Ripley Court Ethos

The benefits of a small, co-educational prep school, with a strong disciplinary and pastoral framework, are immense. Full participation, enthusiasm for all aspects of school life, and opportunity for all are central maxims.

Children
We do not run a university for small children. Nor do we attempt to accelerate their ageing. Children normally spend ten years here – it cannot be shortened! The key to success is to organise things so that there is a steady and high expectation of achievement in all areas without excessive pressure.

Pastoral care
This small size also means we know all the children well – along with all their personalities, and their little foibles. Do not pick this school if you want your children submerged in a crowd, or standing in a queue behind brighter lights. We look after them all.

Curriculum
There are many things one can teach children, in many subject areas. However, being over-ambitious in this regard merely causes yet more pressure to be put on children – for example with myriad extra foreign languages – which are great, but better later on in a school career.

We keep it broad but simple – with tuition in English, Maths, French, Science, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Latin, Computers, Art, Design Technology, Music, Games, Physical Education and Swimming. There are also other opportunities during the Hobbies session or in after-hours activities.

About half the tuition time is devoted to the four core subjects (English, Maths, French and Science), over five hours a week to physical activities, and the rest to the other subjects.

Behaviour
Unhappiness in school comes mostly from peers. There is a simple but rigorously reinforced code of behaviour, based on the word respect – for you yourself, for others, for personal space, for property. Good traditional stuff – and it works.

Small size
We limit the school to thirty-six children in a year, or eighteen in a class. This means that we know the children well, and that they all have the chance to participate. You will not find the “spear carriers” (in the Shakespearian sense) common in larger schools – i.e. those making up the numbers while the stars strut their stuff.

Co-education
We feel this is much more normal and natural, particularly at this age.