Whether it’s creativity, STEM (Sciences) or equestrian sport — Mayfield School shows real passion across many fields.
Nestled in the small village of Mayfield in East Sussex, southern England, Mayfield School is a cheerful girls’ boarding school that recognises and nurtures each girl’s potential. Catholic faith forms the foundation of life here. About half the students live on site, and every Saturday and Sunday morning, the traditional house breakfast brings everyone together around one big table.
Outstanding academic results, a wide variety of extracurricular activities and excellent pastoral care are among the school’s key strengths. Mayfield also keeps pace with the times, continuously developing its pupils’ digital skills. The most recent report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate praised the quality of education at Mayfield as “excellent.”
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 pupils: 400
Age range of pupils: 11–18
International pupils: 20%
Average class size: 8
Boarding fees for the Sixth Form per term: £17,970
Main sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: horse riding, dance, hockey, netball, cricket, rowing, athletics
Nearest airports: London Gatwick (45 minutes), London Heathrow (60 minutes)
Key Strengths at a Glance
Particularly successful in equestrian sports
Wide range of subjects
One of the best ceramics studios in Europe
Strong support in STEM subjects
Mayfield School – Photo Highlights
Mayfield School in Detail
Riding
Young riders feel particularly at home at Mayfield School, which has a deep affection for horses and equestrian sport. The welfare and health of the horses always come first. Many students even bring their own horse with them. Ambitious riders can join the highly successful equestrian team, which competes in dressage, showjumping and eventing — and here’s the remarkable thing: Mayfield wins more national equestrian titles than any other school in the country! But beginners are very welcome too, and can take riding lessons at the local equestrian centre, which is certified by the British Horse Society (BHS).
Creative Arts
Creativity at Mayfield is celebrated with great enthusiasm and in many forms. The school’s choir, Schola Cantorum, has sung in iconic venues such as Westminster Abbey, St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and Notre Dame de Paris. Through the dance programme, girls explore a range of jazz techniques, while the drama club stages its own productions. The textiles department boasts a superb studio, and students compete in national contests such as the Royal Opera House Design Challenge. Creativity is also encouraged in the academic curriculum through subjects like Art and Design, Textiles and Ceramics — where the school’s ceramics studio is considered one of the finest in Europe!
Academic Life
From Greek and Latin to Media Studies, Equine Management and Politics, Mayfield offers an impressive range of subjects. The School is particularly proud that Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology often have the highest enrolments — something unusual for a girls’ school. Sixth Form students can also choose enrichment options such as the Sports Leadership Award or Charity Event Management. Class sizes average just eight pupils, allowing for highly personalised teaching. The academic results speak for themselves: in 2023, 52% of students achieved grades A*-A. Most graduates go on to study at Russell Group universities, Oxbridge, or prestigious institutions in the US and overseas.
Sport & Leisure
Mayfield boasts excellent sports facilities, including an all-weather pitch, a modern dance studio, a heated 25-metre swimming pool, and a professional fitness suite. Beyond riding, students shine in hockey, netball, cricket, rowing, athletics and dance. After school, options like fencing, Zumba, personal training and lifesaving are also available. But it isn’t just keen athletes who find plenty to do — volunteering and outdoor challenges through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award provide variety in the afternoons. STEM-minded girls can join clubs such as Junior Tech Club, Minecraft or Lego Spike, where they design and build, for example, frames for micro-drones.
The Head’s Perspective
Deborah Bligh
This is Mayfield School
Fees Mayfield School
The fees at Mayfield School are £17,970 per term, or £53,910 per year.
What our clients say about us
Get a free consultation and find out more about Mayfield School
Conclusion: Mayfield School
A joyful community, a strong creative spirit, and exceptional commitment to equestrian sport make Mayfield School stand out.
But Mayfield is far from the only boarding school in the UK that combines strong values, a wonderful sense of community, and rich extracurricular opportunities. We strongly recommend you seek advice tailored to your specific wishes and expectations — and we’re here to help. Thanks to years of working closely with these schools, we understand their unique character and can offer authentic insights.
We’re confident we can help you find the right boarding school for your child. You can find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- our many years of experience in school placement
- our advice on the British education system
- help with visa questions
- our support throughout the application process
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.
