Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing
Lancing College, located not far from the vibrant coastal town of Brighton, is in many ways a classic British boarding school in the true sense. This is partly due to its beautiful campus, which boasts its own very impressive chapel; but also because of the wide range of excellent sports as well as outstanding music and art. The arts department is especially wonderful! And to top it all off, Lancing College even has its own small farm.
The Details
The Academics
Lancing College offers GCSEs and A Levels – with strong results in 2024: 50 percent A or A* grades at A Level and 39 percent grades 8 to 9 at GCSE. The school is mildly selective but far from an ivory tower: achievement is encouraged without excessive pressure.
We particularly like how much academic curiosity is sparked beyond the classroom – for example, through the mini dissertation, where pupils spend a week researching and writing on a topic of their choice. More of this, please!
Languages Taught
German, English as a Foreign Language, French, Latin and Spanish.
The Boarding
More than half the pupils board – at least 300 stay on campus seven days a week. After a recent full renovation, pupils now share rooms in the lower years and have single rooms from Year 11 onwards – comfortable and with plenty of space. The boarding houses are single sex and have the charm of student halls – cosy but grown up, with kitchens, common rooms and quiet study areas.
Evenings and weekends feature a varied programme for boarders – and day pupils are fully involved too: anyone who wants can come early, stay late and join in the activities.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
The school is stunning – Victorian architecture, a chapel like a cathedral, modern art facilities and even its own farm. Sport is taken seriously: football, hockey, netball, tennis and cricket top the list, but fencing, swimming, rowing, riding, water polo and more are everyday staples – all at a top level, with a sports hall, pool, stables and boathouse.
Creativity has just as much space as sport: we believe Lancing College has one of the best art departments in the country, complemented by its own photography studio and top-notch design & technology facilities. The music school offers around 300 hours of lessons weekly, plus concerts, choirs, a big band, a cappella club – and performances in the chapel with three organs! Dance is also a big focus – ballet, jazz, modern dance – all in the school’s own studio.
Theatre is part of the school’s DNA, with ambitious productions ranging from Shakespeare to Legally Blonde, and workshops with real professionals. Those who prefer working backstage get to experience everything from set design to makeup.
Weaknesses
We currently know of no specific weaknesses.
Location
Lancing College sits atop a hill within the South Downs National Park, not far from the charming coastal village of Lancing.
Brighton - 30 mins by train
London - 1 hr 30 mins by car
A lovely, all-round British school with particularly strong arts and sports programmes.
Conveniently, a school bus provides easy weekend transport to London.
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