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Ridgeway School Prospectus
In 1962, a ‘Junior Training Centre’ was established on the
current Ridgeway Community School site. This was run by the Health
Authority and considered the best provision for children with
severe learning difficulties. Following the Education Act of 1970,
the Education Authority took responsibility for the education of
all children and in 1978 replaced the old training centre with a
purpose-built school.
 
Today that building is unrecognisable as, in 2000 – 2002, we
underwent a complete re-build. The original school building has
been re-vamped and now houses the junior school. The senior school
and the specialist subject rooms are in a new attached building and
we have a new off-site nursery.
The facilities are the most up-to-date, with provision of
overhead tracking to assist in manual handling in all classrooms
and specialist rooms for food technology, science, design
technology, music, art, soft play and a light room. There is a
dedicated medical room, physiotherapist treatment room and an
office for the health team.
The Ridgeway Community School is a co-educational establishment
with 85 formula places. We welcome pupils between the ago of 2 and
19 years who have severe and/or profound multiple learning
difficulties.
Our young nursery pupils ages 2 rising to 5 are based in an
off-site purpose built nursery on the site of Pilgrims Way Primary
School. Within this inclusive setting they enjoy their play and
education alongside their mainstream peers, benefiting from
resources: soft play and light room.
Our 16 – 19 year old pupils with severe learning difficulties
enjoy the atmosphere of the mainstream local Farnham College.
Although the students follow their own curriculum at the college,
they are able to use the on-site restaurant and other facilities.
The Ridgeway Community School students are integrated into many of
the college activities.
The Ridgeway Community School has a dedicated, committed and
hard-working staff who, together with a pro-active governing body,
work to implement the aims of the school. In planning to meet each
pupil’s needs staff work closely with physiotherapists, speech and
language therapists, occupational therapists and the full-time
school nurse. Outside support agencies, such as hearing and
visually impaired services, the educational psychologist, portage
workers and our link social worker, visit frequently to give
support to pupils, parents and staff.
In 2002, the school received a DfES Achievement award for
progress and also achieved Investors in People status. We are a
self-moderating ‘Healthy School’.
 
We aim to provide a learning environment that is stimulating and
challenging, yet supportive and enjoyable, thus enabling pupils to
develop relationships, knowledge and practical skills to reach
their full potential and achieve as much independence as
possible.
We believe that the development of communication, physical,
personal and social skills are the key to success of further
learning. As such, these are given a high priority throughout the
curriculum.
Through this website we hope that you will gain an insight into
the work carried out at The Ridgeway Community School and should
you like to visit us to find out more about our facilities and
ethos, you can be assured of a warm welcome. | 