Skip to main content

What says..

Children put on their boiler suits at break time and head into the woods to play, and can climb trees to the height of the tallest teacher – the headmaster strikes a balance with health and safety. Who needs a climbing frame when a fallen tree is much more fun? Everyone needed for matches and the less sporty have to take part. This gives all children a chance to shine – ‘my daughter was never really interested in sport but has had to take part and now she really enjoys it – that would never have...

Read review »

What the school says...

Great Ballard is situated in the heart of the South Downs National Park and our beautiful location provides an inspiring space to learn. As well as our acres of playing fields and natural woodlands, our modern teaching spaces, including science and computer labs, an art and design centre and a performing arts studio, buzz with creativity. From the swimming pool to the cookery hub and from our Forest School base to the Music suite our teachers are passionate about their subjects and committed to our hands on learning approach.

Great Ballard prides itself on its friendly, family atmosphere. We understand that the opportunity to feel part of the community and form friendships is important for the whole family and we run a variety of events throughout the year to showcase the students’ learning and welcome families to participate in school life. Our flexible bus routes, after school care and activities and the popular breakfast club, all help our parents with their busy lifestyles. While our affordable fee structure and loyalty discounts, make Great Ballard a great choice!

In September 2021, we extended our provision to Year 9 and continue to expand every year until 2023 so that we can offer students an excellent education from nursery to GCSE. Throughout every stage of school, our small class sizes, academic monitoring, outstanding pastoral care and forward-thinking curriculum ensure our students have the best foundations to flourish.

If you would like to find out more about what makes us great, we would love the opportunity to show you round.
...Read more

Do you know this school?

The schools we choose, and what we say about them, are founded on parents’ views. If you know this school, please share your views with us.

Please login to post a comment.

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since September 2020, Matthew King. Previously at Framlingham College Prep in Suffolk, part of a 30-year stint in various preps. This is a welcome return to West Sussex for Matthew and his family; he grew up in the area, attending Hurstpierpoint College, played cricket for Sussex Under 19s and enjoyed his first taste of headship at Pennthorpe School in Rudgwick, where his parents still reside. Studied history at Nottingham and began his career in Dorset where he became head of history, drama and computing aged just 22.

A keen sportsman, football fan, playwright, musician, swimmer and hiker, he is an enthusiastic all-rounder and an ISI inspector. Married to Emily, with whom he has three children.

Entrance

Almost non-selective – all have a taster day with informal assessments when teachers look at behaviour, confidence...

Subscribe now for instant access to read The Good Schools Guide review.

Already subscribed? Login here.

Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Special Education Needs

Our school has an established Learning Support Department that also works with parents and outside agencies to support children and any others within the school who have need. We cater for children from Nursery through to Year 11 (ages 2.5 - 16). The majority of the students on our LS register have dyslexic difficulties, or difficulties that come under that umbrella. All children are seen as individuals who make up part of a large family which is the school.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL) Y
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

Subscribe for instant access to in-depth reviews:

☑ 30,000 Independent, state and special schools in our parent-friendly interactive directory
☑ Instant access to in-depth UK school reviews
☑ Honest, opinionated and fearless independent reviews of over 1,000 schools
☑ Independent tutor company reviews

Try before you buy - The Charter School Southwark

Buy Now

GSG Blog >

The Good Schools Guide newsletter

Educational insight in your inbox. Sign up for our popular newsletters.