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Deal, Kent

Ripplevale School

Chapel Lane, Deal, CT14 8JG

Get directions Visit website Email school 01304 373866

Ofsted rating

Good

Ungraded visit · Previous grade stands

Pupils

188

Ages

6 to 19

Gender

Mixed

At a glance

Age range

6 to 19

Gender

Mixed

Pupils

188

Headteacher

Mrs Jane Norris

Type

Specialist

Ofsted

Good

Local authority

Kent

Overview

About Ripplevale School

Based in Ripple, near Deal, Ripplevale School is a special school for children aged 6 to 19 and takes boys and girls. The school currently has about 188 pupils. It is a maintained school within the Kent local authority area. The headteacher is Mrs Jane Norris.

Inspection at a glance

Ofsted rated Ripplevale School Good at its inspection on 27 February 2024. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.

Getting a place at Ripplevale School

Ripplevale School is a special school, so places are arranged through the education, health and care plan process rather than the normal application round. Kent names the school in a child's EHCP after consulting it. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.

SEND at a glance

Ripplevale School is a specialist SEND setting, so every pupil on roll has identified additional needs. Recorded provision: Specialist school. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.

Ripplevale School contact details and location

Ripplevale School is at Chapel Lane, Ripple, Deal, Kent, CT14 8JG. The school office can be reached on 01304 373866. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted inspected

Overall effectiveness

Grade

Good

Solid standard

Ofsted's most recent visit confirmed the overall rating. It did not re-grade the individual areas.

View the full Ofsted report

Getting in

Ripplevale School admissions and catchment area

Non-selective state school

No entrance test - you apply on the common application form

Ripplevale School does not run its own entrance test. Places are allocated by Kent County Council using published oversubscription criteria. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria.

Official links

Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Kent County Council. KCC school admissions →

How to apply

1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Kent County Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? Apply directly through Kent County Council's in-year admissions team, or in some cases direct to the school.

Didn't get a place? You can appeal

If Ripplevale School is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.

How to appeal a school offer

How the school is doing

Ripplevale School results and attendance

N/A

KS2 results

N/A

A-Level results

N/A

Attendance

Not published

N/A

Free school meals

N/A

Additional needs

SEND support at Ripplevale School

SEND setting

Specialist school

SEND provision

Specialist school

For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.

Before and after school

Wraparound care and nursery at Ripplevale School

Nursery

Breakfast club

Please check with the school

After-school club

Please check with the school

Academic year 2026/27

Ripplevale School term dates: Kent standard term dates for 2026/27

These are Kent County Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.

Autumn 1 · 2026

1 Sep-23 Oct

Autumn 2 · 2026

2 Nov-18 Dec

Spring 1 · 2027

4 Jan-12 Feb

Spring 2 · 2027

22 Feb-25 Mar

Summer 1 · 2027

12 Apr-28 May

Summer 2 · 2027

7 Jun-21 Jul

View Kent County Council term dates

Answers for parents

Ripplevale School: frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a place at Ripplevale School?

Places at Ripplevale School are arranged through the education, health and care plan (EHCP) process. Ask your SEN casework team at Kent to consult the school as part of your child's plan.

What is Ripplevale School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Ripplevale School Good at its inspection on 27 February 2024. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.

What SEND support does Ripplevale School offer?

Ripplevale School is recorded as a specialist school. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.

What are Ripplevale School's term dates and INSET days?

Ripplevale School follows the standard Kent pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.

Where is Ripplevale School and how do I contact the school?

Ripplevale School is at Chapel Lane, Ripple, Deal, Kent, CT14 8JG. The office number is 01304 373866. A map and directions are on this page.

How big is Ripplevale School and what ages does it take?

Ripplevale School has around 188 pupils on roll and covers ages 6 to 19. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.

About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.

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