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If you've started researching private schools in Sussex, you'll know how quickly the list grows. East and West Sussex have prep and senior schools, day and boarding schools, and selective and non-selective schools. Almost every prospectus promises excellent teaching, happy pupils and beautiful grounds.
School directories help you build a list, but they rarely help you choose. They tell you where a school is and what ages it takes. They don't tell you how it will feel for your child on a wet Tuesday in February, or where it might lead at 18.
This guide uses three lenses that genuinely set one school apart from another: academic pathways, boarding and specialist programmes. We use Claremont, our own school in East Sussex, as a worked example throughout, but the questions apply wherever you look.
Sussex offers a wide mix of independent schools. Broadly, you'll find:
Prep schools, typically for ages 3–13
Senior schools, from 11 or 13 through to Sixth Form
All-through schools that take children from Nursery to 18
Day schools and boarding schools, with many offering both
The main entry points are 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. Many schools also accept pupils at other times when places allow.
Families are drawn to Sussex by its countryside, coastline and links to London. If you're moving to the area, our guide to relocating to East Sussex covers the region in more depth.
League tables are a starting point, not an answer. Two schools with similar headline results can offer very different journeys.
Selective schools set entrance exams and admit pupils above a set bar. Non-selective schools welcome a broader range of abilities and focus on progress: how far each child travels. Neither is better. The right choice depends on how your child learns and how they respond to pressure.
Most Sussex independent schools offer GCSEs and A Levels. Some also offer BTECs and other applied routes, which suit students with clear interests in areas such as sport or business. Ask whether these routes are valued equally or treated as a fallback.
Ask where last year's leavers went and how many got their first choice. That tells you more about guidance and support than a percentage of top grades.
At Claremont: we're non-selective but academically ambitious, and rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas (November 2023) for the fourth consecutive time. Over 90% of our 2026 leavers secured their first-choice destination. You'll find our latest results and university destinations on our Sixth Form page.
Claremont in three words? Balanced, tailored, and supportive.
Andy W, Alumni
Graduated 2023. Combined A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French with football and now studies Medicine.
Many Sussex schools offer boarding, but the options and the experience vary widely, from full and weekly to flexi boarding. When you visit, ask how many staff live on site, how new boarders settle in and what weekends look like.
At Claremont: we offer full and weekly boarding across two homely houses, Clyde House and Pyke House. You can see how our houses, induction and weekends work on our boarding page.
More independent schools now run specialist academies in sport and the arts, and some have begun partnering with professional clubs. These programmes can transform a child's experience, but they vary enormously in depth.
Is the programme built into the timetable, or does it run after school?
Who leads it, and what have they done in their field?
Where does it lead, and what happens for students who don't turn professional?
How does the school protect academic progress alongside it?
Our Football Academy is for boys and girls aged 7–18 and is built into the school day rather than added on after it. Players work towards four pathways: professional football, US college scholarships, UK University and semi-professional football. The academy page introduces our coaching team, fixtures and player outcomes.
For young performers, our double national award-winning Performing Arts Academy offers the same blend of specialist teaching, real performance opportunities and academic support.
Take these with you. How a school answers is as revealing as what it says.
Where did last year's leavers go, and what share got their first choice?
Who would notice if my child was struggling, how would you tell me, and what learning support would be available?
What does a typical day look like for a student in your specialist programme?
How are pupils grouped by ability, and how large are classes?
Who leads the specialist programme, and what is their background?
What scholarships and bursaries are available, and at which entry points?
All-through education from Nursery to Sixth Form across two sites, our Prep School at Ebden's Hill and our Senior School at Bodiam
Ofsted Outstanding in all areas, including boarding
Two specialist academies: the Claremont International Football Academy and our Performing Arts Academy
Full and weekly boarding in two close-knit houses, with more than 30 nationalities represented
Just over an hour from London by direct train, with easy access to Gatwick and Heathrow
Scholarships at Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form, including sport, plus means-tested bursaries
The best way to compare schools is to visit them. Walk the corridors, meet the staff and picture your child there. We'd love to show you around and talk through what matters most to your family. Book a tour or make an enquiry, and take the next step with confidence.
Sussex has dozens of private schools, but directory totals depend on which schools are included. The Independent Schools Council’s school search covers its member schools and lets families filter by location, age range, day or boarding provision and qualifications. Narrow your list using these criteria, then check which specialist programmes each school offers.
Many schools take children from age 2 or 3, with the main entry points at 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. Claremont welcomes children from Nursery to Sixth Form, and our Football Academy is open to players aged 7–18.
Many do. Claremont offers scholarships at Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form, including sport, alongside means-tested bursaries.
20 October 2026
Meet Accent Catering, Claremont School’s new catering partner, serving fresh, nutritious meals with seasonal ingredients and a focus on pupil wellbeing.
14 October 2026
A Claremont School tour helps families explore learning, pastoral care, boarding and specialist programmes while discovering whether the school is right for their child.
15 June 2026
Parents know that choosing the right school for a child who loves performing arts is never simple
Whole School
Performing Arts
