Brighton College and Handcross Park School – an historic merger

Two of Sussex’s most famous independent schools – Brighton College and Handcross Park School – have today announced that they are to merge.

Brighton College is the oldest public school in Sussex, founded in 1845, and regularly achieves some of the best A-level and GCSE results in England. Earlier this term, Brighton College received an ‘outstanding’ rating in every single aspect of its inspection. Handcross Park also dates back to the 19th Century. Founded in 1887, it celebrates its 125th anniversary next year. Located on a beautiful 50 acre site near the village of Handcross, it has a long tradition of nurturing confidence and intellectual curiosity in children, in a warm, happy and supportive environment. In recent years, many Handcross Park pupils have gone on to study at Brighton College.

Brighton College, has for some time, been seeking a partnership with a Sussex prep school to meet demand at the college for boarding in Year 7 and Year 8. Brighton’s own prep school does not offer boarding. According to Brighton College’s Chairman of Governors, Lord Skidelsky: “Handcross Park is ideally located, close as it is to the A23 and to Gatwick Airport. Handcross Park already has good boarding accommodation which we intend to improve and expand as part of a major programme of investment in the site”. “Above all, we believe that Brighton College and Handcross Park share a very similar ethos: a focus on the individual, a belief that children enjoy a challenge and a commitment to creating a community that is happy, purposeful and respectful of difference in others”.

For its part, Handcross Park will become a part of the Brighton College family of schools, drawing on the educational expertise of Sussex’s leading school and benefiting from the associated economies of scale. Handcross Park parents will also benefit from reduced fees, bringing the school in line with Brighton College Prep School. Handcross Park’s Chairman of Governors, Mrs Emily Hutchings expressed her delight at the move – “this merger will give us the strengths and means to take Handcross Park to the next level and achieve our goal of becoming one of the leading co-educational prep schools in Sussex”.

Further comment is available from:

Richard Cairns, Head Master of Brighton College, on 01273 704339 or mobile 07788 710769, or by e-mail to headmaster@brightoncollege.net

Graeme Owton, Headmaster of Handcross Park, on 01444 400526, or mobile 07715 105779, or by e-mail to owtongr@Handxpark.com