WHAT? WHERE?

The largest independent school on the Isle of Wight, Ryde School with Upper Chine (known locally as Ryde School) is a co-ed day, flexi, weekly and full boarding Nursery, Prep and Senior school for pupils aged 2 to 19. Set over a spacious 22 acres, with views over the Solent, it’s in the Victorian harbour town of Ryde.

Pupils travel here from all around the Island, including a good number of recently relocated families. A handful of day pupils commute from the mainland via Southsea and Gosport and are collected by the school minibus at the Hover terminal in Ryde. Mixed with a UK and international boarding cohort they make up an overall roll call of 795 pupils. Class sizes average a manageable 15, up to a maximum of 24.

Founded in 1921 as Ryde Grammar, a boys’ day and boarding school, Ryde merged with Upper Chine Girls’ in the 1990s, becoming Ryde School with Upper Chine. A fully-fledged International Baccalaureate World School and a member of the Round Square International school network, the tag line of an ‘Island school with a global outlook’ is absolutely taken seriously. Along with international boarders, there’s a strong focus on languages and global enrichment, like the Model United Nations. Exchanges with other Round Square schools also offers opportunities around the world.

FACILITIES

Ryde School with Upper Chine Isle of Wight

In the centre of the senior campus, a Grade II listed building is surrounded by buildings of varied ages. Among them, there’s a new cookery school (Ryde School was a pilot school for the Leiths Academy) and a 250-seater performing arts centre. Senior and Prep drama productions are real highlights of the school calendar.

Music is popular. Around a third of pupils learn an instrument and there are choirs, a school orchestra and ensembles. Pupils have gone to Music Colleges and Conservatoires with conductors, noted opera singers, musicians and soloists among the Alumni.

Ryde School modern arts block Isle of Wight

Recent additions include a new coffee shop where Sixth Formers can study and parents can grab a drink after drop-off. Classrooms are plentiful but the large modern DT and art rooms are a real standout. Floor-to-ceiling windows have a light, university vibe and lead out to a roof terrace with lovely view over the sea.

Prep - Junior pupils at Ryde School with Upper Chine

Ryde School with Upper Chine’s Prep is to the side of main school campus. Just over the road there’s Fiveways Pre-Prep for Reception to Year 2. Both are set in functional buildings with access to the bug hotels, nature walk and beehives in the senior site. There’s also lots of trips out to the beach, forests and heritage sites like Osbourne House. The youngest children (aged 2 – Reception) have the run of a newly-opened converted Victorian townhouse, Westhill Nursery at Ryde School.

Individual and team sports, including rugby, hockey, tennis, cricket, netball and athletics are played on the school’s astro turfs, cricket grounds, rugby fields, netball and tennis courts and petanque court. The location doesn’t limit matches against mainland schools, with fixtures every week for main school sports. In rugby, many pupils are in the London Irish Developing Player Programme. Two have already gone on to play rugby for the England men’s and women’s teams.

LITTLIES

Nursery kids at Ryde School Isle of Wight

Opened in September 2023, the new Westhill Nursery has a real homely feel. Open for 47 weeks of the year in a converted Victorian Villa, the woodland library room is a highlight, with branches painted on the walls, a huge tree in the centre and cosy, cuddle-up with a book cushions. Outdoors there’s a play area with mud kitchen, Forest School in the garden and activities ranging from tag rugby to ballet and trips to the beach. When they move up to Reception, children are taught a whole gamut of languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, French and German, alongside plenty of outdoor learning.

SIXTH FORM

Chicago production at Ryde School with Upper Chine Isle of Wight

Part of the senior school with its own busy common rooms and study areas, the Sixth Form is well subscribed. Around half of seniors at the school study A Levels, which combine subjects with academic enrichment options. To get in, they need at least five GCSEs at grade 5, 6 (C-B) or above in their chosen subjects.

The other half take one of two International Baccalaureate Programmes. The Diploma (IBDP) is a popular academic choice. The Career-related Programme (IBCP), which combines academic IB courses with professional qualifications, brings flexibility for students looking to do apprenticeships and careers in industry and helps attract new and existing students to the Sixth Form.

The majority of Ryde School’s Sixth Formers go on to a range of Russell Group universities, art colleges and overseas universities. Destinations have included Europe and the US, with over 90% achieving their first choice of university.

Along with mainstream subjects like English, History, Geography, Law, Economics, Psychology, Maths, Engineering and Sciences, in 2023, the broad range of subjects chosen by students here have included Counter Intelligence & Cybercrime, Computer Game Design, Maritime Science, Musical Theatre and Dance, Live Events Production and Nursing.

ACADEMICS/RESULTS

Pupils in the science lab at Ryde School with Upper Chine Isle of Wight

For a non-selective, Ryde School delivers pretty well on the academics. In 2024, around 20% of pupils achieved grades at 9 to 8 (A*-A) at GCSE and 88% at 9 to 4 (A*- C). At A Level, 63% achieved A*-B, with a 100% pass rate. In the International Baccalaureate, students achieved an average Diploma Programme score of 33, above the global average. And in the IB Careers-Related Programme, 65% of pupils achieved a distinction or better in the BTEC part of their programme.

PASTORAL CARE

Children beekeeping at Ryde School with Upper Chine Isle of Wight

Ryde is strong on pastoral care, from the dedicated wellbeing centre to wellbeing and contemplation walks around the site, counselling rooms and ‘calm spaces’ for pupils to retreat to. There are also lots of mindful, back-to-nature activities from tending the bee hives to lessons in the outdoor yurt and the Victory Garden where pupils grow vegetables for the school kitchen.

Pupils are encouraged to be community-minded and supported as individuals, with the outdoorsy, Swallows and Amazons freedom that comes with the large campus and Island and freedom to choose their own future career paths.

BOARDING

Boarding House at Ryde School Isle of Wight

Ryde School has two very smart co-ed boarding houses on campus. Millfield, for Years 7 to 10, is a beautifully refurbished Victorian house with a family feel. Opened in 2020, it’s split by gender upstairs with two to three pupils per comfortable room. There’s a large kitchen for weekend cooking and shared spaces that look like something out of an interior design magazine.

Ryde School Centenary boarding house Isle of Wight

The Senior boarding house, Centenary, is a large, purpose-built facility block for Year 11 and Sixth Form. Built in 2021 with sea views, ensuite bathrooms and study desks, one and two-bed rooms have a grownup, university vibe. There’s also a large kitchen and lounge with a large pool table and sofas to hang out on. The boarding population is a happy mix of different nationalities, with international students and forces families as well as UK boarders and local pupils who flexi or weekly board.

THE HEAD

Will Turner head Ryde School Isle of Wight

Will Turner became Head Master in September 2022. Previously Head of UWC Adriatic in Italy, he graduated in French and Italian at University of Exeter and began his teaching career at Sherborne School in Dorset, teaching languages and the IB. He went on to work at Harrow School as Head of Modern Languages and St John’s School, Leatherhead as Deputy Head (Academic).

Well qualified in both the independent and international school scene, he has been a school inspector and governor and has clearly proved a good fit for the school. Calm and collected, he is engaged and approachable and sees the benefits of living on the Isle of Wight as a privilege. Unlike some of the mainland schools, Ryde School attracts pupils from all kinds of family backgrounds, which Turner welcomes and says adds to the community feel.

While of the ‘evolution not revolution’ mindset, he’s clearly not someone to rest on his laurels. Future plans include continuing to encourage pupils to uphold the ‘Ut Prosim’ school motto (that I may be useful/ that I may be of service) with more community projects and a strong focus on the school values of Ambition, Responsibility, Courage and Respect. At the school itself, along with an ongoing programme of facilities upgrades he also has his sights set on a new music school.

QUIRKS

Cookery School kitchen at Ryde School Isle of Wight Leiths

The Island location aside, the global outlook here is pretty unusual. Languages are encouraged, with Spanish and Mandarin in the Prep School. From Year 7, all pupils experience five languages (German, Latin, French, Spanish and Mandarin) and everyone takes at least one language at GCSE. There’s plenty of cocurricular activities with an international spin too, like the lively Model United Nations.

Other clubs and activities include the usual sport and music options along with cooking in the purpose-built cookery school (above), croquet, gardening and beekeeping. There’s also a high take-up for DofE (15 awarded Gold in 22/23) and the option to join the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

Sailing at Ryde School Isle of Wight — Pic: Paul Wyeth

Given the location it’s not surprising that sailing is an option. But it’s actually part of the curriculum and indeed, the DNA of Ryde School. The school has its own J70 keelboat and a fleet of dinghies. By Year 7, everyone gets the chance to take it as a games option and qualify in RYA levels 1-4. Lots go on to sail in Round the Island and interschools RYA competitions and internationally, with the latest cohort of keelboat sailors placing first and second in the 2023 RYA Schools’ Match Racing Championships and two pupils having recently represented GB internationally.

WRAPAROUND CARE

The school day starts at 8.40am with the option of Breakfast Club from 8am and Supper Club until 6.00pm.

ISI REPORT

Read the latest ISI Reports here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

All mobile phones handed into lockers at the beginning of the day to end of Year 11. Under supervision, senior pupils are allowed to use mobile phones in class for task-related research.

TRANSPORT

Most pupils are dropped off by car or use the daily private school bus services from Bembridge, Cowes and West Wight. Ryde also has a taxi service from South Wight and a ‘Hover Nanny’ service available from Southsea for day pupils using the 10-minute hovercraft connection.

FEES + SCHOLARSHIPS

Good value compared with the mainland but more than the other Independent on the Island. Fees (inclusive of a direct debit discount) start at £3,305 per term for Pre-Prep – Reception (4-5 years). Pre-Prep – Year 1 (5-6 years) is £3,685. Pre-Prep – Year 2 (6-7 years) is £4,665. Prep School – Years 3-6 (7-11 years) is £5,660. The Senior School £5,850. Full Boarding is £13,130 per term.

Academic scholarships plus sailing, music, arts and sports scholarships are available for entry into years 7, 9 and the sixth form and open up means-tested bursaries.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Ryde School is popular with parents on the Island, many of whom recognise the freedoms and opportunities it brings alongside academics, like sailing and camping. Pupils are celebrated as individuals and there’s always plenty of help on offer from teachers. One parent told me how much her two different children were well supported and thrived here. Pupils I speak with are enthusiastic about their teachers and those that were part of the CCF Forces programme absolutely loved it.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: The strong community vibe, beautiful location, outdoor lifestyle and solid academic provision.

Not for: Just a short hop on the hovercraft, some mainlanders do make the crossing but Island location clearly won’t work for everyone, although the flexi and weekly boarding options make it far more accessible.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! The next open event is on Saturday 1 February 2025, from 10am to 12.30pm. To book a place or taster day, contact the Admissions Registrar, Mrs Becky Craik, admissions@rydeschool.net.

Ryde School with Upper Chine, Queen’s Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 3BE. Tel. 01983 562229.

Ryde School with Upper Chine, Ryde

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