
Get in Touch
- Academy Type: Alternative Provision (AP) Academy
- Principal & Main Contact: Acting Principal Jayne Brigg
- 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
About
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.
Devon's Local Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Offer
Careers information:
River Dart Provider Access Policy
Staff
Jayne Brigg
Acting Principal
Jayne has been teaching across mainstream Primary, 2-19 SEN and Secondary SEMH and behaviour provisions for over 25 years. Originally from Cumbria, Jayne completed her degree and PGCE in York and having taught in Yorkshire for 5 years, moved to Cornwall in 2003. Jayne is a qualified SENDCO and has almost completed the National Professional Qualification in Headship. Jayne has recently completed a 9 month secondment at Restormel Academy in St Austell and prior to this her substantive post is Head of Education at Sowenna, a CAMHS unit in Bodmin Hospital. Jayne is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of young people through meaningful and quality educational experiences and is very much looking forward to supporting the team at River Dart. Jayne will be accompanied by her Irish Setter Rosie who is a lovely addition to a school setting.
Harry Welch
Assistant 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.
Hayley Jenkins
Assistant Principal
My love of teaching began when I taught English abroad in Barcelona and Prague. I pursued this further when back in the UK as a Teaching Assistant and then qualifying as an English teacher in 2005. I have had various roles within comprehensive education and since then and have also worked in other Alternative provisions, this is my first Assistant Principal role at The River Dart. I am very excited to be back in AP and to lead the quality of education as I am passionate about supporting all pupils to succeed and reach their potential.
I am originally from Derby and worked across the Midlands before moving to Cornwall 12 years ago to be near family and start my own family. I moved across to Devon 5 years ago and enjoy spending time with my 8-year-old son, young puppy and my sister. I love reading, walking and generally being outdoors.
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 ‘Learning Outside the Classroom’ 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
Latest News
-
Wave Summer Newsletter
Here is our Wave Summer Newsletter. Find out what we have been getting up to across the Trust this Summer Term. Wave Summer 23 Newsletter...Read More -
Wave Spring Newsletter
Here is our Wave Spring Term Newsletter. Find out what we have been getting up to across the Trust this Spring. Wave Newsletter Spring 23 ...Read More -
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 -
Coronavirus (Covid-19) - Academy Opening Update
18th May 2020 Last week the Government announced that the next phase of school reopening will begin from June 1st 2020 provided that it’s key tests are met. This marks a first tentative staging poi...Read More -
Providing “life support“ 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
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.