Ashdown House

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School Profile

'We believe we're a leading school because we offer full boarding in a family environment preparing children for the major national public schools. We are different because we run rather than walk; smile first, tuck shirts in later; and we're not frightened of trees, mud or good manners.'

Ashdown is situated in quite one of the most idyllic surroundings and offers a child the opportunity to grow in confidence as he or she participates in the drama (each year group puts on at least one play a year in which all the children take part), music (80% of the children learn at least one instrument and there are termly concerts), art and DT (exhibitions throughout the year) and sport (twice weekly matches in the major sports of soccer, rugby, netball, hockey, cricket and rounders as well as matches for swimming, tennis, squash, athletics, cross country, golf and chess on a regular basis). There is a programme of expeditions and trips, each designed to encourage independence and personal growth.

The children are prepared for entry at 13+ Common Entrance, or scholarship where appropriate, to the country's top public schools. The importance on getting the right school for a child is paramount and discussion with the headmaster is strongly recommended. Scholarships are won but, equally importantly, those who struggle with their work achieve success too. A new learning support centre is a haven for those who need that extra boost that is so important in giving them the confidence to succeed.

Resident houseparents are responsible for the pastoral care of their areas whilst overall care is in the hands of the headmaster and his wife. Evening and weekend activities are too varied to mention, but the children are fully occupied whilst the older ones are encouraged to manage their free time (tree climbing is a speciality of the house!). There are two exeat weekends in the Summer and Autumn Terms and one in the Lent Term as well as a week's half term Lent and Summer and 10 days in the Autumn. Children may have four optional Sunday lunch outings with family or friends and parents are encouraged to come along to matches, concerts etc. There is a bus to London on half terms and exeats and our proximity to Gatwick makes us popular with our overseas families (about a third of our children come from Forces, Foreign Office or expat families).

The guidelines for the children printed at the back of the termly Calendar encapsulate the kind of people we are trying to send out into the world, amongst them:

Do not be unkind to anyone
Enjoy a laugh but with others not at them
Treat others at all times with respect and consideration

Ashdown is not the proud possessor of too much that is state of the art, but we have a 'jungle' to explore, a lovely indoor pool, theatre, music, art, IT & DT rooms, laboratories (opened in 2002). oh, and trees aplenty to climb,

We'd love to show you our school so do come and see us.

School Criteria

ISN Rankings

Address

Forest Row,
East Sussex,
RH18 5JY
England

Tel: 01342 822574

Fax: 01342 824 380

E-mail: E-mail Ashdown House | Request Prospectus

For further related information, including Inspection Reports, Reviews, Alumni, Recruitment, Academic Results, School Website, Local Roadmaps, Aerial Photos, School News and Area Information, see the Independent Schools Directory entry for Ashdown House.