Founded in 1978 as a co-educational school, it is set in the rural village of Upper Dicker. The buildings and playing fields occupy four sites around this small village. The main building is a large country house situated in 20 acres (formerly the home of the egregious and notorious Horatio Bottomley). Facilities are very good and include a theatre and rehearsal rooms, music centre with recording studios, dedicated dance studios, indoor swimming pool, squash courts and practice golf course. There has been steady expansion, and the school has increased from 22 pupils at its foundation to its present size. It enjoys a staff:student ratio of about 1:8. The academic standards are high and examination results good. It is strong in music, drama and art, and has a wide range of sports and activities. There are over 100 clubs and societies providing for almost every conceivable interest. Outdoor pursuits are very popular and the school has its own riding stables.
Pupils: Age range 13-19; 900 pupils, 550 day (330 boys, 220 girls), 350 boarding (210 boys, 140 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Common Entrance or own exam used; interview for sixth form entry. Many pupils from own prep school, St Bede's Prep School, at Eastbourne.
Scholarships (academic, art, dance, drama, music, sport) are primarily recognition of excellence; they may carry a monetary value of up to 20% of day fees. Scholars and others may apply for means-tested fee remission up to 100% of fees. Over 10% of school's annual income funds scholarships and fee remission.
50+% live within 30 miles; 25+% live overseas.
Headmaster: Dr Richard Maloney in post from 2009. Educated at Latymer Upper and at St Andrew’s University (theology) and King's College, London (education management). Previously Deputy Headmaster at Sutton Valence, Head of Sixth Form and of Religious Studies at Chigwell . Teaching staff: 135 full time, 15 part time. Annual turnover 10%. Average age 35.
GCSE: Approximately 150 in upper fifth, gaining at least grade C in an average of 8 subjects. A-levels: 200 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3 A-levels, 1 AS, with a final point score of 304.
94% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (some after a gap year). 15% take courses in science and engineering, 36% in humanities and social sciences, 26% in art, music, drama. Others typically go on to courses abroad or directly into employment.
GCSE, AS and A-levels, BTEC, City and Guilds, NVQs. 30 GCSE subjects, including rural and agricultural science, Japanese, food and nutrition, and photography. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is taught but not examined. Key skills integrated into sixth-form courses. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: For EFL and specific learning difficulties. Languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese offered to GCSE and A-level; also GCSE Latin, ancient Greek, Russian, Chinese and Japanese. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Computers all have email and internet access. Laptops encouraged.
Music: Approx 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 9 musical groups including orchestra, choir, chamber groups, brass, woodwind, jazz and rock groups. Drama and dance: Both offered; GCSE drama, A-level theatre studies and applied performing arts, A-level dance, and Legat professional dance course offered. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions and all in house/other productions. Art and design: On average, 70 students take GCSE, 40 A-level, and 12 applied art and design. Graphic design, ceramics, textiles, photography, history of art also offered. All applicants gained entry to art college in past 4 years.
Sport: Soccer, rugby, squash, tennis, cricket, athletics, hockey, netball, rounders, swimming, badminton, archery, golf, cross-country, riding, dry skiing, go-kart racing, windsurfing, tae kwando, canoeing, rock-climbing, fishing, step aerobics, shooting, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, weight training, and table tennis. GCSE and A-level PE, BTEC certificate in sport and BHS equine studies exams may be taken. National representatives in cricket, swimming, football, rugby, golf, tennis, table-tennis, and show-jumping; county players in tennis, football, netball, hockey, cricket; winners of England Schools Football trophy, county champions in cricket, football, hockey, rugby seven and netball. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Army cadets. Over 140 activities, including scientific, engineering, literary, art/craft, music, film, debating.
Uniform: School uniform worn; smart suits in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Prefects, head of school, head of house and house perfects - appointed by the Headmaster and housestaff. Religion: Non-denominational. Multi-religious school meetings on Sundays and mid-week, plus Church of England, Roman Catholic and Free Church services. Social: Termly musical and theatrical productions. Annual school skiing trip; French, German and Spanish visits; expeditions to eg Iceland, Borneo, Mexico and USA; numerous sports tours eg Barbados, Argentina, Dubai.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect work detention; detention and gating for misdemeanours; expulsion for drug offences.
Upper fifth and sixth form have single or double study bedrooms; younger pupils share with 2-5 others. Single-sex houses of 40-70. School nurse lives on site. Central dining room. 3-4 optional weekend exeats each term. Weekend outings for boarders. Visits to local towns allowed.
Clare Wood and Julie Salmon (tennis players); Dan Harding and James Norwood (footballers); Luke Wells (cricketer); Rob Buchanan (rugby).
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