The latest review published in 2017.

1. Ryedale School
Gale Lane
Nawton
York
North Yorkshire
YO62 7SL
Head: Mark McCandless
T 01439 771665
E info@ryedale.n-yorks.sch.uk
W www.ryedaleschool.org
A mainstream state school for pupils aged from 11 to 16
Boarding: No
Local authority: North Yorkshire
Pupils: 626
Religion: Non-denominational
Open days: Annually - usually in June
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Built in 1953 in down a country lane in the village of Nawton, surrounded by fields
and just a few houses in sight. Equidistant from Helmsley and Kirbymoorside and half
an hour away from Malton and Pickering, locations of its nearest secondary school
neighbours. Used to have own railway stop till Beecham got busy with his axe – so a
history of lunchtime activities, as there is nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
Seen from the entrance the school presents……..
Read review »
What the school says...
Ryedale School is a leading comprehensive school in North Yorkshire which
consistently delivers high achievement. In July 2016, it established the Ryedale
Federation, along with three of its feeder primary schools. In working in real
partnership with primary colleagues, Ryedale School is even better placed to nurture
students’ progress and ...Read more
Headteacher
Since 2014, Mark McCandless BEd (Hons) Secondary PE (late thirties).
Educated in the Republic of Ireland and at Leeds Met university, then became
a PE teacher at Allerton High in Leeds. Moved to Ryedale in 2008 and
became head after stints as assistant and deputy head.
Quietly spoken with a positive disposition, highly principled with steely resolve
and a strong sense of fair play, he walks the talk and leads by example. Seen
by pupils as ‘strict but fair’ and respected by pupils and parents, who like his
passion for the school and understated manner. ‘A man who doesn’t blow his
own trumpet’ was how one parent described him.
Professes to liking ‘shiny happy people’ and he has certainly built a team who
demonstrate those traits. Parents made a point of mentioning the energy and

2. collegiality of the staff, which sets the tone for the young people. He and the
deputy head have 26 years of experience at Ryedale between them and
make a dynamic duo. Most important to have this strong and united
leadership as the head develops the Ryedale Federation established in 2016.
He cares deeply for the school and professes to ‘never wanting to be
anywhere else’ – don’t think anyone would quibble with that.
Married with two young daughters; the family has a smallholding where they
keep rare breeds of poultry and domestic animals. Also a keen runner and
tennis player when time permits.
Academic matters
2016 in top 7 per cent in country based on Progress 8. On brink of top quartile
of North Yorkshire non-selective state schools – 68 per cent 5+ A*-C including
English and mathematics at GCSE in 2016; 28 per cent A*/A grades. Strong
results in single sciences, art, drama and music reflecting the specialisms in
performing arts, science and mathematics.
Moving to a three year key stage 4 – most will do 9 GCSEs; less academic
will do fewer. Options, mainly academic subjects, include separate sciences,
history and geography (big numbers with good results), Spanish, French (80
per cent expected to do one modern foreign language), art and design, dance,
drama, music and PE. Technical awards on offer in food and catering, design
technology and PE. Provides A level music teaching to neighbouring school
students.
Based on key stage 2 results, pupils are set in year 7 for core subjects,
French and humanities, extending to high ability musicians and able linguists
taking on a second modern foreign language in year 8, continuing in year 9.
Flexibility to move between sets, with advantage of smaller numbers for lower
sets. Dance, drama, music, art and food tech for all in year 8 - boys too, new
men in the making.
Two-week timetable and hour long lessons, have stuck to their guns in their
curriculum provision, which has seen them through the frequent changes in
government directives. Thorough tracking and monitoring, low churn of staff
who know pupils very well and set high expectations. Aspiring teachers
trained on the job through membership of the Yorkshire Teaching School
Alliance provide a pool of new talent. Forward thinking, part of the RISE
project, adopting tried and tested new research to improve teaching and
learning. Developing use of ICT in teaching and learning. Average class size
23; attractive displays in most classrooms, pupil’s art work eye catching.
We saw lots of well-behaved, engaged pupils with well-paced, inter-active,
teaching; intelligent discussion and independent learning encouraged. Good
pupil/teacher relationships, pupils feel their views are sought and listened to
with respect. Parents praised the commitment of the hard working staff. Gifted
and talented students identified and monitored, stretched and challenged;
senior management team mentor low achieving year 11s and a designated
progress leader co-ordinates mentoring in years 7, 8 and 9. Early morning

3. study clubs in the library for those need extra help.
Excellent, experienced assistant head, also the SENCo. Responsibilities
across the federation and working with external agencies in North Yorkshire,
sharing good practice. 46 pupils identified as SEN or SEN aware, covering a
broad spectrum of needs - strong on dyslexia awareness and support. The
school has ‘forensic conversations with primaries’ prior to admission so that
Year 7s with low literacy and numeracy levels are supported individually and
with paired reading – year 10 and 11 'buddies' do some and mentor them in
other ways.
Well resourced – numerous teaching assistants and the Learning Centre,
base for more intensive support, one-to-one for Y11s; also providing a refuge
for children who find the breaks difficult.
Games, options, the arts
Competitive sport is part of the school’s DNA with fixtures against state and
local independents as well as plenty of inter-house action. Impressive
success - in boys’ sports with rugby, currently year 7 East Yorkshire and year
10 North Yorkshire county champions; district success in cross-country; slam
dunk in basketball district cup competition, a clean sweep in every year group.
Matched by the girls winning all three, district netball cup competitions.
Hockey and football popular though played on grass - an all-weather surface
a pipe dream (matches played on nearby Lady Lumley’s). No complaints from
pupils, just accolades to the ground staff for the quality of the pitches. Less
traditional sports on the timetable as well – such as badminton, dodgeball and
indoor rowing, for everyone. Sports leadership qualification on offer in key
stage 4.
Smallish sportshall with climbing wall hall doubling up for assemblies, airy
fitness suite, hard courts dual marked for netball/tennis and several playing
fields. How do they maintain a sports focus and such success without
amazing facilities? ‘ Pride to be representing your school, winning the
prestigious Halifax trophy for your house and wanting to do well for yourself’
one boy told us. ‘Training is really good and we really build strong teams ’
said another. Seems a recipe for success, combined with committed staff
providing lots of extra-curricular practice, peer coaching, training with local
sports clubs and two hours a week at Ampleforth College facilities for year
11s.
Music a real high note in this school. A spacious main music room with banks
of computers, a professional standard recording studio and a panoply of
grand pianos. A quarter of pupils learn an instrument with excellent
examination results. Gold and silver awards in consecutive years for GCSE
performance from the Incorporated Society of Musicians puts Ryedale in top
100 schools nationally; 100 per cent pass rate in the associated examinations
with 25 per cent of distinctions, including two at grade eight. Such is their
reputation that pupils from Lady Lumley’s School come to the school to study
A level.

4. Informal musical collaboration filling the air in the music house in lunchtime
break, a delight to hear. Lots of performance opportunities with girls' chamber
choir, jazz band, rock groups, next biennial European tour has 66 pupils
performing in Rhineland Germany. A few pupils in North Yorkshire Schools’
Symphony Orchestra, one in the National Youth Brass Band and several in
the National Youth Choir.
Well-resourced performing arts with drama/dance studio – retractable seating
for small performances. Drama/dance timetabled for years 7 and 8, GCSE
drama and dance preparation for year 9 opt-ins, through years 10 and 11 – all
require kit of performing arts T shirt and tracky bottoms. Weekly drama clubs
and annual joint musical production involving large numbers of pupils, most
recently Sound of Music, Peter Pan, participation in Shakespeare Schools
Festival; links with Helmsley Arts Centre.
Excellent art produced in a spacious studio and used to great effect around
the school brightening up plain walls and injecting life into school corridors.
Well-equipped DT and bright green food tech rooms, appropriately located
next to the school ‘canteen’ (you can tell we’re in Yorkshire). A reasonable
take up at GCSE and the year 9 Bake Off Christmas Cake competition is
‘legendary’ according to one of our guides who practically drooled at the
memory.
Over 80 extra-curricular activities a week from subject support and sport
squad practice to green welly club gardening and computer programming.
D of E bronze and silver popular; end of summer term 2 days of enrichment
activities for all and annual residential trips for outdoor pursuits, history trips to
battlefields and Berlin and taster trip to London.
Background and atmosphere
Built in 1953 in down a country lane in the village of Nawton, surrounded by
fields and just a few houses in sight. Equidistant from Helmsley and
Kirbymoorside and half an hour away from Malton and Pickering, locations of
its nearest secondary school neighbours. Used to have own railway stop till
Beecham got busy with his axe – so a history of lunchtime activities, as there
is nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
Seen from the entrance the school presents rather plain and unfussy
buildings, flat beige stone, terracotta sloping roofs, seemingly from the ‘no
nonsense’ school of architecture. Softened by the circle of brightly coloured
flowers in the driveway, planted by the current head, a thoughtful gift from his
parents who chose a selection of bulbs that would flower from late winter to
early summer– so we were informed by a very appreciative and impressed
student tour guide.
Tucked away in a corner near the entrance is the Learning Centre, a
converted house providing a base for the SEN provision and the range of
interventions used to support pupil progress. Adjacent are the gardens,
vegetable beds and dipping pond that are managed by the science

5. department, home to the gardening club and community gardens for the
village.
The site is deep so it is impossible to immediately see all the buildings that
stretch either side of the campus towards the playing fields and sports pitches
and have the playgrounds are sandwiched between them. The different styles
of building mark the growth of the school and a further building is due to be
completed next year. This will provide an additional science laboratory, art
rooms and humanities classrooms, enabling the school to take a further 100
pupils and removing the geography prefab well past its sell by date.
No frills here but everywhere scrupulously clean and well ordered. Library is
well stocked and well used – no bookish stigma here. Lots of enticing fiction,
modern and classics, good selection of books on art and music, plus factual
books geared towards the interests of reluctant boy readers. Cafeteria
(canteen) offers a range of meals and snacks - a hot topic amongst parents
and resulted in a pledge from the school on quality and choice, underwritten
by the head always being the last man sitting on the lunch rota.
A noticeable level of quiet and calm on the corridors in contrast with the lively,
articulate and enthusiastic pupils we met who truly embody the school motto
Aspire and Achieve. Uniform policy strictly adhered to; school ties denote a
pupil’s status and place in the school, badges added for positions and
achievements –immediately visual to all.
Peer pressure being what it is, conformity is the maxim – there’s just a small
number of rebels here. Strong traditional values; manners maketh man and
woman believes the head, so doors are held open, litter picked up, top button
done up and misdemeanours owned up.
Twenty prefects appointed at the end of year 10, more added through year 11
if duties require. Active school council selected democratically feels its views
are regarded. Four committees covering teaching and learning, charities,
whole school issues, community and culture. Head boy and girl plus deputies
regularly attend some governing body meetings.
House system is key - lots of competitions organised by students and trophies
are fiercely contested. The academic challenge is self-evident, but there are
also plenty of opportunities for public speaking, charity events and community
involvement for those happy to take up the additional challenges on offer.
Pastoral care, well-being and discipline
‘Anything that effects young people in school we will deal with’ says the head
intent on ensuring school is a safe environment for its pupils – it works and is
much prized by pupils and parents. The mantra is to ‘pick up on the little
things early so they don’t become big issues’ and consistency is the keyword.
Starts with dress code conformity, top buttons checked when pupils see us
approaching, high presence of senior staff on the corridors at class
changeover and the head is on bus duty morning and evening.

6. Pupils are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their attitude,
behaviour and conduct and rise to the high standards expected, through
regular reinforcement. Bullying nipped in the bud, (policy is ‘not just lip
service’ said one parent); pupils tell us how they look out for the year below,
year 11 buddy year 7 whilst year 10 run a reading club with them. Zero
tolerance for cyberbullying; head finds showing screen shot to culprit in front
of parents an effective deterrent.
Strong pastoral support from a dedicated team for those needing additional
help and vulnerable children. Parents talked of the exceptional lengths taken
by staff to support their children when faced with family crises. Those
grappling with good organisation meet with teaching assistants first thing to
ensure a good start to the day; poor attendance investigated to find the root
cause; great care provided to those with SEN to ensure inclusivity.
Great care taken with transition from primary, starting from end of year 5,
when children and parents can attend an open evening at the school. In year
6 senior staff give presentations at feeder schools, assisted by year 7s.
Preceding their start, new pupils attend a literacy day in May and a taster day
in June when they learn their house and can start to buddy up with older
pupils rounded off by a new parents’ evening. Consequently the deputy head
prides herself on knowing every pupil and their family – highly valued by the
school community.
Parents tell us that most staff return calls swiftly, parents are taken seriously,
our concerns addressed and we are kept informed of outcomes’. Progress
tracking reports termly , well organised parent evenings and an annual report
receive a high rating. Communication consensus ‘good after recent
improvements’ and what is really liked is that the school ‘holds its hand up if it
gets it wrong’. E-mail and texting works well; termly newsletter and parent
forum appreciated.
Pupils and parents
Mainly from Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside, also from village primary schools
in a large area of the North Yorks Moors National Park and surrounding
countryside. Over 30 per cent from outside catchment area, such is its
reputation. Mainly white middle class – very few ethnic minority, EAL or FSM.
The pupils we met were a delight – intelligent, articulate, reflective, clearly
making the most of their school experience. Immensely proud of their school
and their contribution to its reputation and achievements, there is a strong
community spirit – though of course size does help. Notable old pupils:
England cricketer Daniel Broadbent and the band, One Night Only.
Active, hard working and supportive PTA have taken on the mantle of grant
applications and fund raising for the new building. Parents full of praise for
school, particularly for the commitment and care by the staff, speedy
resolution of problems, discipline and mentoring. Their main wish is for a full
range of A levels on site as they feel Ryedale is so much better than the other
state schools in the area; initial hesitation on the federation and fears of a shift

7. in focus for the senior team, so far unfounded.
Entrance
Standard admissions process through county authority. Admissions number
has now increased to 140 for years 7, 8 and 9. Catchment federated primaries
in Helmsley, Kirbymoorside and Sinnington and other feeder schools in
Ampleforth, Nawton, Gillamoor, Hovingham and Chop Gate, though over 30
percent of intake come from out of catchment.
Exit
Most to further education, eg sixth forms at Malton and Lady Lumley Schools,
Ripon Grammar and York College; 5 – 8 percent to independent schools; a
few straight into employment.
Our view
Rightly deserved accolades from pupils and parents for this high performing
secondary school in a rural setting. There is tremendous pride and loyalty to
the school which is constantly looking to improve, by adopting new pedagogy
and technology, yet holding firm to its strong, traditional ethos, Pupils leave
with a strong moral compass and their success across a spectrum of
academic, sporting and artistic pursuits truly demonstrates their ability to
aspire and achieve.