Christ's Hospital: A School Worth Attending?

is christ

Christ's Hospital is a unique independent school with a rich history and a modern approach to education. Founded in 1552, the school has a long-standing mission to provide a transformative education to young people from all backgrounds. Located in West Sussex, the school offers a holistic education that inspires and fosters lifelong friendships. With a strong academic curriculum, exceptional pastoral care, and opportunities in music, sports, arts, and leadership, Christ's Hospital empowers students to reach their full potential. The school's diverse community upholds its historic traditions while embracing a forward-thinking mindset. Christ's Hospital's charitable mission and social mobility focus have earned it a reputation as a leading charitable school in the UK.

Characteristics Values
Location South of Horsham in West Sussex, England
Type of School Public school (English fee-charging boarding school), independent school, co-educational day and boarding school
Age Range 11-18
Student Population 900
Student Diversity Varied ethnicities, religions, and nationalities
Student Backgrounds All backgrounds; majority receive bursaries
Fees Means-assessed, based on family income
Curriculum Vibrant, broad, and diverse; includes academic, broader, and pastoral components
Extracurricular Activities Music, Art, Drama, Sport, and outward-bound activities (e.g., Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations)
Traditions Historic traditions upheld, including Tudor uniform; known for vibrant traditions
Notable Alumni Writers/poets: Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Edmund Blunden; Conductors: Sir William Glock, Sir Colin Davis, Charles Hazlewood; Academia: Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, Ruth Deech, Alan Ryan
Awards Top overall award for Independent School of the Year
Founding Established in 1552, founded by Edward VI
Campus 1200 acres of Sussex countryside; Grade II* listed buildings, including a water tower, dining hall, school chapel, and clock tower
Transportation Own mainline railway station with connections to London, Gatwick Airport, and the south coast
Mobile Phone Policy Year 7: no smartphones; Year 8+: allowed smartphones with restricted usage

shunhospital

Academic performance and results

Christ's Hospital is a unique independent school that combines a rich heritage with a modern and forward-thinking approach to education. The school has a long-standing mission to provide a transformative education to young people from all backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility.

Christ's Hospital is top in West Sussex for A* at GCSE, and almost all sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course at a top university in the UK or abroad, with 12% of them going to Oxbridge. The school offers a challenging academic programme that covers a broad curriculum, including music, art, drama, public speaking, community action, and sports. The curriculum is designed to take students out of their comfort zone and encourage life skills.

The school's diverse curriculum and commitment to social responsibility enhance students' understanding and appreciation of diversity, encouraging the school to make a difference in the local community and beyond. The school offers its amenities, engages with organisations, and welcomes members of the local and wider community to enjoy its grounds and facilities.

Christ's Hospital's selection process is designed to determine whether a child will flourish in a busy boarding school environment with a strong academic ethos and feel at home at the school. The school assesses pupils' fees according to family income, so it is a child's ability and potential to benefit from a Christ's Hospital education that determines their selection. This results in a social and cultural diversity that enriches the school community and offers unique opportunities to prepare pupils for the modern world.

Christ's Hospital's founding ethos remains relevant in the 21st century, bringing together students from diverse backgrounds and cultures with a holistic, transformational education that inspires all. The school's historic traditions are valued by its diverse community, fostering an environment where students thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

shunhospital

School fees and subsidies

Christ's Hospital is a public school located in West Sussex, England, with a royal charter. It is a charity school that has been offering children from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance at a better education since its founding in 1552. The school's fees are means-tested, with subsidies covering fees, travel costs, sports kits, music lessons, pocket money, house funds, and school trips. This approach ensures that pupils from all walks of life can access private education, which might otherwise be unaffordable.

The school's fees are assessed based on family income, with the aim of ensuring that a child's ability and potential are the primary factors in their selection. This approach has resulted in a socially and culturally diverse student body, enriching the school community and offering pupils a unique experience. Christ's Hospital is committed to its charitable mission and has maintained this approach since its founding.

Christ's Hospital is an independent day and boarding school with 900 students, comprising an equal mix of boys and girls aged 11-18. The school is situated on 1200 acres of Sussex countryside, just outside the town of Horsham. It has a long history of providing high-quality education, with notable alumni including James Leigh Hunt, Charles Lamb, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The school offers a broad curriculum, exceptional pastoral care, and outstanding opportunities in music, sports, arts, and leadership. Scholarships are awarded for academic excellence and outstanding ability in specific areas, such as music, art, drama, and sports. These scholarships are available to both new and existing students. Additionally, the Head Teacher has discretionary awards for all-round academic and broader curricular achievements or significant potential.

There is a non-refundable registration fee of £120 (including VAT) for both day and boarding places. However, this fee is waived for applicants who receive free school meals. A deposit of up to £1700 is payable upon successful completion, which is reduced for those receiving a bursary. The fee rates are reviewed annually and can be paid termly or in 10 monthly instalments.

shunhospital

History and notable alumni

Christ's Hospital is a public school located in West Sussex, south of Horsham. The school was founded in 1552 by Edward VI, who granted it a royal charter in 1553. The school's founding mission was to offer children from disadvantaged backgrounds a better education, and it has maintained this charitable mission throughout its history.

The school's original site was in Newgate, London, where it remained for 350 years. However, children were sometimes housed in other parts of the country, such as Ware, Hoddesdon, and Hertford. In 1665, 32 children died during the Great Plague of London, and the following year, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the school. The buildings were rebuilt with the help of Sir Christopher Wren, a governor of the school, and Nicholas Hawksmoor, who designed the Writing School. In 1673, the school received its second Royal Charter from Charles II, establishing the Royal Mathematical School to train mathematicians and navigators for naval and seafaring careers. Notable contributors to the new school's curriculum included Isaac Newton, Jonas Moore, John Flamsteed, and Edmund Halley.

In the 19th century, the school underwent reforms to admit more girls, and a new site was proposed to accommodate the growing student body. The new site in Horsham, Sussex, was purchased in 1897, and the boys were relocated from Newgate and Hertford in 1902, with the latter becoming a girls-only school. The new school buildings incorporated architectural features from the old site, including the Grecian's Arch and the Wren Arch, and were designed by Aston Webb. The ensemble of buildings in the Horsham campus was Grade II* listed in 1959.

Notable alumni of Christ's Hospital include Sir Barnes Neville Wallis, an English scientist, engineer, and inventor; James D'Arcy, an actor; and several musicians, including conductors Sir Colin Davis, Charles Hazlewood, Adrian Bawtree, and Simon Joly; trumpeter David Mason; and composers Tim Benjamin and Constant Lambert.

shunhospital

Curriculum and extracurricular activities

Christ's Hospital is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 11–18. The school has a rich history and was founded in 1552 to provide a free or subsidised education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school's fees are means-tested, allowing students from all backgrounds to access a high-quality education.

Curriculum

Christ's Hospital offers a broad and challenging curriculum that prepares students for academic success and life beyond the classroom. The curriculum is divided into three parts: an academic curriculum, a broader curriculum, and a pastoral curriculum. The academic curriculum covers traditional classroom subjects, with a strong emphasis on academic excellence. The broader curriculum includes extracurricular activities such as music, art, drama, and sports, as well as outward-bound activities like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, and community engagement. The pastoral curriculum is rooted in the school's boarding house system and is complemented by a dynamic learning for life programme.

Extracurricular Activities

Christ's Hospital offers a wide range of extracurricular activities to complement its academic curriculum. These activities provide students with opportunities to discover and develop their talents and interests outside the classroom. Music, art, drama, and sports are prominent features of school life. The school also offers unique opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise, Model United Nations, chess, debating, and public speaking. Students are encouraged to engage with the local community and make a difference through social responsibility initiatives. The school's diverse community and holistic approach to education foster a well-rounded development of its students.

Christ's Hospital's curriculum and extracurricular activities aim to empower students to discover their passions, develop their character, and become confident, compassionate, and capable young adults. The school's commitment to accessibility, sensitivity, and responsiveness to pupil needs ensures that students from all backgrounds can access a transformative education.

shunhospital

School values and ethos

Christ's Hospital is a unique independent school that combines a rich heritage with a modern and forward-thinking approach to education. The school was founded in 1552 with a charitable mission: to educate the financially, socially, and otherwise less advantaged for free or at a reduced rate. The school's ethos is deeply rooted in this mission, and it continues to offer a high calibre of education to students from all walks of life.

The school's values are centred around providing a transformative education that emphasises academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility. Christ's Hospital believes in the benefits of a rounded and balanced education and offers a diverse curriculum that includes music, art, drama, public speaking, community action, and sports. The school encourages students to step outside their comfort zone, discover and develop new interests and talents, and cultivate life skills.

The school's historic traditions are upheld and valued by its diverse community. The most notable tradition is the Tudor uniform, worn with pride by the students. The school's campus, located in the beautiful West Sussex countryside, also reflects its rich history, with Grade II*-listed buildings designed by notable architects such as Sir Christopher Wren and John Shaw.

Christ's Hospital is committed to its core value of social responsibility, which is evident in its engagement with the local community and its dedication to making a difference. The school offers its amenities and welcomes members of the local community to enjoy its grounds and facilities. This commitment to accessibility and responsiveness to pupil needs earned Christ's Hospital the recognition of 'Independent School of the Year'.

The school's values extend beyond academics, with a clear mobile phone policy in place to manage students' access to internet-enabled devices based on their year level. This policy fosters a healthy relationship with technology and protects students from online risks.

Frequently asked questions

Christ's Hospital was founded in 1552 in London and moved to its current location in West Sussex in 1902. The school was founded to care for the city's poor and orphaned children and has since stuck to its charitable mission of educating the financially, socially, and otherwise less advantaged. The school received its second Royal Charter in 1673, which created the Royal Mathematical School. Notable alumni include writers Charles Lamb, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Edmund Blunden, and conductors Sir William Glock, Sir Colin Davis, and Charles Hazlewood.

Christ's Hospital combines a rich heritage with a modern and forward-thinking approach to education. The school offers a broad curriculum with exceptional pastoral care and outstanding opportunities in music, sport, the arts, and leadership. The school aims to ignite a passion for learning and empower students to reach their full potential.

Christ's Hospital is unique in many ways. It is one of the oldest boarding schools in the country, offering an incredibly high calibre of education to children with academic potential from all walks of life. The school is known for its vibrant traditions, such as the Tudor uniform worn by the students. It also has a diverse community, with students from various backgrounds and cultures.

Christ's Hospital has a selective admission process designed to determine whether a child will flourish in a busy boarding school environment with a strong academic ethos. Pupil fees are assessed according to family income, and the school offers many bursaries to ensure that pupils from all backgrounds have access to their education.

Christ's Hospital is top in West Sussex for A* at GCSE, and almost all sixth-form leavers go on to degree courses at top universities in the UK or abroad, with 12% going to Oxbridge. Students go on to study a range of subjects, including sciences, medicine, engineering, economics, maths, classics, history, philosophy, and English.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment