Welcome from the Head

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about Ardingly College through our website. As a pupil, parent, prospective parent or in a professional capacity, you will already know something about us, if only from the outside.

But it is, of course, the inside that counts. Most importantly, it is the intangible qualities of a school that matter most: its spirit, its culture and the collective beliefs of the people who form it.

We are an ambitious school and are proud of the achievements of our pupils. While we celebrate their impressive academic success, we are also determined to equip our students with the critical thinking, employability and other essential skills that they will need to succeed in a fast-changing world. An Ardingly ‘World Ready’ education requires them to look beyond the school gates and positively engage with the world around them.

With around 850 pupils in the Senior School, we believe Ardingly is the perfect size. We are large enough to offer a huge breadth of opportunities, so we hope everyone can find their passion, but small enough that every student will be individually supported to reach their full potential. Our outstanding pastoral care and deliberately small pastoral groups are the bedrock that underpins our students’ success, both inside and outside the classroom.

Finally, confidence. That intangible quality that is essential for personal fulfilment. At Ardingly we seek to instil that crucial self-belief, but tempered by a self-awareness of how others view you and the ability to self-regulate your own behaviour. We aim to send out young people who are confident, but not arrogant, and who are equipped with the skills and mindset to be ready to thrive in the modern world.
But don’t take my word for it; please do come and visit us and see our  wonderful school for yourself.

Ben Figgis, MA (Cantab), MEd, PGCE

Head of College