Lancing College

Since September 2025, Scott Crawford, previously deputy head of Magdalen College School since 2018. Before that, he was at Highgate for nine years, where he was housemaster, head of biology and head of science. BA in biological sciences from Oxford;

Academically selective (although slightly less so than some local rivals) with 100+ places on offer at 13+, around 30 per cent coming from school’s own preps at Hove and Worthing. Entrance via Pre-Test, assessed in year 6, or for some, year 7. All

In some years, up to a third leave after GCSEs, but school insists it doesn’t cull. ‘We have an academic bar, but it’s administered humanely. If you take someone at 13, you have a duty to look after them.’ At 18, over half to Russell Group

In 2025, 62 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 52 per cent A*/A at A level (79 per cent A*-B).

Average class size remains around 18, smaller in sixth form, and the focus is on ‘learning to learn’. School aims to maintain a balance between academic challenge and the wider development of character. Parents approve: ‘It’s not all about the

Much parent praise for ‘amazing’ SEN team consisting of one fully qualified SENCo, a specialist assessor and teacher, plus two part-time STEM teachers. ‘Really experienced’, ‘accessible’, ‘knowledgeable’ were among the accolades from those whose

With around 200+ activities on the co-curricular programme, there’s ‘something for all’, as one parent put it. Pupils say that ‘finding something you like to do’ is one of the school’s strengths and with such an array on offer, we can see why.

‘Not just for the gifted,’ said a parent of non-sporty child, a sentiment shared by most pupils and parents we chatted to; ‘very inclusive’ seemed the overall picture. A lone concern that ‘it could be frustrating for really sporty types’ was

Very much a boarding school with nearly 70 per cent full boarding across the 10 boarding houses (five boys’ houses, four girls’, one co-ed) all dotted around the historic campus. House choices are decided by the school prior to entry, although

‘Children always come first,’ stresses school, which believes in academic excellence but feels ‘children are not cogs in a machine’. They told us they don't want Lancing to attract a type, saying, ‘It’s okay to be quirky.’ Pupils agree: ‘This is a

School keen not to ‘attract a type’, and it shows. A wonderfully diverse mix of international pupils (30 per cent), Sussex-based families, and 15 per cent from London and farther afield. Handy school bus to London at weekends. Very much a boarding

Around a third on some level of financial assistance; Foundationer Programme provides fully funded places. Scholarships (up to 10 per cent off fees) can be topped up via a means-tested bursary and are only available to UK students. Year 12s can apply

There’s something special about Lancing, where tradition results in subtle transformation and the ‘right level of pressure’ yields both academic and personal success. ‘The school is excellent at finding something a child is good at,’ declared a