Lancing Prep Worthing A GSG School
- Lancing Prep Worthing
Broadwater Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN14 8HU - Head: Mrs Francesca Milling
- T 01903 201123
- F 01903 821777
- E [email protected]
- W www.lancingcollege.co.uk/
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 2 to 13.
- Read about the best schools in West Sussex
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: West Sussex
- Pupils: 216
- Religion: None
- Fees: £10,620 - £14,595 pa
- Open days: October, February and May
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Lancing Prep Hove, Lancing College
What The Good Schools Guide says..
The annual musical is open to all abilities and is a great confidence builder - ‘my son was too scared to say a word in public and now has a major speaking part in the school play,’ said a mother. Supportive group of parents - mostly hard working professionals who want to be part of their children’s lives. They have chosen the school for its small size where their children can be happy as well as academically challenged. ‘It is a major part of our lives and home and school have morphed into one’, said a parent...
What the school says...
Formerly Broadwater Manor School, Lancing Prep Worthing joined the Lancing College family of schools in 2014 and our pupils regularly share the wonderful sporting facilities, and cultural and learning opportunities that the College offers on its magnificent campus some six miles away.
Our broad and balanced curriculum is enriched with high quality creative and physical activities to provide a vibrant learning environment. In working and playing together, our pupils develop a sense of service to each other, and the world beyond the school gates, which will characterise their future lives.
We aims to provide every child in our care with an excellent all-round education. We have small classes, dedicated teachers and outstanding pastoral care. In the classroom children flourish; they are able to achieve their potential in an enriching and very positive environment. We have high expectations and nurtures a love of learning which we hope will last a lifetime. ...Read more
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since September 2023, Francesca Milling, previously deputy head and before that, head of PSHEE, having originally joined the school in 2014. BSc in food science and microbiology and MA in education. Her work at the school inspired her MA research project which explored primary headteachers’ perceptions of the affordances, barriers and future challenges to personal, social, health and economic education. She has taught from year 2-13 in a variety of schools including a large inner-city comprehensive, a secondary academy, a Catholic middle school and a community secondary school. She is PSHEE subject advisor for IAPS. She enjoys running half marathons and walking on the South Downs with husband, daughter and three dogs.
Entrance
Non-selective as long as the school can cope with a child’s needs. Cognitive ability tests (CAT) for entry into year 7 used to indicate the progression required for a pupil to join Lancing College in year 9. The main entry points are pre-school (3+), year 3 and year 7, but will take children into any year where there are spaces.
Exit
Nearly all to Lancing College; just two elsewhere in 2023. Rest recently to Wells Cathedral and Roedean. Worth, Eastbourne College, Seaford College, Our Lady of Sion, Hurstpierpoint College, Brighton College, Christ’s Hospital and The Towers sometimes feature. Very few leave at 11+. Scholarships most years (15 in 2023).
Our view
Formerly known as Broadwater Manor, the school was founded in 1930 with five boys. It grew steadily and in 1968 opened the pre-prep and started admitting girls. The nursery was opened in 1981. It joined the Lancing family of schools in 2014 and became known as Lancing College Prep at Worthing, and is now very much a first choice school for parents.
It is set in a wisteria-clad Georgian manor house in two acres of grounds in the Broadwater area of Worthing. The school has managed to cram a lot into a small space and it has its own sports field, cricket nets and recently resurfaced netball courts, as well as a small sports hall. ‘Lancing College has spent a fortune since they bought the school – it has been rewired and generally spruced up,’ said a parent.
The multi-purpose hall is used for assemblies, concerts and art exhibitions and doubles up as the dining room. The Foundation Library opened in 2017 is a bright, welcoming space with green furniture, beanbags and masses of books. All children encouraged to read through the Drop Everything and Read scheme (DEAR).
The pre-prep is very much part of the school with bright airy classrooms. The nursery is more self-contained and most but not all the children move on to the pre-prep. They have their own nursery garden fenced with giant pencils but have lunch in the main hall.
Average class size is 14 and while not quite there yet, the school is aiming for two classes of 16 per year – big enough to challenge in class but small enough to give everyone enough time. Foreign languages a particular strength and reception and year 1 offered tasters in French, Spanish and German; they start French in year 2. Latin from year 4 and in year 7 children can choose to study either French, German or Spanish. Older children now take part in the modern foreign language programme at Lancing College reintroducing Spanish and German alongside French. Science is taught in old-fashioned labs in the former cricket pavilion – soon due for refurbishment. All are set in core subjects from year 6 and in all subjects in years 7 and 8. Potential scholars taught separately in year 8. ‘The school is brilliant at bringing out hidden talents and will stretch or support as necessary’, said a parent.
Everyone screened for dyslexia and bright dyslexics do well here but must have the desire to achieve, says school. One full-time SENCo and a teaching assistant who helps with in class support. About 10 children have one-to-one help in a range of subjects. ‘Any learning difficulties are picked up quickly and dealt with,’ said a parent. Not much call for EAL help but school can provide it if required.
‘The school punches above its weight in sport,’ says school. Senior children play most of their games and matches at the college. Boys play football, hockey and cricket but not contact rugby. The girls play hockey, netball and rounders and sometimes mixed football and hockey. Swimming from nursery upwards at the college and tennis played at a local club. Inclusive approach to matches and everyone has the chance to play in a team if they want. Football particularly strong and players have been signed for Brighton and Portsmouth.
Music is important to the school, which it claims 'buzzes with music and children are excited by the opportunities.’ Music taught from nursery upwards and the new director of music is a classical clarinettist who makes music fun; she has increased the range of lessons in woodwind, brass and guitar and has introduced voice and percussion. There are many musical opportunities including junior and senior choir, and most children have the opportunity to perform either in the annual musical, in termly soirées or in the pre-prep summer concert.
A new and shiny drama studio in the grounds was given to the school by a generous benefactor. The annual musical is open to all abilities and is a great confidence builder - ‘my son was too scared to say a word in public and now has a major speaking part in the school play,’ said a mother. Masterclasses are held at the college and a visiting drama teacher prepares children for LAMDA exams, and almost all get distinctions. Numerous opportunities to stand up in public: children can read at the big services at the college and at the weekly eucharist service, they can lead assemblies and can take part in poetry reading competitions and in the Worthing Festival as well as the Strictly Come Historical Dancing competition.
Vibrant art department – children were making shoes out of clay when we visited and many get art scholarships to the senior school.
Pastoral care has always been strong. ‘An ethos of kindness pervades the school,’ said a mother. There is a palpable family feel, staff know the children well and any problems are sorted out quickly. There is also a sense of fun: ‘we laugh a lot here and children and staff laugh together,’ says school. There is always someone to talk to - the first port of call is the form tutor and the senior master has overall responsibility for pastoral care. Good manners are important; children stand up when an adult comes into the room and staff and pupils eat together at lunchtime. Lancing is part of the Woodard Foundation which educates children in a broadly Christian community with a strong moral framework and a sense of service to others. Each house comes up with innovative ways of raising money for their chosen charity which include Open Arms, Malawi, The British Red Cross, The Snowdrop Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Children are taught about food and nutrition in PSHE and can learn to cook as part of culinary activities. Popular food and nutrition activity for year 8s culminates in a formal dinner for parents cooked by their children.
All children have a cultural passport where they set out their goals and ambitions - maybe speaking in assembly, reading a particular book or helping someone less fortunate than themselves.
Supportive group of parents - mostly hard working professionals who want to be part of their children’s lives. They have chosen the school for its small size where their children can be happy as well as academically challenged. ‘It is a major part of our lives and home and school have morphed into one’, said a parent. Active parents' group the LPW Association runs the Christmas and summer fairs and raises money for extras like the third generation day – an annual event designed to give the children such happy memories that they will pass them on to their grandchildren; recent third generation days include an outing to Kidzania in London, a code-breaking day designed to rescue the bursar who had been ‘kidnapped’ and a Harry Potter day when the college allowed owls in the dining room and Quidditch in the lower quad.
Very supportive of working parents with wraparound care from 8am to 6pm and holiday clubs and a minibus service which also stops at Lancing College.
The last word
The school describes itself as a ‘happy thriving community of learning – an academic school where children want to do well.’ ‘Teachers really care and go the extra mile,’ said a parent.
Special Education Needs
Lancing Prep Worthing offers support to pupils with dyslexia or mild forms of other special needs. We have a part time SENCO who is supported by two learning support assistants. Children may be supported in class or withdrawn for some individual or small group work.
Leavers' destinations
School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lancing College | 2023 | 23 | 15 | |
Worth School | 2023 | 1 |
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