Ardingly College

Mission statement

“We seek to provide an education that will sustain children into their adult lives, and launch them towards future success and fulfilment.”

Academics

Ardingly College offers an extensive curriculum with a wide range of qualifications available to suit different learning styles. Pupils study towards GCSE exams and then choose between A Level, IB or BTEC in the Sixth Form. The provision of BTEC courses allows students to take a more practical alternative to A Level or the IB. The BTECs available at Ardingly College are in business, psychology, and sport and exercise science. In 2022, 78% of BTEC results were graded at either Distinction* or Distinction.

Ardingly also offers the IB Diploma Programme – a globally recognised programme of study within which pupils study a broad curriculum. The worldwide average for IB results is 32.4 points. In 2022, Ardingly’s average IB score was 40.1, with more than half of pupils studying IB achieving 40 points or more. After leaving Ardingly College, students take up places at excellent Higher Education institutions across the UK and abroad. Some of the most popular recent destinations include Newcastle, Bath, King’s College London and York.

Activities & sports

The school is also known for sports and all students are encouraged to participate in a sport and play weekly matches. Ardingly College offers sports at all skill levels to enable everyone to take part and find something they enjoy. Whilst the school provides a wide range of choices, it particularly excels in hockey and football. In fact, Ardingly has structured training programmes for talented footballers and hockey players which involve elite coaching and further support.

Ardingly College’s wider enrichment programme offers students more than 70 activities to choose from every week. These can range from sports to music and the arts, allowing pupils to try new things and discover their interests and talents. Furthermore, students can participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the Bronze, Silver and Gold level.

Ardingly also runs annual service projects to Kenya to give students the opportunity to contribute to and support the schools that Ardingly sponsors in Kenya.

International student community

Around 30% of pupils at Ardingly College are international students from 25 different countries around the world. Overseas pupils are required to have a high level of English to ensure they are able to fully understand and benefit from Ardingly’s curriculum. The school also offers some English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes.

Boarding life

Boarding at Ardingly College offers a welcoming, family environment to students, and the school’s hope is that Ardingly feels like a home away from home for pupils. Boarding students are surrounded by people from different backgrounds, cultures and countries which helps them to develop tolerance and understanding of others, preparing them for life after school. To help students settle in quickly and get used to boarding school life, Ardingly organises team-building activities and boarding house social events.

At weekends, pupils have access to all the school’s facilities and there is an extensive programme of weekend activities. Sundays generally have a more relaxed schedule, but for those who wish to keep busy, there are organised trips to local venues such as Thorpe Park, bowling, paintballing and shopping.