Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is an independent school in West Sussex for girls and boys aged 2 to 13 years
We inspire, we nurture, we achieve...
Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is a West Sussex private school within easy reach of Worthing, Steyning and Brighton. Its 30 acres of grounds form part of the landscape of the South Downs National Park. It is a family-owned school. Founded in 1921, the school has been helping children meet their full potential for almost a century.
“We prepare pupils to succeed at the senior schools of their choice, with many winning scholarships. Pupils benefit from acres of outdoor space to inspire their imaginations. Children receive high-quality education and enjoy a ‘real childhood’ – in a world in which an overly screen-based lifestyle can mean they grow up only too fast…”
Acres of green space, lungfuls of fresh air
Our children are spoilt for space. The school sits in a sweeping expanse of woodland and chalk grassland. The environment allows children to enjoy an outstanding education and a 'real' childhood. The 30 acres of grounds comprise a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, woodland, wild areas, walled garden with play equipment for our Early Years children, Victorian greenhouses for gardening, and a managed wildlife pond.
Small classes, big experiences
The pupil to teacher ratio is capped, with average class size being 15. Staff know all the pupils so no child ever gets 'lost in a crowd'. Students perform strongly against national academic outcomes through a stimulating academic programme, focus on individual attention and innovative use of digital technologies. It also works hard on equipping children with 'social tools': developing confidence, self-belief and communication skills. Traditional values such as teamwork, respect and courtesy, we believe, will be as important for their future careers as their exam success.
Broadly Christian in ethos
We’re broadly Christian in ethos but we welcome all faiths and celebrate other faith festivals. Our aim is to promote an awareness of spiritual values. We see our morning assemblies as an integral part of school life as they present moral, cultural and topical themes in a simple and meaningful way.
Free wrap-around care, for working parents
Life can be hectic for professional parents. The school is set up for the demands of the working day, with flexible free wrap-around care. For Pre-Prep pupils, it's from 8am-4.30pm. For Prep pupils, it's 7.30am-6pm. Ours is a homely school with a warm family feel and strong pastoral care. To find out for yourself, please contact us to arrange a visit.
Bespoke education in a parkland environment
Sompting Abbotts' pupils get to know their catkins from cow parsley; their jackdaws from jays. They also get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School is a private school in West Sussex that's part of the 1,600km2 South Downs National Park. Staff and pupils use our extensive natural environment every day for sports, outdoor lessons and forest school activities.
Parent Reviews of Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School. Ten parents explain why they chose Sompting Abbotts independent school for their child's education.
“Impeccable academic teaching, fantastic musical tuition, high standards of behaviour and manners all within a nurturing, caring environment that feels like one big extended family. ”
A magical childhood
Sompting Abbotts' resemblance to the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is due to its Neo-Gothic style. The building dates from 1856. Classes in Defence against the Dark Arts are not part of the curriculum ... But pupils do enjoy spellbinding views of the coastline from Beachy Head to the Isle of Wight. Legend has it the school has a resident ghost: the Black Abbott! Learn more about the school history here.
Sompting Abbotts Nursery
Sompting Abbotts Nursery is close to Worthing, Steyning and Hove. It accepts the 30 hours Free Entitlement for all eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds. The Early Years nursery has some of the best outdoor play facilities in Sussex and all nursery children enjoy regular forest-school lessons in the woods and grounds.
Rosalind, Year 8, looks back at her 10 years at the school. She's won a Drama Scholarship to Lancing College. She says she has "so many wonderful memories of the school".
TV presenter and historian Richard Vobes visited the school to make a special two-part documentary for the Bald Explorer TV series. Here’s the first part of his film.
- Age range of pupils: 2 – 13 years
- Average pupil to teacher ratio: 15 : 1
- Size of Grounds: 30 acres
- Success rate of pupils entered in Common Entrance: 100%
- Top 3 senior schools pupils win scholarships to: Lancing, Brighton, Hurstpierpoint
- Success rate of pupils entered for scholarships since 2007: 95%
- Top 4 reasons our parents give for choosing Sompting Abbotts: 1: small class sizes; 2: 'whole' child development; 3: low confidence in local state school; 4: scholarship potential
Discover how preparatory schools in the independent school sector are different from primary schools in the state sector.
What child doesn’t love to collect handfuls of glossy brown conkers? At Sompting Abbotts, they don't just fill their pockets — even socks become makeshift pouches. And so, at this time of the year, we send the children out into our school grounds to look for shiny conkers (not that they need any persuading).