Ardingly College

Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6SQ

Ardingly, a new entry to the guide, is getting noticed for all the right reasons. In the past it may have slipped through the net as parents looked further afield for the traditional, quintessential public school. Not any more. Having just celebrated its 150th anniversary, the school is flying high – pupil numbers are full to overflowing and exam results in GCSE, A-level and IB are consistently good and getting better. The day and boarding system is marvellously flexible, with parents having the luxury of being able to to pick and mix what suits them. Head Peter Green, who joined from Ampleforth two years ago, has made his mark by stepping up the extracurricular side of the school. He’s introduced a buzzing lecture series, ‘The Headmaster’s Programme’, for sixth formers. Pupils choose who they would like to invite to speak and last term guests included everyone from a world bee expert to Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff. A big sports fan, Green has reintroduced the rugby sevens, and cricket is coached by Norman Gifford, the ex-England cricket captain. Pupils say Mr Green is incredibly proactive and likes to get involved, standing in the main archway to greet pupils after breakfast each day. His philosophy is that ‘pupils remember the characters and experiences they’ve had the most – education is what’s left when everything else is forgotten.’ The Archbishop of York described the school as a place that ‘transforms children who may just be ordinary into extraordinary young people’. High recommendation indeed.