Cambian Spring Hill School

Specialist school for children with Autism in North Yorkshire

Palace Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3HN

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Cambian Spring Hill School is a 38 - 52 week residential and day school for children and young people aged 8-19 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, associated challenging behaviours, learning and communication difficulties and complex needs.

The school provides education and care through a mixture of individualised programmes and a broad curriculum to learn, progress and work towards each student’s personal best. Learning opportunities are provided to facilitate personal aspirations, celebrate success and work towards a meaningful transition into the adult world. There is a focus on personal development especially of independence, social communication, community participation and engagement with employability differentiated to each student’s needs and strengths. Students can access a wide variety of work experience opportunities to develop their practical skills including retail, horticulture, administration, construction, animal care and IT.

Spring Hill School has a very strong range of clinical and therapeutic support on site which focuses on proactively supporting each student’s complex needs. We provide an environment where multidisciplinary support is key to ensuring outstanding outcomes for our students.

Spring Hill School is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of all children and young people in school. All North Yorkshire schools, including, Spring Hill School, follow the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures. The school will, normally, endeavour to discuss all concerns with parents about their child/ren. However, there may be exceptional circumstances when the school will discuss concerns with Social Care and/or the Police without parental knowledge (in accordance with Child Protection procedures). The school will, of course, always aim to maintain a positive relationship with all parents. The school’s child protection policy is available publicly via our website.

May have one or more of the following:

  • Mixed gender, ages 8-19
  • Primary diagnosis of Autism
  • Complex needs
  • Challenging behaviour
  • Learning difficulties
  • History of placement breakdowns
  • Has an Education, Health & Care Plan

Student Outcomes

We love to speak about stories of success and the brilliant work our team do. Success can be measured in many different ways and our goal is to support the students in our care and bring out the best in them.

All of our 2025 leavers successfully went onto the college or apprenticeship of their choice!

View the academic and social results from the last year:

The school prioritises building strong relationships with pupils. It strives to understand pupils and their often complex individual needs. This contributes to a calm learning environment where pupils behave well. Pupils are happy here. Pupils and their families appreciate the ways in which the school supports them to develop, both academically and personally

Ofsted Education Report, 2025

Meet the team

Our Team includes: Specialist Teachers, Learning Support Assistants, Residential Support Workers, Waking Night Attendants, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, a Therapy Assistant, a Qualified SENCO, a Specialist Occupational Therapist,a Mental Health Practitioner and On-site Domestic and Estates Teams.

Team Member image

Samantha Price

Principal

Team Member image

Caroline Day

Vice Principal and English Lead

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Carlie Moran

DSL, Transitions & Admissions Co-ordinator

Team Member image

Emma Heyes

Assistant Vice Principal and SENCO

Governance Board

Termly Governance Board meetings are held at Spring Hill School to ensure that the management of the school is closely scrutinised and held to account in all areas of responsibility.

The agenda comprises of:

  •  Voice of the Child - student feedback

  • Head Teachers Highlight Report outlining achievements and challenges and progress against school improvement report

  • Outcomes for Children and Young People - Care

  • Outcomes for Children and Young People - Education

  • Outcomes for Children and Young People - Therapy

  • Commercial Performance

  • Staffing and Personnel

  • Estates Report

  • IT report

The Governance Board contain key individuals from outside and within the school who attend this meeting each term and parental and staff feedback is always welcomed.

The Proprietor

The proprietor of the school is Farouq Sheikh, Chair of the CareTech Board.

The representative of the Proprietor of the school, whose address for correspondence during both term times and holidays, is: Andrew Sutherland, Director of Education, 4th Floor, Parkview, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge UB8 1UX.

Enquire about Spring Hill School

School and College Enquiries

Enquire about a place at one of our schools or colleges, arrange visit or ask a question about one of our services in the form below and one of our friendly team will be in touch.

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