Great Ballard School A GSG School

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 and integration. Entry from year 3 is via spelling, reading and non-verbal reasoning tests and references from the child’s current school. If the child has learning difficulties the school will ask for a more formal assessment with the head of learning support. Most join in nursery or reception, with other entry points in years 3, 7 and 9, although it's possible at any time, even mid-term, if there are spaces. All new children are paired up with a buddy to help them settle in. School now goes up to 16, and has doubled in size as a result - first year 9 class started in September 2021, and first year 11 class started in September 2023.

Exit

The school has formed partnerships with local colleges and sixth form providers to ensure best fit for next steps. Seaford College has been the most popular recently, with others off to Lancing College, Portsmouth Grammar, Hurstpierpoint College, St John’s College, Southsea. Very few children leave at 11+.

Latest results

The first cohort of year 11s will take their GCSEs in 2023.

Teaching and learning

Single-form year groups throughout the school with a wide range of abilities in each class and an emphasis on personalised learning and care for all, where effort is valued equally with achievement. ‘Expectations are high both in and out of the classroom, but in a nurturing and encouraging way,’ said a parent.

Average class size is 12-13 with a maximum of 18, often with setting for maths and English in the larger classes. Children gradually introduced to testing - exams at the end of every term from year 6 means they are well prepared for scholarship exams in year 8 (pre-senior baccalaureate has replaced CE) or GCSEs in year 11. The more able children are stretched and those aiming for academic scholarships take extra science and maths as an activity. Children are encouraged to discuss current affairs and to take an interest in the world beyond the school. Cooking is part of the curriculum – ‘We love it when we can eat our own prep,’ say the children.

Average age of staff dropping due to natural fallout and is now late 30s. Several new heads of department have reinvigorated the school and nearly half the prep school teachers are men. All staff get involved in clubs and activities.

Well-established forest school for all year groups where children can build dens, make mud sculptures, learn crafts and toast marshmallows over a campfire as well as learn about the natural world.

Learning support and SEN

Ongoing standard assessments for dyslexia, and any learning difficulties picked up early and support put in place. Full time SENCo and part time assistant as well as a teacher who is trained in SEN, and school can cope with a broad spectrum of difficulties.

The arts and extracurricular

Music increasingly important, especially singing, and all have to sing in one of the three choirs until year 5 – director of music is a semi-professional singer. ‘We love singing,' said a pupil, 'and hymn practice is such fun.’ Children take part in the Young Voices school choir concert at the O2 and in the Chichester Festival and sing at the Christmas carol concert as well as lots of informal concerts and performances in assemblies. Growing numbers learning an instrument and there are now two percussion ensembles and other instrumental groups, and children can compose their own music on a suite of computers.

Dance, including ballet, tap and Zumba, popular, and school has its own dance and drama studio in the main house. Weekly drama lessons from year 3, annual prep school musical and the pre-prep has its nativity play and termly concerts. Many take LAMDA exams and all are confident to stand up in public by the time they leave.

Busy art department with its own kiln – it was van Gogh term when we visited so there were sunflowers everywhere and year 8 had made some fine sculptures of their heads. Artists who show potential are singled out for extra lessons in the evenings and usually stay the night afterwards - the school gets at least one art scholarship each year.

Good range of clubs after school and on Saturday mornings - gym, dance and sport are the most popular. Much interaction and collaboration between year groups through sport and activities, reinforced by the keen competition between the three houses – Romans, Spartans and Trojans.

Year 7 trip to France and the year 8 outdoor pursuits to Dorset after Common Entrance. Children also get involved with fundraising in the local community and support charities including St Wilfred’s Hospice, Chestnut House and the Stone Pillow, a charity for local homeless people.

Sport

Indoor heated swimming pool, an Astro and tennis courts with playing fields at the top of the hill with views to the coast. Everyone included for matches. This gives all children a chance to shine – ‘My daughter was never really interested in sport but now she really enjoys it – that would never have happened in a larger school.’

Ethos and heritage

The school was founded in 1924 in New Milton in Hampshire and – following moves to Stowell Park in Gloucestershire during the war and 12 years in Camberley – it moved to its current location at Eartham House in 1961. Built in 1743 as a summer retirement house, the main building was remodelled by Edwin Lutyens in 1905 and is set in 30 acres within the South Downs national park – you couldn’t really imagine a more wonderful place to grow up. It still has the atmosphere of a family country house, complete with a large teddy bear in the hall and a cannon in the garden. The headmaster’s study is an elegant drawing room and only the prefects are allowed to walk down the sweeping staircase.

Most of the classrooms are in purpose-built cabins in the garden and are all light and airy. The gym is used for assemblies, concerts and school plays and can accommodate the whole school. To cater for the increasing number of pupils (now that the school goes up to 16), the school now has more classrooms, a new science lab and a new art and design centre.

The school is owned by Sue Jay whose father, John Chedzoy, rescued it from almost certain closure in 1990, when it was the only school in the area that would accept her child, who had a disability. Her son joins her on the board of directors and Sue is involved with the day-to-day life of the school.

Pre-prep and nursery have their own buildings with an enclosed play area and are very much part of the school and use the grounds, forest school, swimming pool, cookery room and other facilities. Pre-Prep follow a curriculum with a heavy emphasis on STEAM, and their weekly timetable includes lessons with specialised science, music and sports teachers.

Elegant dining room lined with honours boards and shields and children’s artwork. Cafeteria system with lots of choice – staff eat with children to supervise table manners, the chefs know every child and everyone we spoke to praised the home cooked food. ‘It’s the only school where my child hasn’t complained about the food,’ said a parent.

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. Who needs a climbing frame when a fallen tree is much more fun? An outdoorsy school where children can go mountain biking on the downs and sail and kayak nearby, and there's a whole-school camping adventure in the grounds every summer. ‘Children can be children for longer here without the outside pressures,’ said a parent.

Alumni include actress Honeysuckle Weeks of Foyle’s War fame; naval officer Captain Nick Cooke-Priest OBE; professional cricket coach Julien Fountain; former British defence attaché, Patrick Tootal. Michael Morpurgo taught here in the 1960s.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

‘The great strength of the school is the tight-knit community and the strong pastoral care,’ said a parent. ‘Everyone knows each other and the older children naturally look out for the younger ones.’ There are clear rules and boundaries, and an emphasis on respect, good manners and consideration for others means bullying is rare, and when it happens it is dealt with immediately. Cyber issues carefully monitored; years 5 and 6 take part in an e-safety workshop with a follow-up session offered to parents. There is always someone to talk to, staff, peers or an external ‘listening ear’. Emphasis on well-being and mindfulness for senior pupils. Staff know whole families well and ‘support and nurture them in everything they do,’ said a parent. ‘My daughter settled in immediately and has never been happier – I wish we had found the school earlier,’ said a mother.

Pupils and parents

Parents mainly local professionals from a 20-mile radius. Active parents' group organises events like the Christmas fair, summer fête and Easter cake decorating. ‘Parents have lots of opportunities to be involved but there needs to be a balance,’ says school. The school runs a minibus service and is very accommodating of working parents with breakfast club, after-school clubs and tea club. After-school care till 6pm; the nursery is open all year and older children can join activity camps here during the holidays.

The last word

A charming small school in an idyllic location where children have the freedom and space to grow up slowly. The last time we reviewed the school, the only complaint we could elicit from any parents was that children cannot stay there until they are 16 – and now they can.

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.