School profile Verified 17 August 2026

West Sussex Private schools

Hurstpierpoint College

College Lane, Hurstpierpoint, BN6 9JS

Hurstpierpoint College is a private secondary-stage school in Hassocks, West Sussex, with a published age range of 4-19.

Private school Co-ed Ages 4-19 Sixth form Boarding school
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Compare Official website Map

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
Boarding ?
Boarding school
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

Hurstpierpoint began with two boys in Shoreham in 1849, founded by the Reverend Nathaniel Woodard as St John's Middle Grammar School. The College moved to Hurstpierpoint, where its early English Gothic building opened in 1853 and still anchors the campus. Junior Prep, Senior Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form now form one co-educational day and boarding community.

Shell, the Year 9 curriculum, stays broad before pupils choose GCSE options in the Remove and Fifth Form. The Challenge Grade Review tracks progress, while enrichment reaches from chemistry and dystopia to animation and investment. Sport, outdoor education, CCF, dance, drama, music, climbing, sailing, mountain biking and archery give the co-curricular week a distinctly active range.

House life holds together the day and boarding model. Flexi and weekly boarding sit alongside day houses, with tutors and house staff supporting pupils; Upper Sixth students live in the co-educational St John's house. This is a school where boarding is offered as a choice within the wider community rather than as a separate world.

Admissions are organised by section, with visits and registration routes for Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form. The Woodard history, Gothic campus, house structure and varied boarding options give Hurst a clear identity across its different stages.

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 11.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 36.1% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with West Sussex and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Hurstpierpoint College, West Sussex, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
11.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
EBacc APS
0.10
EBacc entry
0%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with West Sussex and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Hurstpierpoint College, West Sussex, and England. 60 40 20 0 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details

Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
4-19
Headteacher
Mr Dominic Mott
Pupil roll
1,311 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
College Lane, Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, West Sussex
Postcode
BN6 9JS

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Dominic Mott

School contact

School phone
01273833636

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01273833636

Admissions

Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-19
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
£12,790 per term including VAT for senior school and sixth form, 2026/27
Boarding fees
£15,365-£16,365 per term including VAT for flexi or weekly boarding, 2026/27
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

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

  1. Sixth Form (16+) registration deadline for 2027 entry

    23 October 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  2. Sixth Form (16+) scholarship and bursary application deadline for 2027 entry

    23 October 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  3. Sixth Form (16+) assessment and interview window for 2027 entry

    Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry year: 2027.

  4. Sixth Form (16+) decision letters for 2027 entry

    Early December 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry year: 2027.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
11.8 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 ?
0.10 EBacc APS
A-level results
36.1% AAB or better
A-level average points
46.70 A-level points per entry

Inspection

Standards met

Latest inspection: 28 November 2023

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 2023 records an inspection beginning 28 November 2023. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Hurstpierpoint College handle admissions?

Hurstpierpoint College handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Hurstpierpoint College?

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 Hurstpierpoint College?

Sixth Form (16+) registration deadline for 2027 entry: 23 October 2026. Sixth Form (16+) scholarship and bursary application deadline for 2027 entry: 23 October 2026. Sixth Form (16+) assessment and interview window for 2027 entry: Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 November 2026. Sixth Form (16+) decision letters for 2027 entry: Early December 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Hurstpierpoint College?

Hurstpierpoint College is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 28 November 2023.