A Leading Independent School for Sport in West Sussex
At Ardingly College, we aim to foster a lifelong love of sport for every student, regardless of experience or ability.
Through a broad and inclusive programme, we offer a broad sporting education that combines competitive opportunities, specialist coaching, extensive facilities and pathways for talented young athletes.
Set within 240 acres of Sussex countryside, Ardingly offers more than 25 sports, from football, cricket, hockey and swimming to fencing, tennis, athletics, rowing and sailing. Students can discover new interests, represent the College in competitive fixtures and develop their abilities through structured performance programmes.
For talented athletes, our Performance Pathways provide personalised coaching, specialist support and structured development programmes designed to help each student reach their full potential. Students benefit from expert coaching and outstanding facilities.
As a result, Ardingly teams and individual athletes regularly compete at local, regional and national level.
More Than 25 Sports to Choose From
We offer more than 25 different sports, helping every student discover activities they enjoy and can continue beyond school.
Our major sports include cricket, football, hockey, netball and swimming. Students can also participate in a wide range of additional sports, including:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Climbing
- Cross-country
- Fencing
- Golf
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Squash
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Further activities are available through our extensive Enrichment Programme.
Performance Pathway & Scholarships
For our most talented athletes, the Performance Pathway offers additional sessions and a bespoke training programme. Many, but not all, of these students are sports scholars, receiving personalised training and mentorship working alongside student tutors to balance academic and sporting commitments.
Sports scholarships are available at 11+, 13+, and 16+ . The George Brann Scholarships for Sixth Form students offer significant fee reductions for top talents in Hockey, Football, Cricket, and Swimming. For more details, please see our Scholarships information.
Sports Facilities to Support Ambition
Students benefit from coaching and mentoring from an exceptional sports staff team that includes former professional and international athletes. Our coaches include Ross Millard, former professional footballer and Manchester United player and academy coach; Karen Pickering MBE, four-time World Champion and Olympic swimmer; former international hockey players Joe Naughalty, Chloe Brown and Richard Lane; and Jordan Rollings, county cricketer and coach.
Set within a stunning 240-acre campus, Ardingly offers outstanding sports facilities to support participation and performance across a wide range of disciplines. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, two well-equipped indoor sports halls, a floodlit multi-purpose artificial turf pitch, a dedicated hockey pitch, six tennis and netball courts, four cricket pitches, 12 cricket nets, a first-team football pitch, more than 12 grass sports pitches, a 400-metre athletics track with field-event facilities, a squash court, and a state-of-the-art Strength & Conditioning Centre.
We are also fortunate to have Ardingly Reservoir on our doorstep, providing excellent opportunities for sailing, rowing and a range of other watersports.
Opportunity for Every Ability
Ardingly’s inclusive sports programme encourages participation in weekly matches. Saturday fixtures allow most students to represent the school, with teams of varying abilities ensuring everyone can compete and contribute. While our A teams often win cups and medals, the focus is on enjoyment, encouraging team spirit and positive experiences for all.
House sport competitions are always a highlight, fostering fun and camaraderie across year groups, including the annual Steepo cross-country race and Sports Day events.
Sussex Cricket and Jofra Archer Partnerships
Ardingly College is proud to partner with Sussex Cricket, strengthening opportunities for young cricketers across the county. Through this collaboration, we support the growth of the game at every level, including grassroots, pathway and academy cricket, while helping to widen access for young people from all backgrounds.
Our cricket programme is further enhanced through our association with the Jofra Archer Institute of Cricket.
Together, these partnerships help provide an exceptional environment for boys and girls to develop their skills, pursue their ambitions and enjoy a lifelong love of cricket.
A Sport for Every Student
“Many pupils achieve highly in a wide range of team and individual sports."
