Worth School
Worth School is a co-ed boarding and day school in West, Sussex, educating pupils aged 11 - 18 and founded in 1959. Boarding fees are £18,283 - £18,283 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 13 - 18
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Worth
The story, ethos and character of Worth.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Head
- Ms Marisa Bosa Interim
Education with Heart & Soul Worth School is a vibrant, independent school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years old, both boarding and day, with just over 600 students in total. The school is set in 500 acres of glorious Sussex countryside with stunning views, just 10 minutes from London Gatwick Airport.
With the Worth Abbey Church at its heart, there is a strong sense of Benedictine identity at Worth, reflected in its educational, spiritual and pastoral excellence. Accepting students from both Catholic and non-Catholic denominations, a Worth student leaves the School with an education that goes far beyond the syllabus.
Highly regarded for its academic breadth and outstanding pastoral care, Worth offers both the IB Diploma and A Levels in the Sixth Form, as well as the Pre-IB.
In the words of the Good Schools Guide (2017), "this school has everything going for it". In October 2024 Worth was named Boarding School of the Year at the Independent Schools of the Year awards. What the school is known for? Worth is known for its strong pastoral care and spiritual grounding alongside academic excellence, excellent facilities, endless opportunities and how the school's deeply embedded six values mark them out from other senior schools.
School history The origins of Worth lie in the foundation in 1606 of a Benedictine community at Douai, France. In the early 1930s, Abbot John Chapman, the Abbot of Downside Abbey, established both another monastic community and a junior school in West Sussex by purchasing a country estate then known as Paddockhurst.
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Academics at Worth
What pupils study at Worth — and where it takes them.
and ideas, and we encourage intellectual risk-taking. The classroom is an exciting to be: our teaching and learning is research-driven and experimental, we adopt a hybrid approach of tradition and innovation, using technology alongside pen and paper, and we reject educational fads and look for what really works.
We offer a broad curriculum and the full range of subjects can be found here: https://worthschool. org. uk/academic/ Performing and creative arts Music and Drama are a big part of life at Worth. The Music department is a busy one and concerts and recitals happen regularly throughout the year, with the sublime acoustic of Worth Abbey providing an inspirational space for our gala concerts.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
In August 2025, students achieved places at some of the UK's leading universities to read a variety of different subjects, including Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial, Modern Languages or Economics and Mathematics at Durham, and Biochemistry or Mathematics at UCL. The vast majority secured places at their first-choice university.
A breakdown of university destinations and courses can be found on the Worth School website in the academic section.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Worth
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Worth.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 3, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
at Worth. The House provides the community and sanctuary where pupils can grow in confidence and fellowship with one another. There are five boarding houses at Worth which are designed for approximately 60 boarders each. Younger boarders share rooms so that they can learn to live alongside and one another; most Sixth Formers have their own single study bedsits.
Whilst the accommodation varies between the Houses, each Boarding House has common recreation areas, a library, computer room, and kitchens for the use of the pupils. All Houses have Skype, wi-fi and internet access; senior study bedsits have individual internet/intranet terminals Pastoral care and staffing Every boy and girl is a member of a House under the leadership of a Housemaster or Housemistress who, supported by their Deputy, has overall responsibility for the pupil's pastoral care and welfare.
A genuine home away from home
There are 11 Houses of which five are boarding, two for girls and three for boys. While sharing the same Benedictine values, each House has its own characteristics and dedicated team of staff who ensure that each child feels valued and cared for.
We also offer flexi options for boys and girls in Year 9 onwards are available subject to availability. St Bede's House - Boys - 13-18 years (Boys) In joining St Bede's, boys become part of an extremely strong and supportive House family. There is a real camaraderie in the House and an emphasis on peer-to-peer in all areas, encouraged by Housemaster Mr William Crénel.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Worth admissions
How children join Worth, and how we make it simple.
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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
Special notes to agents about entry to the school We welcome a broad range of nationalities and ex-pat students. All applicants are required to register and the fee is currently £150. The Acceptance deposit is one term's fees (refundable at end of study period).
Application procedure and entrance tests ·Entry at 11+: Admission, after visit (if possible) and registration, is via assessment tests and interviews. Entry at 13+: Admission, after visit (if possible) and registration, is via assessment tests and interviews.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Worth fees & funding
What Worth 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 Worth.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Worth against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Worth location & travel
Where Worth is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4SD, England Travel time to London by train Less than 1 hour Telephone +44 (0)1342 710200 Website https://worthschool. org. uk/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
London Gatwick 6 10 2. London Heathrow 43 50 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Three Bridges 4 10 2. Gatwick Express 6 10 Local accommodation Europa Gatwick Hotel (2.7 miles) Holiday London Gatwick - Worth (4.2 miles) Alexander House Hotel (3.2 miles) Local area & attractions London is under an hour away by train with its wealth of theatres, art galleries and world-famous sights such as the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben.
Worth — frequently asked questions
Where is Worth?
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When was Worth founded?
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What qualifications does Worth offer?
How many boarding houses does Worth have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Worth?
Does Worth have Saturday lessons?
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Does Worth accept international students?
How much does Worth cost?
What's included in Worth's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Worth?
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