College Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6SQ
10 reasons to choose Ardingly College Prep School
Main point of differentiation
With a Schoolsmith Score® of 89 Ardingly College Prep School is one of the highest scoring prep schools in and around Haywards Heath, and ranks in the top 50 in the UK. It is also the best value for money prep in the area.
School fundamentals
Ardingly College Prep School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 2 and 11 years. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has an academically selective admissions policy. It is the prep school to Ardingly College, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Woodard Corporation. Ardingly College Prep School fees range from £4,370 (Rec) to £7,765 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Ardingly College Prep School usually has two classes per year, and an average class size of 16 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
At the end of Year 6, most Prep pupils move up to Ardingly College Senior School.
The Ardingly College Prep School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum with some additions and variations including a ‘creative curriculum’ for humanities to Year 5. The curriculum also includes PSHCE, French, Latin. ‘Shaping My World’ is a skills and character development programme to promote four characteristics; Adventurous, Curious, Generous, and Ingenious through a weekly lesson, regular theme days, and a 2 week ‘festival’ at the end of the summer term. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips from Year 7. Outdoor pursuits programme includes Forest School to Year 3, Ardingly Adventurers (outdoor adventure) and Forest Rangers (bushcraft).
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, art, languages, computing, drama and sport throughout, and for all subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Ardingly College Prep School
School is one of the 50 prep schools with the most extensive sports offers in the UK. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in athletics, cross country, football, hockey, sailing, swimming.
The Arts at Ardingly College Prep School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and three-quarters take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Three choirs, orchestra and several instrument ensembles. Each pupil may participate in up to 10 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Childcare available for 50 weeks of the year.
Find another school near Ardingly College Prep School
Great Walstead School (3.9 miles); Cumnor House School (5.9 miles); Brighton College Prep Handcross (6.7 miles).
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Haywards Heath (2.9 miles); Newick Church of England Primary School (8.6 miles); Hamsey Community Primary School (11.6 miles).
Ardingly College (0 miles); Worth School (5.8 miles); Burgess Hill School for Girls (6.7 miles).
Warden Park School (4.2 miles); St Paul’s Catholic College (7.1 miles); Imberhorne School (9.3 miles).