WHAT? WHERE?

Burgess Hill Girls is an all-through girls’ day and boarding school (boarding begins in Y7) in Burgess Hill for ages 2 – 18 yrs, located on a sprawling 14-acre conservation site close to the town’s centre. The Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep are all situated on the same campus as the Senior School, fostering a community feel and helping the younger children aspire to grow up in the footsteps of their elder peers, who are strutting their stuff not far away.

Dating back to 1906 (check out their history here) their go-getting motto is ‘I am, I can, I should, I will’ – and judging by the happy faces and confident attitudes of passing students, it is proudly upheld.

Despite its central location, each age group has plenty of outdoor space to have free-range fun and free-flow autonomous play, the latter which is particularly important to the Nursery. The co-ed Nursery (yes, boys make up just a third here) from 2 – 4 years old. Is located downstairs in a light and airy building and upstairs are the reception children. Rather marvellously the nursery is open 51 weeks a year from 8am – 6pm and accepts funded hours, which all helps in a cost-of-living crisis. The Pre-Prep and Prep are all located in this one building which encourages integration between the year groups.

FACILITIES

Burgess Hill Girls School Sussex outdoors

The most exciting development to be made this summer is the vast undertaking of a new ‘Outdoor Classroom’ in place of the current playground. Designed by an architect, this new learning environment will be largely organic, and definitely not static (a pirate ship climbing frame will always be a pirate ship climbing frame whereas children can forge these play areas into anything their imagination desires) with a wild garden, water features and den areas to encourage free flow, autonomous play. This compounds the school’s ethos that learning should also be outdoors.

Elsewhere the classrooms are bright and light and, in the Nursery, doors are left open to further emphasise the free flow attitude to play. Lucky for these guys they share all the facilities of the Senior school, including the fabulous canteen (where every dinner lady knows your name), a stodge-free environment with a salad bar and jacket potato station plus loads of other healthy options too. Nursery have their lunch brought to them but from reception they eat in the dining room too.

The school library jam-packed with an inspiring range of books celebrating the school’s diversity. Don’t expect playing fields as far as the eye can see, but the outside space is well utilised and pretty good for its urban location.

SPORT

Burgess Hill Girls School Sussex Hockey astro

The resilience and inner confidence sport helps build is reflected in the breadth of sports available here. There’s lots of opportunity to find activities they’ll love at Burgess Hill Girls, whether that be football, hockey, netball, tag rugby or athletics. As with many of the other facilities at the Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep they are fortunate enough to share the sports facilities with the Senior school too, like the athletic track, one single and one double tennis court, a gym/fitness suite, sports hall and a multi-purpose astroturf used for football. Swimming takes place at the nearby outstanding Triangle Leisure Centre. External clubs also offer ballet, tap, modern dance and karate.

MUSIC & DRAMA

You can learn to play the violin, flute, piccolo, trumpet, singing, viola, oboe, French horn, piano, cello, clarinet, trombone, keyboard, double bass, bassoon, tuba, drum kit, percussion, harp, saxophone, recorder, electric or bass guitar at Burgess Hill Girls through a host of peripatetic teachers. If academics are the bones of this school, then music is the blood in its veins. Music clubs are popular with opportunities to join the choir and orchestra – they’re pretty good too, the Y5 and Y6 choir made it to the finals of the Barnardo’s National Choir competition which took place at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

And beating heart? The drama department! With access to the Senior school theatre, practice rooms and hall, there are many opportunities for Prep pupils to take part in performances such as the Pre-Prep Christmas production, Y3 and Y4 panto and the Y6 Gala evening.

Speech and drama lessons are provided by peripatetic teacher and as well as Drama Club there are regular trips to the West End too, which have included Frozen, Mary Poppins and The Prince of Egypt in the past.

GENERAL

There’s an extensive list of things to do at Burgess Hill Girls. At lunchtime and after school there is a choice of over 30 different clubs ranging from Plastic Tromtastics to Techno and from Fashion Designers Club to Football.

They benefit from small classes (the average size is 13) and at different points in their schooling, many girls also benefit from a short term ‘booster’, small group work or 1:1 mentoring to help reach their potential. For girls with specific learning requirements,1:1 sessions with a specialist dyslexia teacher, Mrs Harris, take place but carry an additional cost.

In the Nursery there is a qualified SEND practitioner and they work closely in partnership with other professionals who are key to supporting the child and their family. There is continuous assessment through play to create an inclusive, supportive learning environments for ALL children.

EARLY YEARS

In the Nursery they spend ample time hunting bugs and playing in the extensive outdoor ‘Forest-y’ play area. With the new ‘Outdoor Classroom’ where there will be even more opportunity to explore nature and even grow their own fruit and veg.

What’s lovely about this space is that the older children regularly spend time with the younger ones. Having an uninhibited safe space for the littlies to explore alongside the older children will help them learn and grow in confidence, and by all accounts this really works.

ACADEMICS

There’s no denying that Burgess Hill Girls is unapologetically ambitious. However, it’s not hot housey or an ‘Exams Factory’ and progress through passion is encouraged. The Reception class follows the Early Years Foundation stage curriculum and the goal is to meet and exceed Early Learning Goals (ELG) which underpin the curriculum for children aged three to five too. More emphasis is put on pupils learning to communicate in a wide range of situations, responding to adults and to each other, to listen carefully, and to practise and extend their range of vocabulary and communication skills.

The girls are confident, inquisitive, creative, caring and globally-minded, and their tangible joy and enthusiasm to change the world for the greater good is infectious.

ASSISTANT HEAD & NURSERY MANAGER

Sue Collins is Assistant Head of Prep reporting to Heather Cavanagh, Interim Head. She has been a core member of the Burgess Hill Girls Pre-Prep and Prep School ever since joining as a newly qualified teacher in 1997. Her passion for the creative arts means that she still teaches Art and DT and is also responsible for mentoring student teachers and early career teachers.

Nursery Manager Suzanne Roberts. is a vibrant and enthusiastic member of staff who joined Burgess Hill Girls in 2016 after relocating from London. She is friendly and open and you can see her confidence and curiosity for learning shines through the nursery experience as a whole. We saw a room dedicated entirely to ‘Winter’ with an igloo tipi and swathes of cotton wool snow – imaginative play is a high priority here. She has dedicated her career to supporting families and their children so they can experience the best possible start in life, having worked previously for local authorities and children’s centres. Sometimes she brings her dog Ziggy into the Nursery to partake in a cuddle or two with the staff and children.

Both are particularly enthused about the new ‘Outdoor Classroom’ being built as their attitude to learning is that it should be active and free-flowing and autonomous and sometimes outdoors, hence the open doors in the nursery rooms allowing pupil to access the outside whenever they wish.

QUIRKS

The girls are encouraged to do things for the wider community and last year the Prep and Nursery took part in an ‘Elf Run’, raising an impressive £685 for St Peter & St James Hospice. The day included navigating an obstacle course on the astro and circuits with pupils all dressed in their elf hats and festive accessories. These girls are taught from a young age that they can make a difference and make a difference they shall.

Burgess Hill Girls School jasper the dog

Not all superheros wear capes! We all know pets have a fantastic impact on the well-being of any individual so Jasper, the school cockapoo, who has been at the school since 2019, is a firm favourite here. A hit with pupils and staff alike, this allergy-friendly dog (the breed is hypoallergenic and known to be friendly and good with children), along with school nurse and handler Liz Hall, helps them open up about problems through the gentle method of play and affection.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Burgess Hill Girls School Sussex science

Rather gloriously, wrap around care at Burgess Hill Girls is termed ‘Enrichment’. Busy working parents rejoice because most clubs and activities are included in the fees.

From Sewing Club to Scrapbook Club to Spanish Club to STEM Club, there is something for everyone here as well as the standard clubs you might expect like Music, Sport and Drama. This facilitates the ethos that a broad range of offerings helps the girls to subsequently broaden their horizons, and to feel a sense of pride in their achievements. There are also several clubs that run after the academic school day which do carry an additional charge.

The Nursery is open 51 weeks a year from 8am – 6pm. The core school day starts at 8.30am and ends at 4pm with After School Prep beginning at 4.30pm until 6pm. There is Breakfast Club at 8am for busy parents.

Summer camp is for pupils in Y3 to Y6 and typically runs from July to August. Last year it included a ‘Forensic Science Week’ where children could learn about fingerprinting, chemical analysis, flame tests, how to extract DNA and collect evidence. Budding Crime Scene Investigators apply here!

TRANSPORT

Most of the girls arrive by car, but from Y2 they can use the school minibus. In some circumstances a reception student can use the bus if it is cleared by Heather Cavanagh or Sue Collins and it usually started as a gradual process.

ISI REPORT

‘Excellent in all areas’ the last ISI report was published in February 2023. Read the reports here.

FEES

For the Nursery funded hours are subject to entitlement and a child becomes eligible for this in the term after their 3rd birthday. One full day at the nursery (8am – 6pm) is £75, £57.54 with 15 funded hours and £40.08 with 30 hours funded.

The Pre-Prep and Prep School fees are inclusive of VAT and rise incrementally from £4,040 in Reception to £6,810 in Y6. Fees are at the lower end of spectrum for the area.

Prep academic and music scholarships are available for students moving into Y5 or Y6, if awarded these are valid until the end of Y8. Pupils looking for entry into Y7 (11+) or Y9 (13+) can apply for art, drama, music and sport scholarships. Means tested bursaries are also available each year and are typically in the range of 10-50%. These are only applicable to day places.

WORD ON THE GROUND

The school has always been regarded as academically sound, however its nurturing community is what stands it apart. The school excels pastorally and we were particularly impressed with the gentle transition through each key stage. It doesn’t feel like a destination school for the pushy parent, nor do the girls seem precocious or overprivileged; rather they seem to be aware of how fortunate they are to be where they are and thus imbibe a sense of infectious joy and enthusiasm.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Ambitious, creative, spirited females. Burgess Hill Girls put a huge emphasis on preparing students for greatness; their future impact on the world is embedded in their DNA from the beginning and these independent, well-rounded, fearless young women will certainly become future trailblazers.

NOT FOR: Wallflowers. That said, the ambitious programme at the school to empower each pupil with the confidence they need to thrive in the world will probably override any inherent shyness. Your daughter will be given the keys to inner confidence and the drive to go far beyond what she ever thought possible.

DARE TO DISAGREE: Parents can arrange a personalised visit anytime to see the school in action during term time.

Burgess Hill Girls School, Keymer Rd, Burgess Hill RH15 0EG. Tel 01444 241050.

Burgess Hill Girls Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep, West Sussex

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