Ditcham Park School
Same West Sussex area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Great Ballard School is a private secondary-stage school in Chichester, West Sussex, with a published age range of 2-16.
Private school Co-ed Ages 2-16 No sixth form listed No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Great Ballard School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Ivor Poole founded Great Ballard in 1924, first in New Milton; Eartham House became its home later. The current mixed setting serves ages 2 to 16 across a 30-acre West Sussex estate, with no boarding or Sixth Form. Its educational character is organised around Head, Hand, Heart and Health.
Traditional subjects are joined by Learning2Learn, enterprise, outdoor learning, horticulture, cooking, technology and communication. Learning2Learn gives practical form to metacognition, self-regulation and oracy through businesses, CVs, interviews and problem-solving. The result is a curriculum in which academic study sits alongside making, speaking, planning and working with others.
Outdoor learning is part of the regular week through the Treetops environment, adventure learning, residential preparation and Duke of Edinburgh opportunities. Art, science, music, sport, Forest School and specialist facilities add further ways to learn and contribute. Pupils are expected to make, perform, explore and collaborate as well as prepare for examinations.
Main entry points are Nursery, Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and Year 9, with other ages and mid-year starts considered where places allow. The process begins with a visit and registration, followed by taster days and assessments in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The day-school model and practical curriculum remain consistent across the age range.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 37.3 Attainment 8
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with West Sussex and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 37.3
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 3.71
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with West Sussex and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 2-16
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew King
- Pupil roll
- 240 pupils
- Sixth form
- No
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Eartham, Chichester, West Sussex
- Postcode
- PO18 0LR
- Area
- West Sussex
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mr Matthew King
School contact
- School phone
- 01243814236
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01243814236
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
11+ and 13+ scholarship application deadline
5 January 2027
For September 2027 entry.
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Official admissions documents
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 37.3 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 3.71 EBacc APS
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: Not yet verified
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 is the latest report listed by ISI. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Great Ballard School handle admissions?
Great Ballard School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Great Ballard School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Great Ballard School?
11+ and 13+ scholarship application deadline: 5 January 2027
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Great Ballard School?
Great Ballard School is currently rated Standards met.