Brighton College/Burgess Hill School/Reigate Grammar or St Catherines? Any ideas?

Rivvy, if your child is doing GCSE level maths at the age of 8 I wouldn't even contemplate Ardingly, Hurst or Notre Dame as they will not be academic enough for your DC. Brighton would suit your child well if DC is so far above for their age! I know a few parents who sent their kids to Ardingly and they were very disappointed with it as it didn't support their kids at all! One child went to Ardingly and then moved to brighton after GCSE's as it wasn't a school were he felt he could work hard without being picked on etc. He is now at Brighton and loves it!

San1211, i think it depends if you know specifically what you want to do in the future. if you have no clue about a possible career, then maybe choose IB as it keeps a broadness that isnt offered by A level's. However A level's go into so much more depth which in my opinion is more valuable. hope this helps

I was thinking whether to chose IB or A level at Ardingly? Anyone has any views?

i absolutely loved brighton and applied for college there.

however, not prepared to get up at 6 every morning and have a 12 hour day! so used to the flexability of BHill that Brighton just can't offer.

loved it there though!

Watching this one with interest. DS has been at Birghton since Nursery in the Pre-Prep. Now in Year 10. Would never consider else and still won't. He loves it, is very sporty (not at all muscial or drama) and is academic. Has been happy every single day he has spent there.

I attend Burgess Hill and have done for nearly 14 years. Just starting my GCSE's and absolutely love the school. i considered leaving for college, however i decided to stay, as i dont feel ready to leave. everyone is so friendly, class sizes are small and teachers are extremely supportive.

burgess hill has offered me so many opportunities, and a rounded education, including sport music and academics.

schools like hurst, worth, and ardingly provide 'a complete solution to live' in my opinion. school days are long and many activites are compulsory. burgess hill on the other encourages you in what you want to do and will support you in what you decide to take part in.

i play the violin, attend byo, dance and row, so a school that meant i wouldnt get home until half six was just not practicle. i get home at half four everyday, so have plenty of time in the evenings to relax and do what i want to, not what my school wants me to.

i hope this helps, and i would really recommend my school, and i hope you consider it.

as for the girls aspect, i do not feel it has got in the way of my social live, as i have the time available to meet new people away from my studies.

I was actually talking gsce results as it happens, not A levels.

Even more delighted - daughter flourishing. School is embarking on £10 million pound expansion and upgrade of facilities which are already pretty good. Sadly no separate theatre but school just done My Fair Lady and Judi Dench whose grandson is is in the school has raved about it - best school production ever - so what we have is doing just fine!

Must just add to MABS' comment about Hurst's result being better that you can't compare Ardingly's results to hurst (or Brighton Collge) as half the sixth form do IB and hence Ardingly do not look so good in A level league tables. In fact they are 9th in the country for IB out of 350 schools - but the Head does not like league tables (agreed!) so school never boasts about it. Must say in 2 years dd has not had a single poor teacher and from all the work i used to do in schools I can say this is SO rare!! Definitely treat Ardingly seriously - and it has a lovely atmosphere. The Head recently led a successful nationwide campaign to get the obnoxious Little Gossip website closed to schools because over 100 pupils contacted him to object to it - pupil power from nice pupils!

For what it's worth I love St Catherine's (Bramley, I presume?). I went there myself and have looked at it again recently for my daughters at 11. It offers an excellent, broad academic education, coupled with great sporting and musical opportunities. I have life long friends from there, they have a strong old girls network (of which I am not a part of I hasten to add!). Great pastoral care, fantastic grounds.
That being said my daughter is due to start at Lady Eleanor Holles Junior School(Hampton) in September so it will be a battle to take her from her friends going onto the senior school! This is another academic option with a strong emphasis on extra curricular activities. No boarding however. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Ardingly is a great school,many friends there, but Hurst's results are better academically

To midsussexmum.

Are you still happy with Ardingly? What facilities do they have in the school at senior and junior levels?

Been on holiday and just read all the discussion. Have you seen the Ardingly IB results post on the website - don't think it will leave you in any doubt about the academic standing! Much more academic than Hurst these days and less pushy & selective than Brighton. Ardingly keeps on a broad range of students but gets amazing results. Ok will come clean - am an educational consultant advising overseas parents but having therefore seen all the local boarding schools over the past few years, I chose Ardingly for my child and am delighted.

My DD1 achieved 12 A* GCSEs at Ardingly College - and several others in her year group also achieved high. She and my other children are extremely musical, as soloists and members of the choir, orchestra, jazz and cabaret groups. The great thing about Ardingly is that it is not a hot house; it nurtures both the highly able, talented and academic; yet it also brings on those who find aspects of academic work challenging and enables them to build on their strengths, without reinforcing their weaknesses. I'd definitely consider looking there for your daughter. The prep school there is great too - one of my daughter's friends did GCSE maths while there, before going up to the senior school.

My dd is at RGS, they do push them hard academically, detentions if they miss homework etc but it is a lovely school overall and the sport facilities are second to none

Head of ND leaving next summer .

a good point Mrspink ;-)

Notre Dame - not especially musical - Brighton - depends if you mind a city campus and if you warm to the head!

very musical? How about Lancing?

yep, Worth are great too, as Liz said, all do 11 intake.

All have an 11+ intake. Worth might be another option (just going coed) or Lingfield Notre Dame

far more academic than Ardingly without doubt!

dd did 3 Gcse in Year 9, 2 in Year 10 and will do another 7 in year 11. All A or A* so far. She is also a sports scholar, but isn't musical at all, tho the music there is great.

She was offered sport and academic scholarships to all the schools mentioned here, but we chose Hurst over them all, far better vibe and more rounded education we felt. Drama is also marvellous there.