Ardingly College

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Ardingly College
Motto "Beati Mundo Corde"
(Blessed are the true in heart)
Established 1858
Type Coeducational Independent School
Affiliation Woodard Corporation
Headmaster John R. Franklin
Founder Canon Nathaniel Woodard
Students 754 (approx.)
Grades aged 2 - U6th Form
Location Ardingly, West Sussex England
Campus Rural; 230 acres
Colours Green and Yellow
Website www.ardingly.com

Ardingly College is a public (privately funded and independent) co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard.

The college is located in the village of Ardingly near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, having moved to its present location in 1870. The main school is a three-storey, H-shaped red brick building.

The school's headmaster, John Franklin, is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the school is a member of the Woodard Corporation of independent schools in the United Kingdom. As a result the college is founded and run on Christian principles.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Ardingly College is divided into three autonomous schools, comprising a Pre-Preparatory School catering for pupils aged 2 1/2 to 7, Junior School catering for pupils aged 7-13 and Senior School for pupils aged 13-18. Both Junior and Senior Schools accommodate boarders, who make up the majority of the student population. In all, the college has approximately 750 pupils. 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.

Senior School day fees are approximately £16,500 per year; Senior School boarding fees are approximately £21,600. However there are a number of bursaries and scholarships available.

[edit] Education

Ardingly College
Ardingly College

In 2001 the school introduced the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme enabling students entering the sixth-form to choose between the conventional A-Levels or the IB programme.

In 2006 students and staff celebrated a 100% A-Level and International Baccalaureate pass rate. The results showed a 12% increase in A and B grades from 2005, which, combined with the outstanding International Baccalaureate results, brought the college a resounding 100% result for the second year in succession.

[edit] Fees and charitable status

Like all English public schools, Ardingly's excellent facilities come at the price of substantial fees, though a number of scholarships are available. Like most public schools, Ardingly is recognised as a charity, and as such receives substantial tax breaks. State assistance has declined after the 2001 abolition of state-funded scholarships (formerly known as "assisted places") to public school by the Labour government. The college actively engages with and contributes to the local community in terms of providing free use of its facilities, such as its indoor swimming pool.

[edit] Terminology and slang

Ardingly College, as viewed from the headmaster's garden
Ardingly College, as viewed from the headmaster's garden

Much of Ardingly slang is the same as other public school slang, however there are numerous Ardingly-specific phrases which are sometimes perplexing to outsiders.

  • Boundaries: 4 mile-ish cross country run around some of the school borders, Balcombe reservoir and Viaduct, sometimes issued as a punishment.
  • Callover: registration in houses.
  • Congers: congregational hymn practice in chapel.
  • Crypt: optional evening prayer services, held in the Lower Crypt.
  • Evening School: a period in which boarders are to do their homework in their respective houses. This lasts from 19:15 (after dinner) until 21:00.
  • Gating Card: a card given to students for bad behavious such as smoking.
  • Hoggy: high tea.
  • Gobbos: name given to the operatives in the kitchen department, said to relate to Lancelot Gobbo, the servant in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
  • Task: a piece of homework.
  • The Bricks: the bricked walk in front of Junior School.
  • The Dykes: the name given to the toilet block outside the canteen.
  • The Gully: an area to the northeast of the school buildings with a small stream running through it, often used by pupils as a location for illicit activities.
  • The Heath: Haywards Heath (nearby town).
  • The San: the School Sanitorium (although now called the 'Health Centre').
  • The Steepo: annual three and a half mile run in which all students partipate.
  • The Under: staged venue located above the dining hall, which plays host to school plays, concerts etc.
  • The Vill: the village (i.e. Ardingly itself).
  • Tolly: butter or (more usually) margarine.
  • Weekend leave: boarders may gain permission to leave on Saturday afternoon and return on Sunday evening.

Moreover, Ardingly, in common with a number of other public schools, has an unusual system for naming the school years; in the senior school, Year 9 is referred to as 'Shell', Year 10 is known as 'Remove', and Year 11 is called 'Fifth'.

[edit] Notable Old Ardinians

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

[edit] Houses

  • Crosse
  • Rhodes
  • Hilton
  • Mertens
  • Toynbee
  • Neal
  • Aberdeen
  • Woodard (UVI) Upper Sixth, both male and female accommodation

[edit] Trivia

The Head Boy, according to tradition, has the right to keep a goat in the Headmaster's garden, although this right has not been exercised recently. Apparently the Head Boy may also grow a beard (the only pupil allowed to) and should the Head Boy and Head Girl marry, (obviously after leaving) they are given a house in the grounds for their first year of marriage!

[edit] External link

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