and nurturing environment equip children with the organisation skills, independence and confidence needed to progress to Key Stage 2.

Staff in Little Court work alongside the Year 3 teachers to support the transition into Upper Court.

“Such a wonderfully nurturing setting for the children to live their best lives. The staff have endless energy and provide a really stimulating environment for the children. The forest school is such a treat for the children each week!”

Current parent

Upper Court

Prep Year 3 – 6

As we prepare them to embark on their exciting journey into senior school, we enrich the curriculum with educational visits.

Upper Court

Upper Court is where the children truly make their mark during these crucial growth years. With a generous pupil-teacher ratio and small class sizes, we ensure that each child is suitably challenged, and their progress is recognised and encouraged, in a supportive and stimulating environment.

We are committed to providing the very best educational experience for our pupils. We strive to support them during these crucial learning years with a balanced approach to academic learning. As a result, our pupils demonstrate a passion for learning and look forward to coming to school every day.

Learning is brought to life through educational visits, our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) enrichment programme, workshops, and educational trips.

We encourage the development of digital literacy, digital citizenship, and computer science. Additionally, philosophy is also taught to encourage pupils to think about ethics, existence, time, meaning, and value. In Years 5 and 6, subjects are taught by specialist teachers who instil their passion for their subjects onto the children. Moreover, we use the online learning platform, ATOM Learning, to help pupils practice verbal and non-verbal reasoning assessments in preparation for their 11+ exams, both at school and home.

At the end of Year 6, our pupils leave us with a strong sense of belonging and a deep understanding of their individual aptitudes. Our pupils’ impressive 11+ results and the numerous scholarships awarded to them from a broad range of leading senior schools speak volumes about the thorough preparation they receive at Ripley Court School.

“We would like to say a HUGE thank you to all the wonderful teachers at Ripley Court. My daughter has had the most amazing childhood and that would not have been possible without the enthusiasm, energy, care, and time that all the teachers have given her since she was 2! Ripley Court is certainly an extremely special place and any child who comes here is very lucky!”

Current parent

What can never be contained in print is the warm feel of our school, the kind nature of our staff, and the sparkle, energy, and happiness of our children. We invite you to spend some time with us and witness for yourself the joy and energy that makes Ripley Court the unique school that it is.

Ripley Court School

Rose Lane

Ripley Surrey GU23 6NE

01483 225 217

registrar@ripleycourt.co.uk