Great Walstead School, Lindfield, Sussex

WHAT? WHERE?

This sparky day school for children aged 2.5-13 celebrated its centenary earlier on in the year, and visiting feels like stepping into the pages of a vintage children’s adventure story. Located just outside the picturesque mid-Sussex village of Lindfield, it sits amid some 250 acres of unspoilt woodland grounds and farmland that are a vital part of an education here. The quintessential rural location belies the fact that Haywards Heath mainline station, with direct links to London, is just down the road and Gatwick Airport a mere 25 mins away. It’s as polished and welcoming as any prestigious prep, but it also offers something a bit more unusual: the genuine, grounded atmosphere that you find in the very best village schools. Facilities are top-notch and full of thoughtful touches that demonstrate a true understanding of what fires a cracking childhood. You won’t be surprised to learn that it’s been a Muddy Best Schools Awards finalist for best sense of school spirit. It’s also part of the Ardingly College Family of Schools.

FACILITIES

The main drive through rolling parkland sets the tone for exceptional facilities, spread across a campus that combines traditional and modern red-brick buildings. It was once a country estate and the school’s central building has kept its character and impressively high ceilings while accommodating airy, spacious classrooms. The desks are all whiteboard-topped, allowing pupils to doodle as well as consult targeted help from their teachers, while staple-studded school display boards have been replaced with easily updated magnetic glass walls: there’s still space for pupils’ work, but constantly refreshed brainstorming and feedback also feature, making for a stimulating, fully interactive learning environment. Similarly, a number of teachers now have standup desks, allowing for a more fluid teaching style.

The school benefits from an ongoing programme of refurbishment whose next stage will see areas of the library refreshed. This beautifully-laid out space is already a welcoming, well-stocked hub, with various configurations of seating at assorted heights, beanbags included. Under the leadership of new Pre-Prep Head Jenny Blacker, the section used by younger children is moving into its own space, part of a more ambitious makeover to the Pre-Prep classrooms, which all open out on to a central quadrangle full of stimulating activities, with a covered area for rainy days.

Dedicated science and innovation labs add to the thrill of experimentation and exploration, and the arts are embraced with equal gusto: there’s a performing arts centre with plenty of music rooms, and the chapel, housed within a quirky atrium with an exquisitely tiled wall, is equipped with staging and lighting facilities for performances. There’s also a seriously impressive new visual arts studio, whose three classrooms can be opened up into one, with picture-perfect views sure to inspire.

The recently refurbished dining hall allows pupils to see into the kitchen while their (excellent) food is being prepared by a chef whose CV includes some well-regarded local gastro pubs. Mac and cheese with brisket was on the menu when Muddy visited – no wonder the parent dinners that the school hosts are so popular.

And sport? More on this in a moment, but suffice to say the school signals its commitment with acres of pitches, floodlit Astroturf, a cross country trail, an enormous sports centre and a swimming pool with retractable roof.

But all of this is only part of what Great Walstead has to offer in terms of educational experiences. This a school that truly makes the most of its rural acreage. Neither children nor staff are afraid to get their hands dirty and outdoor learning forms an enormous part of life here, whether it’s bushcraft lessons at the Forest School or staff meetings held in the Secret Garden, a Victorian walled idyll complete with bee hives, a sensory garden and freshly grown fruit and veg. Speech Day moved to the woods during Covid – a temporary fix that has proved so popular, it’s become permanent.

SPORT

Thanks to sports facilities galore – just the seven footie and rugger pitches, floodlit Astro, indoor and outdoor courts, a sports hall with floor lighting and the swimming pool – Great Walstead is ideal for sporty children, and every year a good go on to compete in national finals. Plenty go on to win scholarships to sought-after destinations like Brighton College, too. Specialist PE and swimming teaching starts in Year 1, with everybody is encouraged to get stuck in, at whatever level best suits. A broad curriculum extends to trampolining, gymnastics and sports leadership, and there’s also a huge range of clubs and activities to choose from, ranging from street dance and mountain biking to sailing, golf and horse riding.

CREATIVE ARTS

Music, drama, art and the like are all highly valued at Great Walstead and the school has the facilities to ensure pupils shine, with an art studio, performing arts centre and plenty of practice rooms for peripatetic music teaching. On top of curriculum drama, weekly choir sessions up to Year 6, and regular performances, pupils can study for LAMDA examinations and learn piano, singing or orchestral instruments. There’s an auditioned chamber choir, an orchestra and smaller ensembles, plus opportunities to take part in ‘Performing Arts Thursday’, a termly staged showcase. The yearly school musical is a keenly anticipated fixture, and extra-curricular clubs and activities have creative pursuits like tap, ballet and pop choir. Reckon you might have a budding author on your hands? The school has its own poetry festival, too.

Another special feature of Great Walstead is its Artists’ Courtyard, buildings that formerly housed the art department and are now loaned to local young artists-in-residence – jewellers and ceramicists among them – who share their skills in exchange for studio space. On Fridays, a coffee truck pulls up and parents and staff gather round, adding to a buzzy, creative atmosphere.

ACADEMIC

With a strong academic record, Great Walstead proudly has a 100% success rate for Year 8 pupils securing places at their chosen senior schools. Around 30% go on to Ardingly College, and other top local destinations include Brighton College, Hurst, and Bede’s, with some going further afield to places like Millfield. Over the last five years, an average of 35% of Great Walstead’s Year 8 leavers won scholarships to their senior schools. These include academic as well as all-rounder awards.

The school values are instilled in reception and pre-prep with ‘learning powers’ stickers and certificates, focusing on qualities like curiosity and creativity. Once they enter the junior school, that focus switches to the ‘7 Cs’, which add skills like collaboration and craftmanship to the mix. Throughout, academic achievement is underpinned by a strong focus on children learning how to learn, as opposed to simply being taught.

THE HEAD

Now in his ninth year as head, Chris Calvey shuns the rising pressure on heads of independent schools to spoon-feed pupils to boost test results, understanding that this creates a weak foundation. Exams are important but it’s a child’s overall attitude to learning that’s the key to unlocking their full potential. If a child is getting full marks all the time, he says, it’s an indication that something isn’t right, and sets children up for a more challenging transition to senior school, where being open to failure as a learning tool becomes an important part of progress. It’s an approach that works: whether they’re climbing trees or learning to code, pupils at Great Walstead are demonstrably happy and thriving, and those Muddy met were eager to chat and had a strong sense of themselves.

Mr Calvey is also a passionate advocate of childhood, and deeply understands what fires children’s imaginations. He also doesn’t mind taking the odd (carefully calculated) risk, as demonstrated by the extensive use of the school’s outdoor facilities and his commitment to outdoor learning forming part of life at Great Walstead. He’s also ready to be guided by his pupils when appropriate, too: a recent attempt to rename the school’s houses, which honour white missionaries from the era of its founding a century ago, was vetoed by the children, so a work-around was found that honours tradition while embracing inclusivity and celebrating modern diversity. Both can be a challenge in rural Sussex but it’s an area Mr Calvey is actively focused on, and the school recently won an EDIQ award, recognising its work on equality and diversity and inclusion.

WORD ON THE GROUND

It’s a universal thumbs-up for Great Walstead from pupils, with the range of activities and opportunities on offer, support from staff, excellent sports and creative arts facilities and, of course, the food all getting rave reviews.

Many Great Walstead families have relocated from London, and parent satisfaction is exceptionally high, with the school’s down-to-earth ethos singled out for special praise.

WRAPAROUND AND PASTORAL CARE

Pupils can be onsite from 7.30am to 7pm during term time and 8am to 5pm during the holidays, which is a godsend for working families. As pupils move up the school, the type of care on offer changes to suit their needs. The Keep, which is purpose-built, is mainly used by pre-school and pre-prep pupils, and older pupils attend prep or enjoy clubs and activities, followed by a healthy supper.

The school also has a quiet area for learning enhancement and pastoral care, where pupils can have more small-group and individual attention or just a quiet and nurturing space to wind down. A range of clubs run over the holidays.

QUIRKS

The school’s Mud Pi (as in the numeric value) philosophy makes outdoor learning an integral part of life at Great Walstead, encouraging exploration, creativity and curiosity outdoors which the children carry back into the classrooms. Q Week, which is as old as the school (the reason for the name is a long-buried secret, unknown even to Mr Calvey), takes place each summer and culminates in Operation Banger, when children set up camp in the woods and then raid each other’s bases under cover of darkness for flags (don’t worry – real bangers no longer feature).

The school also hosts an annual Walstock Festival, with a classic ‘CarFest’ and performers aplenty.

TRANSPORT

A school minibus service covers the local area.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Phones aren’t allowed in school, but can be stored safely in the school office during the day.

FEES

From £3,996 per term for reception rising to £7,592 per term for years 5-8. Pre-school starts at £455 a term for one morning a week.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Children who love to get stuck in and make the most of the varied opportunities on offer, whatever their learning style, and those who enjoy spending time outside and getting their hands marvellously muddy.

Not for: Lack of boarding means families need to live within the vicinity of the school or its transport routes.

Dare to disagree? Book a visit on the school’s website or give the head a call. The next Open Week runs 27 Apr-1 May, with a special Mud Pi discovery session on 13 Feb, 9–11am, for families considering reception.

Great Walstead School, East Mascalls Lane, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2QL 01444 483528

Great Walstead School, Lindfield

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