Independent Schools in West Sussex

Burgess Hill Girls is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 2 to 18, situated on a 14-acre campus in a conservation area of Burgess Hill, West Sussex. Founded in 1906, the school provides an all-through education including a co-educational nursery. On-site facilities include a Creative Arts Centre, a Science and Technology Hub, and an athletics track. The school’s ethos is summarised by its motto, 'I am, I can, I should, I will', which focuses on the development of individual potential. Boarding is available for students from age 11.

Seaford College is an independent co-educational boarding and day school situated at Lavington Park, south of Petworth, West Sussex, England. The campus is set within over 450 acres of parkland in the South Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Founded in 1884, the school caters for students aged 4 to 18 across its Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form. Seaford College, affiliated with the Church of England, claims to focus on fostering individual potential, encouraging academic achievement, and promoting participation in cultural, social, and sporting activities.

Situated near Pulborough in West Sussex, Dorset House School is a co-educational preparatory school. Located in the village of Bury, the school offers day, flexi, and weekly boarding options. The school claims to provide a “high challenge, low threat” environment, often describing its ethos as a “greenhouse” rather than a “hot house” to foster pupil confidence. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on art, drama, and music, while the rural setting supports a range of outdoor learning and sporting activities.

Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is a co-educational independent day school located in West Sussex, near Worthing, Steyning, and Brighton. Situated within 30 acres of parkland, including woodland, it serves pupils aged 2 to 13. Founded in 1921, the school is broadly Christian in ethos and claims to focus on an environmental commitment, encouraging pupils to 'Embrace Nature; Embrace Learning; Embrace Childhood'. The average class size is 15. The school prepares pupils for Common Entrance and scholarships to senior schools.

Westbourne House School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 2 to 13, situated within 100 acres of parkland near Chichester. Established in 1907 and relocated to its current Shopwyke site in 1946, the school is centred around a historic country house. Facilities include a purpose-built music school, a performing arts centre, and extensive sporting grounds featuring an indoor swimming pool and a lake for kayaking. The school emphasises a broad curriculum and character development, preparing children for transition to a wide range of independent senior schools.

Lancing College Prep Worthing is a co-educational independent nursery, pre-preparatory, and preparatory school for children aged 2-13. Situated on Broadwater Road in Worthing, West Sussex, the school is set within its own grounds. The school claims to focus on fostering a safe, welcoming, and tolerant environment, with an ethos centered on "Love Learning, Be Kind and Go Out into the World and Do Good" within a Christian community. It features small class sizes and a broad, balanced curriculum. An ISI inspection in June 2022 awarded it "excellent" for academic and personal development.

Hove Micro-School is an independent co-educational day school in Southwick, West Sussex, catering for pupils aged 5 to 14. Operating from a residential setting, the school provides a personalised alternative to mainstream education, specifically designed for children with special educational needs and school-based anxieties. The curriculum is child-led and flexible, prioritising emotional wellbeing alongside academic progress within small classes of up to eight pupils. Founded to foster a nurturing, homely environment, the school frequently utilises local green spaces and community facilities to deliver a bespoke and inclusive learning experience.

Cumnor House Sussex is a co-educational independent day and boarding prep school for pupils aged 2 to 13, situated near Haywards Heath. Set within 60 acres of grounds on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, the school features facilities including a purpose-built theatre, a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, and an outdoor forest school. Originally founded in 1931, the school promotes an ethos known as 'The Cumnor Way', which focuses on kindness and community contribution. The broad curriculum prepares children for transition into a range of senior schools across the country.

Our Lady of Sion School is an independent, co-educational day school situated in the heart of Worthing, West Sussex. Founded in 1862 by the Sisters of Sion, it offers education from Nursery to Sixth Form (ages 3 to 18). The school operates with an inter-denominational ethos, welcoming students of all faiths, rooted in its Catholic foundation. Its motto, "Consideration Always," is central to school life, aiming to foster a culture of respect and support. The school facilities include an indoor sports hall, astroturf pitch, and various creative arts studios.

Brighton College Prep Handcross is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 13, set within 52 acres of Sussex parkland. Rebranded from Handcross Park School in 2025, it is part of the Brighton College family and promotes an ethos of kindness and academic ambition. Facilities include a specialist Art and Design Centre, a 6-hole golf course, and an elevated outdoor classroom. The school provides a broad curriculum with specialist teaching in subjects such as Mandarin, complemented by extensive sporting and creative opportunities in its rural setting.

Pennthorpe School is a co-educational independent Pre-prep and Preparatory day school, catering to children aged 2 to 13. Situated in the village of Rudgwick, West Sussex, along the Surrey/Sussex border, it occupies a 25-acre campus that includes extensive facilities and 16 acres of woodland. The school's motto, "Non nobis solum nati" (Born not for ourselves alone), underpins its ethos, which claims to focus on nurturing, inspiring, and developing core values such as respect, tolerance, and contributing to others' lives. The school aims to be a centre of excellence for teaching and pupil outcomes.

Christ's Hospital is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for students aged 11-18, situated on a 1,200-acre estate south of Horsham, West Sussex. Established in 1552, the school operates under a royal charter and is known for its charitable foundation. It claims to challenge inequality by providing a nurturing education to young people from diverse backgrounds, with a majority of students receiving means-tested bursaries. The curriculum aims to combine academic ambition with a focus on broader opportunities in sports, music, art, and drama.

Situated on a 70-acre country estate in Washington, West Sussex, Windlesham House School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 4 to 13. Founded in 1837, the school claims to focus on providing a relaxed, nurturing environment, supported by its long-standing policy of not requiring a school uniform. Facilities within the grounds include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, and extensive woodland for outdoor learning. The school aims to encourage intellectual curiosity and personal development through a wide-ranging co-curricular programme.

Great Ballard is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 2 to 16, situated near Chichester in West Sussex. Set within 30 acres of the South Downs National Park, the school is based in Eartham House, a Grade II listed building redesigned by Edwin Lutyens in 1905. Founded in 1924, the school prioritises a "Four H" philosophy focusing on the Head, Hand, Heart, and Health. Its curriculum integrates traditional academics with outdoor learning, technology, and the performing arts, taking advantage of its rural grounds and surrounding woodland.

Hurstpierpoint College is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4 to 18, situated on a 140-acre campus in Hassocks, West Sussex. Founded in 1849 by Nathaniel Woodard, the college is a member of the Woodard Corporation and is noted for its Gothic Revival architecture and Grade II listed chapel. The school provides a balanced education, integrating academic study with diverse sporting and creative activities. Facilities include a theatre, music school, and an on-site farm. Notably, the college maintains the oldest school Shakespeare society in existence, founded in 1854.