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. The layout of this site is intended to reflect aspects of Ardingly College’s character, and what we see as important.

We are a school of ambition and are proud of the achievements of our pupils. In a globalised world, securing strong qualifications and a track record of success has never been more important.  We also ensure that our pupils enjoy a great deal of choice to enable them to succeed in the classroom and in the activities they pursue in their wider school life.

An excellent education also requires us to look beyond the school gates, and engage with the world around us. Whether they live five minutes down the road or come from the other side of the world, every pupil must leave school with a positive engagement and understanding of the world around them. This is what World Ready aims to achieve.

Finally, confidence. That intangible quality that is essential for personal fulfilment. Confidence comes from having the support and understanding of the community in which you live.  Above everything else, we aim to understand every child, to support them through the opportunities and challenges of growing up, and to help them to grow in understanding, respect and enjoyment of the people and the world around them.

Ben Figgis, MA (Cantab), MEd, PGCE

Head of College