Ardingly College
Ardingly College is a co-ed boarding and day school in West, Sussex, educating pupils aged 2 - 18 and founded in 1858. Boarding fees are £12,205 - £17,547 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 11 - 18
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Ardingly College
The story, ethos and character of Ardingly College.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Mr Ben Figgis
Ardingly College, situated on a 240-acre campus with extensive facilities in the beautiful Sussex countryside in the UK, fosters a nurturing environment where every student is encouraged to discover their individual strengths. We are conveniently located just 15 minutes from London Gatwick airport, 40 minutes from London on the train and around a 1-hour drive from London Heathrow airport.
Our mission is to enable each student to reach their full academic and personal potential, equipping them to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Students tailor their academic path to match their abilities and interests, focusing on core subjects like Maths, English, and Science.
We offer a choice of A-levels or IB in the Sixth Form (with some BTEC options too) and provide a one-year International Academic Pathway for students aged 11 to 13 who need English .
We believe pastoral care is the most important thing we do; after all, if a teenager isn't happy they won't achieve their full potential. Our small pastoral and robust structures ensure that every pupil is recognised as an individual and no one is overlooked.
Each student's House, overseen by dedicated staff, becomes their supportive home throughout their time at Ardingly. Students at Ardingly College enjoy a rich co-curricular programme, with over 150 activities on offer including a huge range of Music, Dance and Drama options, as well as 25+ different sports.
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Academics at Ardingly College
What pupils study at Ardingly College — and where it takes them.
that may not have been available at their previous schools, or to experience how subjects would be delivered in a more senior school focused setting. In addition to the subjects, students are also able to develop a range of skills such as Information Technology and research skills in addition to the awareness that they develop through the PSHE programme.
The Year 7-9 curriculum is a vibrant, exciting and effective programme designed to challenge and inspire students, who without the constraints of Common Entrance are able to develop both a love of learning and the skills required to excel at GCSE.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
The vast majority of Sixth Formers at Ardingly progress from the College to university, be that in the UK or overseas.100% of our students wishing to go to university got into their first or second choice university and 81% of the total leavers cohort gained places at competitive Russell group universities. UCL, Exeter, Warwick, Nottingham, Manchester and Birmingham were among the most popular destinations.
Oxbridge also was as usual popular for our top students. IBFirm Choice 92%Firm or Insurance 100%Overseas 31%Russell Group 96%Gap Year 10%A level Firm 88%Firm/ Insurance 100%Overseas 2%Russell Group 68%Gap Year 3%Combined Firm 91%Firm/ Insurance 100%Overseas 11%Russell Group 81%Gap Year 5%Sixth Formers are supported through specialist advice from the Head of Sixth Form and a team of dedicated UCAS tutors who provide personalised guidance to help students select and apply to university.
For those looking to apply to college in North America, there is a specialist advisor who acts as their counsellor during the complex process. Entry to the US system in the main also requires candidates to submit test scores, and students are able to select to take part in an evening ACT preparation course.
During the course of the year there are a number of higher education-focused events, talks and fairs to students in their application. These events see representatives from a wide range of British and overseas universities visit the campus, enabling students to discover more about the options available to them first hand from members of the admissions team.
For those interested in Oxbridge and Medical applications, there are also a range of dedicated options within the Enrichment Programme to prepare them for this process. Careers Guidance - Ardingly
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Ardingly College
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Ardingly College.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 2, Mixed 2
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
is structured to complement academic studies as well as providing a fun, sociable, nurturing, caring, and enriching experience. Boarding is a stepping stone to independence, and an opportunity for students to learn to take care of themselves before gaining full independence at university.
Our focus at the beginning of the year is settling in, and this is achieved quickly through house socials and team-building events. It does not take long for new boys and girls to become fully immersed in school life and develop a strong sense of belonging.
A genuine home away from home
Houses are central to the Main School with modern facilities. There are four single sex boarding houses (Aberdeen, Hilton, Mertens and Toynbee) which cater for students from Year 9 to Year 12. Students in Years 9 and 10 share a twin bedded room with another student of the same age.
In Year 11, some boarders may share a room for part of the term or year and have a single room for the rest. In Year 12, all boarders have a single room. In Year 7 and 8 (Lower School) we offer the option of flexi, weekly boarding and full boarding.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Ardingly College admissions
How children join Ardingly College, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
We accept entry into our Lower School (Years 7 and 8) as well as Year 9, 10, 11 and 12. Special notes to agents about entry to the school Entry Points At Ardingly College our main entry points are at 11+, 13 and 16+. In addition, we year we usually have between10-15 places for entry into Year 10 and 12-15 places for entry into our Pre-Sixth Form (Year 11).
In Year 12 we offer 2 pathways, the IB Diploma or A Levels. These are all full boarding places only. IAP The Integrated Academic Pathway (IAP), is designed to help students adjust to life in a British boarding school while also strengthening their understanding of cultural contexts and enhancing their English proficiency through content and integrated learning methodologies improving students' cognitive academic proficiency.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Ardingly College fees & funding
What Ardingly College costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Ardingly College.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Ardingly College against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Ardingly College location & travel
Where Ardingly College is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address College Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6SQ, England Airport transfer Ardingly College now offers an airport shuttle service to Gatwick and Heathrow airports at the start of each half term and end of term only.
This service has been put in to make both Gatwick and Heathrow airports more accessible, and cheaper, for our boarders to get to at the start of the school holidays. We offer 1 morning service and 1 afternoon service with drop-offs at both Gatwick South and North Terminals, followed by Heathrow terminals 4, 2, 3 and 5.
Ardingly College — frequently asked questions
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