Lewes Old Grammar and Shoreham College

[Bythesea1]

We're thinking of relocating from London to Brighton in time for my eldest son to start secondary school and since we might not have an address in time (and the state school admissions seem nightmarish) we're considering private schools. He's smart and sporty but probably not Brighton College material. Has anyone got experience of Lewes Old Grammar or Shoreham College, good or bad? Thanks.

How old is your son? I live in Brighton and know both these schools well. There's not much between them, but I would say Shoreham is better for arty things if your son is into them. Lewes is quite inclusive, and good with students who have any types of SEN as well as remaining academic. If I was choosing I would go for Lewes.

If he is still young there are some good prep schools, such as St. Christopher's and Lancing College Prep.

also, are you considering State options too? Dorothy Stringer and Cardinal Newman are both quite good, although you have to move right into their catchment as the LA don't budge on how they allocate school places unless you have very special circumstances (Newman is Catholic too). They allocate certain residential areas to certain schools but they do have a map on their website showing how they do it.
If you move to North Brighton (I live here!) you can sometimes get your children into Downlands school in Hassocks if they have space, which is a very good school - you'd have to go through West Sussex admissions for this.

Thanks for the information! My son is nine now and just about to start year 5. The plan was to move next summer in order to have an address in time for his secondary school application and my youngest's reception place. But it seems a bit mean to pluck him from the school he loves for his final year.

He's at a Catholic primary at the moment so Cardinal Newman could be an option but it seems so big and the results ( I could have got the wrong impression) don't seem great in comparison with the school he'd most likely go to in London. Hence the reason for looking around at private options.
He's not arty at all, more in to science and maths and sports so from what you say Lewes might be the better option. But I'd want him to have some local friends too. Do you know if a lot of children from Brighton and Hove travel up there?

I also have two younger children to consider and was planning to visit a few schools this term including Windlesham and St Christopher's. I guess my only worry with St Christopher's is that it would be totally geared towards Brighton College and it might be a bit of a stretch to send the youngest two there financially, although from what I can see their pupils get plenty of scholarships. Thanks again for the advice.

Newman is huge, no getting away from that and their results are lower tis year than previous. Lots of children from Brighton and hove go to Lewes, so he wouldnt be alone by any stretch. Although st christophers is in the Brighton college feeder schools it hasn't been for long, and the children go to all sorts of private schools after, including Lewes.

Newman is huge, no getting away from that and their results are lower tis year than previous. Lots of children from Brighton and hove go to Lewes, so he wouldnt be alone by any stretch. Although st christophers is in the Brighton college feeder schools it hasn't been for long, and the children go to all sorts of private schools after, including Lewes.

Great, thank you. I'm going to go along to an open day at Lewes and will do the same for Windlesham and St Christopher's.