Ardingly College

Infobox UK school
name = Ardingly College


size = 250px
latitude =
longitude =
dms =
motto = _la. "Beati Mundo Corde"
("Blessed are the pure in heart")
motto_pl =
established = 1858
approx =
closed =
c_approx =
type = Public School
religion =
president =
head_label = Headmaster
head = Peter Green
r_head_label = Chairman of Governors
r_head = Robert Alston CMG
chair_label = Provost
chair = The Right Reverend Lindsay Urwin OGS
founder = Canon Nathaniel Woodard
founder_pl =
specialist =
street =
city = Ardingly
county = West Sussex
country = England flagicon|England
postcode =
LEA =
ofsted =
staff =
enrollment = c.750
gender = co-educational
lower_age = 2½
upper_age = 18
houses =
colours = Blue and Yellow color box|bluecolor box|Yellow
publication =
free_label_1 = Former pupils
free_1 =
free_label_2 = Visitor
free_2 = The Lord Bishop of Chichester "ex officio"
free_label_3 = Affiliation
free_3 = Woodard Corporation
website = http://www.ardingly.com/
website_name = www.ardingly.com

Ardingly College is an independent co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard.cite web |url=http://www.independentschools.com/england/ardingly-college_1109.html#full|title=Independent Schools - Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-05-12] The college is located in the village of Ardingly near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, having moved to its present location in 1870.cite web |url=http://www.sussexbythecoast.biz/Sussex-Towns-Directory/Ardingly--West-Sussex/11/0.htm|title=History of Ardingly, West Sussex|accessdate=2008-05-12] The school's headmaster, Peter Green, is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the school is a member of the Woodard Corporation of independent schools and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition.cite web |url=http://www.hmc.org.uk/schools/a-c.htm|title=HMC Schools|accessdate=2008-05-12] The school became fully co-educational in 1982.cite web |url=http://www.schoolsguidebook.co.uk/schools/Ardingly_College.html|title=UK School Guide - Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-05-12]

Foundation and overview

Ardingly College was originally founded as St. Saviour’s School, Shoreham in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard whose aim was to provide education based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the

In 1861 Woodard came across the 196 acre (0.79 km²) Saucelands estate at the southern edge of Ardingly village, which was acquired in 1862 for £6,000. Woodard employed Richard Carpenter as the school's architect, and the foundation stone at Ardingly was laid on 12 July 1864 by Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville. St Saviour’s School moved to the partially completed site at Ardingly on 14 June 1870 when the new school was officially opened by the Bishop of Chichester, with the inaugural sermon delivered by Samuel Wilberforce.

Today Ardingly is divided into three autonomous schools, comprising a Pre-Preparatory School catering for pupils aged 2½ -7, Junior School catering for pupils aged 7-13 and Senior School for pupils aged 13-18.cite web |url=http://www.ardingly.com/schools.shtml|title=Ardingly College - One College, Three Schools|accessdate=2008-06-29] Both Junior and Senior Schools accommodate boarders who make up the majority of the Senior School student population.cite web |url=http://www.woodard.co.uk/ardingly_college.htm|title=Woodard Schools - Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-07-20] All Junior and Senior School students are assigned to a boarding house in which boarders live and study and where day-pupils have study areas. In all, the college has approximately 750 pupils.cite web |url=http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_07.pl?Mode=Z&No=9386200&Type=LA&Num=938&Phase=1&Year=07&Base=e|title=Department for Children, Schools and Families - Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-07-20] As of the academic year 2008/09 Senior School day fees are approximately £18,000 per year, with Senior School boarding fees approximately £24,000, though a number of bursaries and scholarships are available.cite web |url=http://www.ardingly.com/am/uploads/school_fees_2008-9.pdf|title=Ardingly College Fees 08/09|accessdate=2008-09-14|format=PDF] According to the "Good Schools Guide", "Ardingly College has admitted more pupils this year than at any point in its history and places are at a premium." [http://goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/ardingly-college.html]

Brief history

The College's Combined Cadet Force was established in 1902 in the wake of the Second Boer War. 1,200 Old Ardinians went on to fight in World War I, 146 of whom were killed along with two members of staff; their names are recorded on the war memorial in the Chapel. In addition 88 Old Ardinians lost their lives in World War II; their names are recorded in a Book of Remembrance in the Crypt, and on the Memorial Board in the Under.

In 1958 the College celebrated its centenary. As part of the celebrations Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the College on 9 June 1958. A stone plaque on the terrace parapet commemorates the Queen's visit, where she 'beheld the view'. Later that week on 14 June 1958 the then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan visited the College to formally open the Centenary Building, which comprises the College Cricket Pavilion and Centenary Room upstairs. On 8 May 2008 His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent visited the College as part of its sesquicentenary celebrations where he officially opened a new teaching block at the Pre-Preparatory School.cite web |url=http://www.ardingly.com/article_469.shtml|title=Ardingly College - 150th Anniversary Celebration
accessdate=2008-07-22]

Academic

In 2008, 59% of GCSE entries were awarded A* or A grades, with 100% of pupils gaining at least 5 A*-C grades.cite web |url=http://www.ardingly.com/article_519.shtml|title=Ardingly College GCSE Results|accessdate=2008-08-23] In 2001 Ardingly introduced the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme enabling students entering the sixth-form to choose between conventional A-Levels or the IB Programme.cite web |url=http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/882-Ardingly_College.html|title=ISBI Schools - Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-07-20] In 2007 Ardingly was ranked 13th in the UK based on the average points of sixth formers taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.cite web |url=http://www.baccalaureate.eu.com/LeagueTables.asp|title=UK IB League Table 2007|accessdate=2007-11-25] In the same year The Times ranked Ardingly 83rd in the UK in terms of the average UCAS points achieved per pupil; pupils achieved an average of 386.8 UCAS points, with 40% of A-Level entries being awarded A grades.cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/a_level_gcse_results/|title=The Times A-Level Results 2007|accessdate=2007-09-05]

Campus

Today Ardingly occupies a 260 acre (1.1 km²) site situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.cite web |url=http://www.ardingly.com/article_22.shtml|title=Ardingly College|accessdate=2008-07-20] The main school building incorporates St. Saviour's Chapel, the Crypt, the Dining Hall, and the Under and Green Room, in addition to four wings, namely South School, School House, The New Wing and Junior School Wing. South School incorporates the school laundry, computer labs, administrative offices and mathematics classrooms, while School House incorporates Crosse House, a drama studio, art studios, and a gallery. The New Wing, or ABC block as it is sometimes known, is a four-storied later edition to the Main School where most lessons are held. The New Wing houses the McLaren Library, named after Old Ardinian and former Chairman of Governors Sir Robin McLaren. The final wing of Main School, Junior School Wing, houses the Junior School boarding houses, classrooms, and a Theatre/Cinema. The formation of Main School gives way to two semi-enclosed areas known as North and South Quads. At the rear of South Quad is The Terrace, a concrete platform which terminates with a low brick parapet looking down onto Headmaster's Garden and to the 9 acre playing fields beyond. Other notable features on campus include the Centenary Building incorporating the College Cricket Pavilion and Centenary Room, the Music School, the Science Block, the CCF Hut incorporating the Armory and Rifle Range, the Observatory, Headmaster's Lake, and the Pre-Prep School. Sporting facilities include a sports hall known as Flecker Hall, an indoor swimming pool, 18 tennis courts, an astroturf pitch, and extensive games fields.cite web |url=http://www.vacationcourses.co.uk/contact/pdf/Ardingly_Info_Sheet_Easter_Summer.pdf|title=Ardingly College - School Facilities|accessdate=2008-08-12|format=PDF]

Notable Old Ardinians

Past students of Ardingly College are referred to as Old Ardinians. See also .

Politics & Diplomatic Service

*Sir Robert Cary, 1st Baronet, Conservative Member of Parliament. [cite web|url=http://thepeerage.com/p20703.htm|title=Biography of Sir Robert Cary, 1st Baronet|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Sir John Gorst, Conservative Member of Parliament. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/candidates/341.htm|title=Biography of Sir John Gorst|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Sir Andrew Bowden, Conservative Member of Parliament. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/candidates/82.htm|title=Biography of Sir Andrew Bowden|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Major Sir Robert Tasker, Conservative Member of Parliament.cite book | last = Gibbs | first = David | title = A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858-2008 | publisher = James & James Publishers Ltd | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781903942833]
*Jack Easter, Australian Member of Parliament. [cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/c5422d96fcc89068ca256e2800813f47!OpenDocument|title=Parliament of New South Wales - Former Members Index|accessdate=2008-09-22]
*Sir David Manning GCMG CVO, British Ambassador to Israel (1995–1998), foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair (2001–2003), British Ambassador to the United States (2003–2007). [cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200209230017|title=Biography of Sir David Manning|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Sir Andrew Wood GCMG, British Ambassador to Yugoslavia (1985–1989), British Ambassador to Russia (1995–2000). [cite web|url=http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0014%2FDOHP%2077|title=Biography of Sir Andrew Wood|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Sir Robin McLaren KCMG, British Ambassador to the Philippines (1985–1987), British Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (1991–1994). [cite web|url=http://www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/collections/BDOHP/McLaren.pdf|title=BDOHP interview with Sir Robin McLaren|accessdate=2008-09-14|format=PDF]
*Robert Alston CMG, British Ambassador to Oman (1986–1990), British High Commissioner to New Zealand (1994–1998). [cite web|url=http://www.world-traders.org/officers/Robert%20Alston.doc|title=Brief CV for Robert Alston|accessdate=2008-09-30|format=DOC]
*Ian Mackley CMG CVO, British High Commissioner to Ghana (1996–2000).cite book | last = Gibbs | first = David | title = A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858-2008 | publisher = James & James Publishers Ltd | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781903942833]
*Sir Edward Jackson KCMG, British Ambassador to Cuba (1975–1979), British Ambassador to Belgium (1982–1985). [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1396293/Sir-Edward-Jackson.html|title=Obituary: Sir Edward Jackson|accessdate=2008-09-30]

Media

*Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye and panelist on Have I Got News For You. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/people/ian_hislop_person_page.shtml|title=Biography of Ian Hislop|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Nick Newman, cartoonist for Private Eye, The Times and The Spectator, television comedy scriptwriter. [cite web|url=http://opal.kent.ac.uk/cartoonx-cgi/artist.py?id=461|title=Biography of Nick Newman|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Sir Bill Cotton CBE, television producer and BBC executive, Controller of BBC One (1977–1981). [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7555766.stm|title=Obituary: Sir Bill Cotton|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Paul Reynolds, BBC World Affairs Correspondent.cite book | last = Gibbs | first = David | title = A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858-2008 | publisher = James & James Publishers Ltd | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781903942833]
*Owen Spencer-Thomas MBE, television and radio broadcaster. [cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~owenst/OwenSpencer-ThomasBiog.html|title=Biography of Owen Spencer-Thomas|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Jay Wynne, BBC weather forecaster. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/bbcweather/forecasters/jaywynne.shtml|title=Biography of Jay Wynne|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Colin Griffiths, broadcaster
*Ed Petrie, broadcaster

Arts

*Terry-Thomas, actor. [cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/588428/Terry-Thomas#tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Terry-Thomas%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia|title=Encyclopedia Britannica: Terry-Thomas|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Neil Gaiman, author and screenwriter. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/jun/12/neil.gaiman|title=Biography of Neil Gaiman|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Victor Silvester OBE, composer and band leader. [cite web|url=http://www.greatwar.nl/children/silvester.html|title=Biography of Victor Silvester|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Alan Howard CBE, actor. [cite web|url=http://www.alanhoward.org.uk/biog.htm|title=Biography of Alan Howard|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Dr John Hayes CBE FRSA, art historian, Director of the National Portait Gallery (1974–1994). [cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article788165.ece|title=Obituary: John Hayes|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Stephen Oliver, composer
*Charles Bryant, actor and film director. [cite web|url=http://silentladies.com/BBryant.html|title=Biography of Charles Bryant|accessdate=2008-09-27]
*Frank Williams, actor. [cite web|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RmtIWK8Sx7EC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=%22frank+williams%22+%22ardingly%22&source=web&ots=HTARndcPUy&sig=AvydhXpXf24undx0r_8k55hd9vA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result|title=Vicar to "Dad's Army"|accessdate=2008-09-27]
*Ed Sanders, actor. [cite web|url=http://www.ardingly.com/article_410.shtml|title=Ed Sanders - Sweeney Todd|accessdate=2008-09-27]
*Mark Letheren, actor
*Mike Christie, baritone singer with the vocal troupe G4
*Alex Cartañá, singer-songwriter
*Thomas Meech, author and journalist

port

*Mike Hawthorn, racing driver, Formula One World Champion (1958). [cite web|url=http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/bio.php|title=Biography of Mike Hawthorn|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*George Brann, Sussex cricketer and England footballer.cite book | last = Gibbs | first = David | title = A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858-2008 | publisher = James & James Publishers Ltd | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781903942833]
*Billy Newham, Sussex and England cricketer
*Walter Bettesworth, Sussex and Scotland cricketer
*Arthur Kneller, Hampshire cricketer
*William Blackman, Sussex cricketer
*Ben Brown, Sussex and England under-19s cricketer
*Adam Virgo, footballer
*Max Chilton, racing driver

Religion

*The Most Reverend Walter Robert Adams, Primate of All Canada (1950-1951), former Archbishop of Yukon and of British Columbia. [cite web|url=http://aabc.bc.ca/WWW.angbc.archbc/display.ANGSYNOD-603|title=Anglican Archives - Walter Robert Adams|accessdate=2008-09-21]
*The Right Reverend Gordon Mursell, Bishop of Stafford. [ Who’s Who 2008 (London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 9780713672576]
*The Right Reverend George Browning, former Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn

Academia

*Professor Robert Foley, Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge
*Professor Frank Cowell, noted Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics. [cite web|url=http://darp.lse.ac.uk/Frankweb/Frank/cv.asp|title=CV of Professor Frank Cowell|accessdate=2008-09-14]

Miscellaneous

*Charles Cruft, founder of Crufts dog show. [cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/49018?_fromAuth=1|title=Oxford DNB article: Charles Cruft|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*George Reginald Starr DSO MC, Special Operations Executive

Headmasters of Ardingly

* The Revd Frederick Mertens (1858–1894)
* The Revd Francis Kercheval Hilton (1894–1904)
* The Revd Herbert Rhodes (1904–1911)
* The Revd Marchant Pearson (1911–1914)
* The Revd Thomas Erskine Wilson (1915–1932)
* The Revd Ernest Courtenay Crosse DSO MC (1933–1946)
* The Revd George D'Oyly Snow (1947–1961)
* Christopher Bulteel MC (1962–1980)
* James Flecker (1980–1998)
* John Franklin (1998–2007)
* Peter Green (2007– )

Notable Masters

*Norman Gifford, current College cricket coach, former England cricket captain. [cite web|url=http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/mid-sussex-sport/Cricket-legend-Sobers-at-Ardingly.4178242.jp|title=Cricket legend Sobers at Ardingly|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Alfred Shaw, former College cricket coach and England cricket captain.cite book | last = Gibbs | first = David | title = A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858-2008 | publisher = James & James Publishers Ltd | year = 2008 | isbn = 9781903942833]
*George Robb, former Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer. [cite web|url=http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/mid-sussex-sport/Cricket-legend-Sobers-at-Ardingly.4178242.jp|title=Biography of George Robb|accessdate=2008-09-14]
*Roger Wickson, schoolmaster and historian
*Herbie Flowers, bass guitarist and tuba maestro

Ardingly College Lodge

The school has its own Masonic Lodge, Ardingly College Lodge, which is a member of the elite Freemason 'Public School Lodges' Council.cite web |url=http://www.pslc.net/|title=Public School Lodges' Council|accessdate=2008-07-20] The Lodge, which is open to male Old Ardinians as well as those with an affiliation to the College, was founded in 1922 by the then Headmaster The Revd Thomas Erskine Wilson together with masters, the Provost of the school, and the Bishop of Lewes.cite web |url=http://www.parabola.co.uk/ardingly.htm|title=Ardingly College Lodge|accessdate=2007-02-07]

outhern Railway Schools class

The School lent its name to the eighteenth steam locomotive (Engine 917) in the Southern Railway's Class V of which there were 40.cite web |url=http://www.semgonline.com/steam/v_classdat.html|title=Southern Railway Schools Class|accessdate=2008-06-29] This Class was also known as the Schools Class because all 40 of the class were named after prominent English Public Schools. 'Ardingly', as it was called, was built in 1934 and was withdrawn in 1962.cite web |url=http://www.semgonline.com/steam/v_classdat.html|title=Southern Railway Schools Class|accessdate=2008-06-29]

References

Further reading

*Argent, N. (1991) Ardingly College 1939–1990. Autolycus Press.
*Gibbs, D. (2008) A School with a View: A History of Ardingly College 1858–2008. James & James Publishers Ltd.
*Letts, S. (1985) Ardingly: Its Building and Buildings. Old Ardinians Society.
*Perry, R. (1951) Ardingly 1858–1946: A History of the School. Old Ardinians Society.

External links

* [http://www.ardingly.com/ Ardingly College website]
* [http://goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school/ardingly-college.html Profile at the Good Schools Guide]
* [http://www.oldardinians.com/ Old Ardinians website]
* [http://www.parabola.co.uk/ardingly.htm Ardingly College Lodge]
Coordinates: coord|51|02|26|N|00|05|23|W|type:edu