Forest School Leader

Ardingly College is a thriving independent co-educational school offering an outstanding all-through education to over a thousand children in a beautiful part of West Sussex, with excellent transport links locally and across the South-East.

The Prep School has over 220 pupils from Reception to Year 6, as well as a Nursery. Reception and KS1 are based in the Farmhouse, and Years 3-6 in the main school building, School House. The Prep School lives and breathes the values of Shaping My World, through which primary aged children learn to explore the world around them in ways that are adventurous, curious, generous, and ingenious.

The Senior School has over 800 students from 11-18, 300 of whom are boarders. The curriculum is designed to be broad and stimulating, with over 25 subjects offered and a choice of A Level, IB Diploma or BTEC courses in the Sixth Form. The values of the school are centred on kindness, respect, and positive engagement, with students encouraged to balance their own interests with those of the communities in which they study and live.

The wellbeing and welfare of our students is paramount, with a strong emphasis on pastoral support provided through house staff, the Health & Wellbeing Centre and additional pastoral support such as the Chaplain, DSL, and Mental Health Lead. The curriculum is broad and balanced, enabling all students to participate in sports, creative and performing arts and a wide-ranging Enrichment Programme. Through their learning and experiences both inside and beyond the classroom, students are able to complete each stage of their education successfully and become ready for the next stage of their lives beyond school.

Academic results are high and have been on an upward trajectory since 2015. Results in 2022 (the first year of exams since the pandemic) were at record levels, with an IB Diploma average of 40 points and 98% of A Level candidates gaining grades between A*-C. At GCSE, over 90% achieved between grades 9-6, among whom 34 scored all 9s and 8s.

In the most recent ISI inspection of educational quality in 2018 the College was judged excellent for both pupil achievement and personal development and in 2021 the College passed all elements of the Regulatory Compliance Inspection.

The College offers an outstanding range of co-curricular activities and has a proud tradition of participation and achievement. In sports, pupils compete successfully at local, regional, and national levels in the main sports of football, hockey, swimming, netball, cricket, and athletics. Music, Art, and Drama are particularly strong, with exciting events such as concerts at school and in professional music venues, devised and scripted drama performances and exhibitions both by talented art scholars and give-it-a-go artists among the pupil and staff population.

Partnership is integral to the College ethos. Within school this applies to the partnership between teachers and operations staff to maintain excellent standards and quality of provision across the campus. Beyond the school gates, we work with a range of primary and prep schools as well as supporting the local community through voluntary action and working with schools abroad in Africa and Asia. The College operates a bursary programme which currently supports over 30 pupils with substantial or full fee remission.

Campus facilities are excellent, with considerable recent investment in the College campus bringing it up to the highest school standards. Recent additions include a new STEM faculty and upgrades to classrooms, as well as major refurbishments of boarding and day houses.  A new café and dance studio were opened in 2021 and new Lower School and a third day boys house in 2022.