Get in Touch
- Academy Type: Alternative Provision (AP) Academy
- Principal & Main Contact: Harry Welch - Interim Head of School
- Senior Administrator: Katie Parrott
- Careers Leader: Nathan Riley - nriley@waveedu.org
-
Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Harry Welch-hwelch@waveedu.org
-
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead:
Jayne Brigg- JayneBrigg@waveedu.org, and Jessica Bell - jbell@waveedu.org
- Address: Shinners Bridge Dartington TQ9 6JD, Devon, England. UK
- Phone: 01803 865580
- Email: riverdart@waveedu.org
- Opening Times: Mon-Thu 0845-1430, Fri 0845-1300, 27.25 hours per week
天美app
River Dart Academy is located in a picturesque area of Dartington. Our aim is to work closely with secondary schools to provide support to the most vulnerable pupils.
Our pupils come to us at various points throughout their schooling, usually as a result of their school placement having broken down. Our purpose is to support pupils to create an environment where everyone can grow and develop, as they become responsible citizens and lifelong learners. Our role is to help pupils get back on track, either through a return to regular schooling or by completing Year 11 at River Dart Academy.
We work closely with a diverse range of outside agencies both statutory and voluntary so that our pupils can access the support and guidance they need. We are committed to tailoring our curriculum to meet the needs of our pupils, developing a range of skills knowledge, attitudes and understanding so all our pupils can aspire to their full potential.
You can read more about our Curriculum Here.
Careers information:
River Dart Provider Access Policy
Staff
Harry Welch
Interim Head of School
Harry started his career at The Brunel Academy in 2015 as a HLTA. He has work as an Advocate from 2018 until 2020 where he joined the extended leadership team in the role of Lead for Engagement. In 2021 was appointed the Lead for Behaviour whereby he has operational and strategic oversight of behaviour, attitudes and attendance as well as being the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Harry is a Trauma and Mental Health Practitioner and a Dialectical Behavioural Therapist and is passionate about supporting young people to overcome trauma and adversity to become the best possible versions of themselves.
Before moving into a career in education Harry was an aspiring rugby player who was selected to represent England Rugby U19's.
In his spare time Harry enjoys following local sport including 'The Fisherman' Brixham RFC and Brixham AFC.
Helen Casson
Director of Education
After graduating from the University of East Anglia in PsychoSocial studies, Helen completed her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University. She then taught in Sheffield for a few years before moving to an inner London school as Assistant Headteacher, leading on student and staff wellbeing. After a move to Cornwall in 2011, Helen became Deputy Headteacher at Looe Community Academy. Helen is a trained SENCo and a Thrive practitioner and is passionate about ensuring the needs of all young people are met. Helen sat on our 天美app Board for number of years before joining the Wave team. Outside of school Helen and her family enjoy exploring Cornwall in their rusty VW camper and bright orange beetle!
Jessica Bell
SENDCO
Jessie started her career as a Teaching Assistant supporting children and young people with profound, multiple and specific learning disabilities. She then trained as a teacher and has taught in both mainstream and special school settings, teaching all ages from 4-18.
Jessie's passion has always been within SEND, and from a young age her dream job was to be a SENDCo. She feels strongly that all children and young people should be able to access education and that learning should be differentiated to meet each child's individual needs.
Outside of school, Jessie enjoys spending time with her family and friends and taking her dog on walks around Devon.
Suzy Eagles
Assistant Principal
Suzy has been teaching for over 20 years in numerous settings from Mainstream, Pupil Referral Units and a Private School in the UAE. Suzy has taught a number of subjects: PE at A level, GSCE and BTEC in addition to core PE, Science, Numeracy, Literacy and ASDAN.
Initially qualifying with a BE.d (Hons) in PE Suzy has since completed a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management. During her career Suzy has held positions in middle and senior leadership such as Head of Department, Director of Department, Head of Faculty, Head of Year and Assistant Principal in differing settings.
She has been strategic lead for Teaching and Learning and behaviour in a large all through school in addition to behaviour CPD lead in Mainstream and Alternative Provision. She has successfully led Pastoral teams, Teaching and Learning teams and whole school CPD responsibility resulting in whole school improvement in those areas.
Outside of school Suzy enjoyed several sports including Hockey competing at national League level and Judo also at national level. Latterly she now enjoys keeping fit and walking her dog.
Our Curriculum at River Dart
Our Context and Intent
River Dart Academy is located in a picturesque area of Dartington. Our aim is to work closely with secondary schools to provide support to the most vulnerable pupils. Our pupils come to us at various points throughout their schooling, usually as a result of their school placement having broken down. Our purpose is to support pupils to create an environment where everyone can grow and develop, as they become responsible citizens and lifelong learners. Our role is to help pupils get back on track, either through a return to regular schooling or by completing Year 11 at River Dart Academy.
We work closely with a diverse range of outside agencies both statutory and voluntary so that our pupils can access the support and guidance they need. We are committed to tailoring our curriculum to meet the needs of our pupils, developing a range of skills, knowledge, attitudes and understanding so all our pupils can aspire to their full potential.
We are committed to working in partnership with young people, their parents and carers, their schools and other agencies to re-engage them and enable them tobecome successful learners and responsible citizens. Where students are able to demonstrate positive behaviour and a desire to achieve, we aim to help them transition back to mainstream school. For those who require a more alternative approach, we provide a balanced and varied curriculum, delivered through good quality teaching and learning. Whilst for many, an AP Academy may seem to be the end of one's academic career, we see it as merely a change in direction.
At The River Dart Academy we recognise that pupils require clear and achievable expectations to allow them to be successful learners, that is why we have introduced 'We are RDA' to record behaviour and attitude for learning in each and every lesson.
What is 'We Are RDA'?
Respect- our people and place
Designated Space - be in the space staff are asking you to be
Achieve- make progress towards personalised learning targets
Pupils accessing our core offer are taught:
|
Subjects |
KS3 lessons p/w |
KS4 lessons p/w |
|
English Lang/Lit |
5 |
5 |
|
Maths |
5 |
5 |
|
Science |
3 |
4 |
|
PSHCE |
2 |
2 |
|
DT |
1 |
- |
|
LOTC/PE |
5 |
6 |
|
Art |
2 |
4 |
|
Tutor Time programme |
2 |
2 |
|
Humanities |
2 |
- |
Here are the qualifications we offer at River Dart, as well as our enriched and PSHE/RSE programme of study and Careers guidance. For more details, please contact us.
- AQA Unit awards
- AQA Functional Skills
- BTEC Sport
In addition to the accredited awards on offer, we encourage students to explore and develop their skills and talents in wider areas.
Through bespoke outdoor activities, students have opportunities to develop their leadership, teamwork and communication skills by participating in outdoor physical activities. In September 2023, this important aspect of personal development is timetabled formally within our new 鈥楲earning Outside the Classroom鈥� with a new specialist and experienced Lead teacher. Pupils will work towards key personal development targets, and this will be tracked closely to support planning and impact. This also ensures that our students are not disadvantaged by a lack of opportunity or exposure to new events, experiences, cultural activities as we prepare students for life in modern Britain.
More details can be found on our Subject pages. Our Subject Leads design planning around pupils, using the Trust long term Curriculum overviews.
A full time curriculum offer is available for all of our students. However, we acknowledge that there are times when some of our students may be unable to fully access and engage in this for a variety of different reasons. We are flexible and creative with our bespoke timetable offers in order to provide the best educational opportunities possible for all of our students.
For example, we may have some students who access an outreach package that may involve alternative providers. All bespoke timetables are reviewed every six weeks via a meeting with pupils and parents to discuss their views and progress made. Our aim with any bespoke timetable is that it is used as a short term intervention; the desired outcome always being reintegration into our full timetabled on site offer.
Documents
Subject Areas
Reading
Art & Creativity
English
Humanities
Science
Physical Education
PSHE
Mathematics
Personal Development & Enrichment
Latest News
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天美app Summer Newsletter
Here is our 天美app Summer Newsletter. Find out what we have been getting up to across the Trust this Summer Term. 天美app Summer 23 Newsletter...Read More -
天美app Spring Newsletter
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Guide for leaders in alternative provision (AP)
22nd May 2020 Attached is a guide for leaders in alternative provision (AP) which has been written by a number of us who lead trusts, provisions and networks across the country. We hoped it might be ...Read More -
Providing 鈥渓ife support鈥� during the COVID 19 pandemic - Wave Trust staff are thanked by pupils and families for helping them through the lockdown
7th May 2020 As parents, pupils and teachers across the country wait to hear when and how schools will officially re-open following the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, Wave is continuing to do w...Read More -
One Year On......
22nd January 2020 12 months ago Cornwall鈥檚 Wave Trust, recognised as the most successful trust in the country for providing education for pupils who have been excluded from school, took over the ru...Read More
Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
River Dart Academy recognises that the safety and welfare of children is paramount and that we have a responsibility to protect children in all of our academy activities. We take all reasonable steps to ensure, through appropriate procedures and training, that all children, irrespective of sex, age, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual identity or social status, are protected from abuse.
We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow procedures to ensure that children and young people receive effective support, protection and justice.
We listen to our pupils and take seriously whet they tell us, children are aware of the adults they can talk to if they have a concern. When there are concerns for a child's welfare, we may need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies. We will ensure concerns are discussed with parents/.carers first unless we have reason to believe that by doing so would be contrary to the child's welfare.
Our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy underpins and guides our safeguarding procedures and protocols.
Link to further Safeguarding information
