Ardingly College A GSG School
- Ardingly College
College Road
Ardingly
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6SQ - Head: Ben Figgis
- T 01444 893000
- F 01444 893001
- E [email protected]
- W www.ardingly.com
- Ardingly College is an English independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 13 to 18, located near Ardingly, West Sussex. Educating around 600 pupils, there is also a linked junior school. It was founded as St Saviour’s College in 1858 by Nathaniel Woodward.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: West Sussex
- Pupils: 586; sixth formers: 261
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £23,985; Boarding £34,935 pa
- Open days: Open Mornings take place each term.
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Ardingly College Prep School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
'There’s a section attack on the headmaster’s field this afternoon,’ she added enthusiastically, as a cannon was wheeled into the quad. Feels a bit like a university campus, with boarding houses reached by a path through a tranquil bluebell-lined woodland glade. There’s no held breath tension in the corridors here: pupils are relaxed and happy, with an outward looking politeness. It’s not a leap to your feet school, but there was a…
What the school says...
Ardingly College is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2-18. Situated between London and Brighton on a beautiful 230-acre campus, in West Sussex, it is only 25 minutes from Gatwick Airport and there is a school bus to transport the weekly boarders from London.
Ardingly College is quintessentially English so one could be forgiven for thinking that it takes a traditional approach to teaching. However, Ardingly College is forward-thinking: pushing boundaries and offering unique enrichment opportunities. We find in each child something they are good at, so they grow in confidence and in turn happiness. When they leave us they are comfortable in their own skin and able to say they are ‘World-Ready’.
Results 2019
Over half of A Level entries achieved the top grade of A* or A.
Over three-quarters of IB Diploma entries achieved the top grade of 7 or 6.
100% of university applicants gained entry to their first or second choice university.
Top 50 A Level ranking among UK independent schools
Top 10 IB ranking among UK independent schools
Top 20 IB worldwide ranking
We are delighted to attract both top performers and also late bloomers who have a strong work ethic and apply a good attitude to school. We work together to nurture both academic ability and outstanding life skills to build future success beyond school and nearly every student seeking a place at university is successful. ...Read more
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Curricula
International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.
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
Rowing
Fencing
Shooting
Sailing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2014, Ben Figgis MA (Cantab), married to Joanna. Previously deputy head at Oakham, and was history teacher, housemaster and head of boarding at Abingdon. Before taking up teaching had a life in media, which he left after concerns about the ethical compromises involved in newsgathering. Keen to provide pupils with a modern education, and a world view. Enrichment is a word which comes up a lot – an interest and excitement in subjects is as important as achieving a particular grade.
Pupils are very enthusiastic about the head and say he’s ‘balanced’. Described by a parent as ‘approachable’; she said her children all really like him.
Academic matters
In 2019, 71 per cent A*-A/9-7 grades at GCSE. Subjects are almost uniformly excellent, with sciences and maths being popular high performers, and humanities...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
The Learning Support Department offers individual lessons for pupils who have a mild specific learning difficulty. All pupils however must be able to cope in the classroom without individual Learning Assistant support.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | Y |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | Y |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| 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 | Y |
| 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 |
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Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardingly College Prep School | 2018 | Majority to the senior school | ||
| Ashdown House School | 2018 | 2 | 2 | |
| Cumnor House Sussex | 2018 | 2 | 2 | Drama Scholarship; Headmaster's Award |
| St John's College School | 2018 | 1 | 2 | Art Scholarship; Academic Scholarship |
| Thomas's Clapham | 2019 | 2 | ||
| Vinehall School | 2018 | 2 | 3 | Sports Scholarships (2); Academic Scholarship |
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