For us, Ardingly College ranks among the very best IB schools in the UK. Here, ambitious aspirations are awakened, and outstanding achievements are the norm.
The school is located about an hour southwest of London, in the county of Sussex. We celebrate the academic strength of this boarding school: its exam results surpass all standards. A 2019 ALPS award confirms this, placing Ardingly in the top 2% of A-Level schools in the UK. In 2025, Ardingly came second in the UK for average IB Diploma scores at an amazing 39.8 points.
Naturally, such excellence comes with high expectations of commitment from its students — but in return, the school offers exceptional care, excellent teaching standards, and a wealth of extracurricular and sporting opportunities.
We find it particularly impressive how the Headmaster, Ben Figgis, leads the school with passion and vision. He clearly loves Ardingly — not least because all three of his own children attended. Figgis strives to ensure the very best for his students, helping to shape their character and prepare them for life beyond school. Drilling screws, cooking, changing tyres — Ardingly pupils can tackle it all.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Number of students: 600
Boarders: 50%
Students in Sixth Form: 24%
Boarding fees per term: 16.925 £ (GCSE) bis 17.547 £ (Sixth Form)
Key sports offerings besides the traditional team sports: football, hockey, swimming, cricket, cross-country, athletics, tennis, netball, watersports
Nearest airport: London Gatwick (20 minutes by car)
https://www.ardingly.com/
Key strengths at a glance
Close to London
World-class exam results
Elite sports programs in hockey, football, swimming, and cricket
Practical life skills
Ardingly College – Photo Highlights
Ardingly College in detail
Academic Excellence
Ardingly is an ambitious school that drives its students to achieve top results — and with great success. Every year, the already impressive exam scores improve even further. In 2021, 82% of A-Level students achieved the highest grades, and the IB cohort surpassed even that: with an average of nearly 40 points, they performed well above the global average of 31. Such results don’t happen by chance: Ardingly offers intensive support at every level, and therefore looks for motivated students who are ready to make the most of these opportunities. Admission is competitive, and strong grades are a must in advance of acceptance.
Sport
On both regional and national stages, Ardingly is a formidable competitor thanks to its outstanding sports programme. We particularly admire the elite coaching in hockey, football, swimming, and cricket, but students can also enjoy rowing, sailing, riding, golf, fencing, water polo, and more. We love the vibrant atmosphere on campus during Saturday morning matches, when sport takes centre stage. To support training and performance, the school provides superb facilities: a new sports and fitness centre, two sports halls, a 25-metre swimming pool, squash courts, a rowing hall, a dance studio, extensive outdoor pitches for tennis, football and rugby — even a lake on the campus.
Learning for Life
Academic learning is only part of the story at Ardingly. True to its mission of preparing students for life, the school offers a wealth of extracurricular programmes and initiatives. Through projects such as The World Ready Journey and Shaping My World, students develop invaluable character skills and a global outlook. They also practise practical abilities like CV writing, first aid, and DIY, even putting up shelves! Mental health is equally prioritised: the dedicated Health and Wellbeing Centre provides 24/7 support from trained mental health staff, nurses, and house parents.
Arts and Enrichment
At Ardingly, students should feel at home, and that applies just as much to their leisure time as to lessons and boarding life. Colour and creativity are everywhere: in the bright art department, the school’s own gallery, the corridors and common rooms, adorned with lovingly designed posters and artwork. For music, dance, and drama enthusiasts, there are numerous choirs, orchestras, a dedicated dance studio, and passionate theatre directors. We particularly love the school’s variety: students can take a beekeeping course, practise mindfulness, build solar-powered cars, or explore London and Brighton.
Photos from our visit
This is Ardingly College
Bilder unserer Besichtigungen
What our clients say about us
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Conclusion
Ardingly College is a British independent school that perfectly suits focused, ambitious students. It is, however, not the only boarding school in the UK with outstanding academic opportunities.
We therefore strongly recommend looking at other schools as well — and we’re of course happy to advise you. Thanks to our long-standing connections with these schools, we know their individual strengths and can guide you accordingly.
We are confident — together we’ll find the right boarding school for your child.
For an overview, please visit our page on UK boarding schools.
Take advantage of:
- authentic insights from first-hand experience
- our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- years of expertise in placing students
- support with visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
