WHAT WHERE

The long winding drive sets the scene for the handsome gothic hunting lodge that once belonged to the Marquis of Abergavenny and is now home to Brambletye. Located in the Sussex countryside near the busy town of East Grinstead, the main house where the pupils board, has glorious views of Ashdown Forest and the Weir Wood Reservoir. The 340 pupils come from London and surrounding towns with 10% of students from overseas.

The school is set in 140 gorgeous acres with gardens designed by renowned Gertrude Jekyll. There are formal terraced lawns down to rambling woods, where copious den making takes place. Classes are held in modern buildings alongside the country house, with much of the learning taking place outside weather permitting.

FACILITIES

Facilities are impressive. To celebrate the school’s centenary in 2019, an art studio, library complex, all-weather pitch and new changing facilities were added at a cost of £2.1 million. And there’s more to come. The head will be announcing new plans for facilities provision in September so watch this space!

SPORT

Sport is taken seriously here (the headmaster was captain of his Prep XV back in the day and clearly sees its value). Yes, there’s the usual large sports hall but this one has a fencing track, a climbing wall and an indoor shooting gallery and dance studio. There are 7 football and rugby pitches (pretty generous for the number of pupils), 5 cricket pitches with nets, a new all-weather pitch (not flood-lit), 3 tennis/netball courts, a 300m athletics track, 2 squash courts and even a 7 hole golf course. The 17m covered pool is a little tired but it does the job and pupils swim every week, one of the children recently came 3rd in the IAPS National Finals breaststroke. Girls football was introduced this year and is proving popular, as is cricket. Brambletye’s under-10 girls team won the Ardingly Cricket tournament in May.

Co-curricular clubs include sailing at the nearby reservoir, horse-riding off-site, fencing, tennis and golf (extra fees). There’s also an assault course and a 220m zip wire within the playing fields, plus the Pre-Prep enjoys a school in the woods.

All children represent their school in regular fixtures with teams chosen according to ability. Impressively, there are 10 unbeaten Brambletye sports teams this season – quite an achievement!

THE ARTS

Art is a particular strength at Brambletye, with David Holden, the head of department, having helped pupils gain 250 art scholarships during his 26-year tenure. A fabulous light-filled art studio was opened in 2020, named H in Holden’s honour. Here fine art, photography, ceramics, typography and pretty much everything else in between is taught. The room is filled with hugely impressive artwork – I had to confirm that the pupils are, at most, aged 13 – their work is so good.

Drama is top notch too and it’s very much ‘lights, camera, action’ for the lovely 250-seater theatre with West End vibes including professional sets, lighting, orchestra pit and stunning wardrobes of costumes.

There are strong LAMDA results with 70 out of 74 children achieving Distinction in 2024. There’s a Year 7 and 8 musical every two years and an impressive 75% of children learn a musical instrument, a contender for one of the higher percentages we’ve come across this year! You’ll find whole school concerts twice yearly with more frequent informal concerts, along with the usual array of junior and senior choir clubs, specialist music classrooms and 6 practice rooms. Phew! Other than the usual instruments the more unusual peri teachers include those for harp and euphonium. Year 2 learn the ukulele and year 3 the trumpet (yes really!)

HEAD TEACHER

Will Brooks, in his 10th year as headteacher, has simplified the school rules to: “Work Hard, Play Hard, Be Kind,” which are followed by everyone on site and encompasses everything you need to know about Brambletye. Brooks is warm, likeable and passionate about preparing children for the 21st century but making sure they have fun along the way. When I meet him, he’s brimming with enthusiasm about plans due to be unveiled in September. He doesn’t give much away but the big reveal will involve further improving facilities.

Brooks champions a support system that allows year 6 children to choose a personal tutor for their remaining two years at Brambletye. Brooks has his own tutor group of 10 who meet in his study every morning. This is clearly important to him and he makes noises about finding time for a return to the classroom.

ACADEMICS

Brambletye is selective but it’s a soft touch approach – there’s no test but there are face-to-face chats and a review of recent school reports.

The school has a 100% pass rate for common entrance exams, perhaps thanks to the small class sizes, which average 16. Pupils are mostly taught by a single teacher until the end of year 4, with specialist subject teachers from year 5 onwards.

All children learn Spanish and Mandarin with French and Latin options added from year 6. From year 5, pupils are streamed in core subjects according to ability and the top set in each year group is then ‘accelerated’ with the intention of completing the Common Entrance syllabus by the end of Year 7 – so anyone worried about the school not stretching the brightest can relax.

This year, leavers are moving onto 16 different schools within the immediate area and are also going as far as Rutland’s Uppingham and Dorset’s Sherborne. Pupils have gone on land scholarships across the board from art to sport as well as academic at schools including Eastbourne College, Lancing College, Mayfield and Winchester College.

A wide and diverse choice of extra-curricular clubs (some extra, many included in fees), include street and modern dance, cheer-leading, carpentry, comic and animation design, weaving, bike maintenance, web design, bushcraft, lifesaving and flight simulator. The Enrichment Programme sessions involve teachers sharing their off-curriculum talents on a carousel basis, including photography, podcasting, AI and touchtyping, Lego, animation, presentation tools and sculpting.

PASTORAL CARE & SEN PROVISION

There is a strong pastoral network to support children run by tutors, the boarding team, the school nurse and head matron. When I visit a year four pupil drops in to update matron, easily found within the Surgery, on current goings on – it’s clearly the latest instalment in an ongoing conversation.

Many staff are mental health and first aid trained and a school counsellor and independent listener visit weekly. Children meet with their tutors every morning to discuss school life and issues. There’s also a team to support pupils diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism spectrum disorder.

BOARDING

Boarding is very popular with all the children I speak to and there are full, part time and flexi options on offer with beds for everyone who wants one (from year three). It’s not just about logistics, kids who live close by often stay over so they can join the fun.

The weekend programme for the 40 full boarders is varied and engaging including laser guns, giant inflatables, a James Bond weekend and trips go-karting, dry skiing and to Harry Potter world.

The shared dorms are lovely – light and airy with countryside views – and each impressively tidy when I visit. There is a very happy atmosphere and the children’s photos and pinboards make their space feel personal and homely.

Since Muddy’s last visit in 2021, Saturday morning school has been abolished to allow families to spend more time together. The school does continue to host four termly sporting fixtures and, given these events include breakfast and the weekend papers for parents while the kids warm up, I’m not surprised they are popular.

QUIRKS

Other than the pink blazers, the school has a real sense of fun. There are a number of wonderful and wacky charity events including Barking Mad Dog Show.

If you’re wondering why pink, it dates back to the founding headmaster, John “Bunny” Blencowe, who survived being shipwrecked, injured, on a desert island. Rescued by the aptly named Captain Sinker, he then joined the army and, following the Battle of the Somme, was buried alive but survived! Upon his return home, he founded Brambletye with Captain Sinker and, being a passionate rower, Leander pink (after the famous rowing club), was chosen for the uniform.

FEES

I’d say a little above average perhaps reflecting the small class sizes and those Gertrude Jeykll grounds; reception £4,030 per term, years 1-2 £4,415, year 3 £7,800, years 4-6 £8,175, years 7-8 £8,690. Boarding from £10,700 for years 3-6 up to £10,950 for years 7-8.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

The school doesn’t allow children access to personal electronic devices. Boarders are allowed access to school computers for Skype and email, a move welcomed by the majority of parents and pupils.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Breakfast club from 7.30am and stay and play in Pre-Prep until 6pm (extra cost). Flexi-boarding is available on a regular termly basis, eg) every Tuesday and Thursday.

TRANSPORT

There are good local links with minibus routes between Edenbridge, Newick, Groombridge and Crowborough, also connecting Haywards Heath and several villages. For those further afield, the nearest train station is East Grinstead with services into Victoria and for overseas boarders the school is about 20 minute’s drive to Gatwick. For exeat weekends and half terms, children travelling to London can be escorted on the train to Victoria station by a member of staff. There is an escorted return journey on Sunday evenings (or Monday evenings if it has been a bank holiday).

ISI REPORT

The last report, six years ago, found that personal development was excellent and quality of achievement good. Brambletye Preparatory School: Independent Schools Inspectorate (isi.net).

WORD ON THE GROUND

Parents love the school for its strong family feel, outdoor style of learning and sense of fun matched with great academics. Kids here aren’t stuck behind desks cramming, instead they are learning practical skills in the fresh air – a huge selling point for parents. Saturday breakfast for mums and dads with newspapers before matches is also a real hit, as are well-supported regular social events.

MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: A pastorally strong, all-round education with the emphasis on the outdoors and making use of the lovely grounds. The class numbers are small so children are known and cared for well.

Not for: There’s a ‘get stuck in’ attitude so some children might find that overwhelming, but I struggled to find any murmurs of dissent during my visit. The children I speak to are full of praise for all aspects of school life from boarding to the food to the trips and clubs.

Dare to disagree? Be my guest! Brambletye holds 3 Open Days each year in spring, summer & autumn or private tours can be arranged. The official school video can be seen here.

Brambletye, near East Grinstead

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