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Brighton College

Not to be confused with University of Brighton.
For other uses, see Brighton College (disambiguation).

Brighton College is a fee-charging, co-educational, boarding and day public school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton and Hove, England, UK. The school has three sites: Brighton College (the senior school, ages 11 to 18), Brighton College Preparatory School (children aged 8 to 13, located next to the senior school) and the Pre-Prep School (children aged 3 to 8).

Brighton College
Brighton College main entrance
Address
Map
Eastern Road

Brighton
,
East Sussex
,
BN2 0AL

England
Coordinates50°49′11″N 0°07′11″W / 50.8196°N 0.1197°W / 50.8196; -0.1197
Information
TypePublic School
Private day and boarding school
MottoΤΟ Δ’ΕΥ ΝΙΚΑΤΩ
(Let right prevail)
Established1845; 179 years ago (1845)
FounderWilliam Aldwin Soames (1787–1871)
Local authorityBrighton and Hove
Department for Education URN114614 Tables
Chairman of the GovernorsLord Maude
HeadmasterRichard Cairns
Staff150
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 18
Enrolment1088 (ages 11–18)
Houses15
PublicationBrighton Review
Former pupilsOld Brightonians
ChaplainCanon David Stone
Websitewww.brightoncollege.org.uk

The main building

Brighton College was named England's Independent School of the Year in 2019 by The Sunday Times.[1] In 2018 it was ranked fifth in the country for average A-level results,[2] with 99% of grades being A*–B.[3] In 2023, the school saw 80% of its A-level candidates score A*/A. Brighton College has been listed in The Schools Index since 2021 as one of the world's leading 150 private schools and one of the top 30 in the UK senior schools category.[4][5]

In 2011, Brighton College opened its first international campus in Abu Dhabi. Brighton College International Schools (BCIS) has subsequently opened campuses in Al Ain, Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore.[6] Brighton College Abu Dhabi is also listed in The Schools Index as one of the top 15 schools in the Middle East.[7]

In September 2023 the college opened a prep school in Kensington, central London.[8]

History

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Founded in 1845 by William Aldwin Soames, Brighton College was the first Victorian public school founded in Sussex.[9] Soames originally planned for use of the Brighton Pavilion, but after refusal by Queen Victoria built the school in the suburb of Kemptown, Brighton.

Brighton College led the legal fight to secure the charitable tax status currently enjoyed by all registered charities. A long-running legal action between the school and the Inland Revenue from 1916 to 1926 produced a series of changes to tax law in the 1918 Income Tax Act, the 1921 and 1922 Finance Acts and, above all, section 24 of the 1927 Finance Act. The case (Brighton College v Marriott) went to the High Court in 1924,[10][11] the Court of Appeal later that year,[12] and ultimately the House of Lords in 1925.[13]

It was the first independent school to introduce compulsory Mandarin Chinese from the age of 13, and in 2006 was the first public school in England to sign a deal with the Chinese government to encourage the teaching of Mandarin and Chinese culture.[14]

Large numbers of Brighton College boys fought in both World Wars, with 149 Old Brightonians fallen in World War I[15] and 173 during World War II.[16]

Houses

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The pastoral system at Brighton College is house based. There are 15 houses[17] which are split by gender (with the exception of Alexander House). Staff of both sexes can be attached to any house. Houses contain between 48 and 85 pupils and are supervised by a house master or house mistress (HMM) and a team of personal tutors. Boarding houses also have a matron and house keeping staff.[17] The HMM appoints Upper Sixth Formers (Year 13) as house prefects to look after and mentor younger members,[18] and one as head pupil to represent their house at house events and competitions.

In September 2017, Brighton College's 14th house was opened, Alexander House. This was the first mixed-gender house in the college and is only for the Upper Sixth formers, who decide during their Lower Sixth year if they wish to move into this house, with all members coming from other boarding houses. In their final year, roughly half of boarders choose to enter the house.

For years 7–8 there is a single house, Lower School, for those aged 11, 12, and 13 years old who took the 11+ test. This house does not have boarding and is for both boys and girls.[19]

Awards

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  • England's Independent School of the Year 2012 – The Sunday Times[20]
  • England's Independent School of the Year 2019 – The Sunday Times[1]
  • Independent Secondary School of the Decade – The Times[21]
  • England's Public School Headmaster of the Year 2012 by Tatler magazine[22]
  • England's Public School Headmaster of the Year 2023 by Tatler magazine[23]
 
Brighton College Sports and Science Centre

Site and buildings

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Brighton College is located in Brighton's Kemptown area, in the east of the city.[24] The school occupies three sites, facing south onto Eastern Road. It is immediately to the east of the site of the former Kemptown railway station, across Sutherland Road. Its principal buildings are in the gothic revival style by Sir George Gilbert Scott RA (flint with Caen stone dressings, 1848–66). Later buildings were designed by his pupil and former student at the college Sir Thomas Graham Jackson RA (brick and flint with cream and pink terracotta dressings, 1883–87; flint with Clipsham stone dressings 1922–23).

George Bell, Bishop of Chichester created the school grounds as an extra-parochial ecclesiastical district. Placed outside the parish of St. Matthew's, Brighton, the school chapel holds an episcopal licence to perform weddings.

Under the stewardship of Head Master Richard Cairns, the school has added a series of buildings to the college campus:

  • 2008: the Alexander Arts Centre
  • 2011: The Skidelsky Building (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2011: the new Pre-Prep school
  • 2012: the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion (winner of a RIBA award), a new cricket pavilion at the school's fields near East Brighton Park. It was opened by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in July 2012.[25]
  • 2012: the Simon Smith Building (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2013: New House (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2014: Cairns Tower (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2015: The Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2017: Alexander House
  • 2017: The Kai Yong Yeoh Building (RIBA nominee; Sussex Heritage Trust Award nominee)
  • 2020: the School of Sports and Science – this £55 million building, which includes 18 university-standard laboratories, a rooftop running track, swimming pool and double-height sports hall, was designed by the Rotterdam-based Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).[26]
  • 2023: the Richard Cairns building – this building consists of a performing arts center, a 400 seat theatre, social spaces and subterranean studios. It completes a 15 year expansion programme and was designed by Dutch architecture firm krft.[27]

Sister schools

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As of today, Brighton College has 7 sister schools world-wide, one each in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore, and Al Ain.[28]

Policies

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The College Chapel

In January 2016, Head Master Richard Cairns announced that Brighton College would abandon gender-specific uniforms and instead introduce a "trouser uniform" and a "skirt uniform,"[29] with both boys and girls under age 16 being free to choose which to wear. According to Cairns, Brighton College is "reacting to a changing society which recognizes that some children have gender dysphoria and do not wish to lose their emotional gender identities at school".[30] Parental consent must be provided in order for a pupil to choose their uniform, and a pupil must wear either the "trouser uniform" or the "skirt uniform" in totality rather than a combination of the two. In addition, such a choice must be made on a permanent basis.[31]

In 2017 the school invited Stonewall Ambassador Ian McKellen to share its anti-bullying message. The school has regularly made headlines for its pro-LGBT stance, emphasizing the right of all pupils to feel safe and supported.[32] For the 2013–14 academic year the school appointed the first openly gay head boy of an English independent school.[33][34] In August 2017 the school participated in the Brighton Pride Parade, becoming the first public school in the United Kingdom to do so.[35] The float was backed by Ian McKellen. This has become an annual event for the school, with pupils and staff designing and making the float.

The school positions community service as a "vital part of school life".[1][3] Pupils are involved in 328 days of community service a year – which includes visiting elderly people, teaching pensioners about technology, and working with local community initiatives.

The school is recognized[1] as having an ethos of kindness and respect, in addition to academic excellence. The school's most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate report summarizes:

Throughout the age range, pupils are exceptionally well educated in line with the school’s ambitious aims. The school is highly successful in preparing pupils for public examinations, as well as developing their breadth of knowledge and stimulating independent and enquiring minds. … Pupils show unusually high levels of knowledge, understanding and academic skills, appropriate to their age and ability. Results at GCSE and A level over recent years have been exceptional, and above the national average … Pupils of all ages show very high levels of spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness and development. They are reflective, thoughtful and well behaved, possess a strong sense of right and wrong, and are conscious of the importance of social justice. They have a strong appreciation of tolerance [and] embrace diversity.[36]

Fees

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For the 2023/24 academic year the fees were £30,080 for day pupils. Boarding ranged from £54,520 – £60,000.[3] The school offers a number of scholarships and bursaries, offered on the basis of merit and need.[37]

Activities

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In the 2024 A-level examinations Brighton College achieved 99.3% A*B, with 87% A*-A and almost half A*, the best results at any independent school in the UK that year.[38] In the 2024 GCSE examinations they scored 95% 9-7, with over half awarded Grade 9.[39] Class sizes at GCSE average 18, and at A-level they average 8. 26 subjects are offered at A-level.[3][40]

The school has an extensive co-curriculum provision, with the option of "over 100 clubs and activities"[41] in which pupils may participate. This includes drama (with 15 productions a year), dance (7 styles of dance and 70 classes per week), music (22 music groups) and art (100% A* results).[3]

The school has an ethos of "sports for all"[42] and offers a range sport choices. The major sports are athletics, cricket, netball and rugby. All pupils participate in games of their choice twice a week.[3] The college was selected to provide training ground for Japan during the course of Rugby World Cup 2015.[citation needed] Going forward, England Head Coach Eddie Jones, Japan coach then, has hosted the elite player squad training camps at the college.[43]

Principals and head masters

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Brighton College Gateway arch and Head Master's Study, Dawson Building

The title of principal was changed to Head Master in December 1885.[44] The requirement for the Head Master to be an ordained priest of the Church of England was removed in 1909.[45] Given the international growth of the school, Richard Cairns became Principal of the Brighton College family of schools in August 2024, and Steve Marshall-Taylor became the Head Master of Brighton College itself.

Note: Simon Smith returned to his position as Second Master after Richard Cairns took leadership in 2006.[46]

Notable alumni and members of staff

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Main article: List of people educated at Brighton College
See also: Category:People educated at Brighton College

Affiliated schools worldwide

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In 2010, Brighton College announced that it was "helping to set up schools in Abu Dhabi".[47] This venture was a for-profit franchise operation through a company the school had set up, Brighton College International Schools Ltd, in a joint venture with a UAE property development company called Bloom Properties.[citation needed] Brendan Law, previously of Westbourne House School in Chichester, West Sussex, was named Headmaster of Brighton College Abu Dhabi in September 2010,[48] and the school opened in September 2011.[49] Law was replaced by Ken Grocott, former Head of Geography at Brighton College, in September 2012.[50]

Brighton College went on to open affiliate schools in Bangkok in 2016,[51] in Singapore with Cognita in 2020,[52] and in Hanoi in 2023 in partnership with Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup.[53]

In 2023, the Prince's Gardens Preparatory School in London, UK was reopened as Brighton College Prep Kensington.[54] It is owned by Cognita and is operated in partnership with Brighton College.[55] This is the first time a leading independent school outside London has established a new prep school in the UK capital.[56] The current Head of the school, Lois Gaffney, was appointed in 2022 from Brighton College Singapore where she was Deputy Head since 2020.[57] The school teaches pupils aged 2 to 13 years old.[58]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Thomas, Zoe (25 November 2018). "Independent Secondary School of the Year: Brighton College". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ^ "All schools and colleges in England – GOV.UK". Find and compare schools in England. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Brighton College, Brighton". The Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  4. ^ "One of the top UK private schools is in Sussex". The Argus. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ McNamee, Annie (6 April 2024). "These are UK's best private schools, according to a prestigious ranking". Time Out United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Home | Brighton College International Schools". brightoncollegeinternational.com. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. ^ Rizvi, Anam (28 September 2023). "10 UAE private schools named among Middle East's top 15". The National. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Prep School in Kensington | Brighton College Prep Kensington". brightoncollegeprepkensington.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Brighton College History". Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Brighton College v Marriott". vLex. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  11. ^ June 1924, 40 T.L.R. 763-5
  12. ^ November 1924, 1 KB 312
  13. ^ November 1925, AC 192–204
  14. ^ "College makes Chinese compulsory". BBC News. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  15. ^ "WW1 Roll of Honour". Brighton College Remembers.
  16. ^ "WW2 Roll of Honour". Brighton College Remembers.
  17. ^ a b "Pastoral Life at Brighton College". Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  18. ^ "Pastoral Life at Brighton College". Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009. [verification needed]
  19. ^ "Brighton College Review, Ranking, Fees, And More". britannia-study.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Star quality shows as Brighton College rocks". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  21. ^ "Independent Secondary School of the Decade: Brighton College". The Times. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  22. ^ "The Tatler School Awards 2012". Tatler. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  23. ^ "The Tatler School Awards 2023". Tatler. 6 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Stab Vests and Butter Knives" Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Fr. Robert Easton, September 2011, Farmington Trust
  25. ^ "Sussex Living". Sussex Living. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  26. ^ Moore, Rowan (11 January 2020). "Brighton College's Sports and Science Centre review – Hogwarts meets George Lucas". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  27. ^ "The Richard Cairns Building, Brighton College". Architecture Today. 12 June 2024.
  28. ^ College, Brighton; Road, Eastern; Brighton; Bn2 0al. "Brighton College International Schools". Brighton College International Schools. Retrieved 7 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Espinoza, Javier (20 January 2016). "Brighton College scraps century-old uniform code to accommodate transgender pupils". The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  30. ^ Adams, Richard (20 January 2016). "Brighton College alters uniform code to accommodate transgender pupils". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Brighton College Uniform Policy 2020–21" (PDF). Brighton College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  32. ^ Cairns, Richard (27 February 2017). "Children must learn that homophobia is unacceptable – that's why we teach our pupils about the dangers from day one". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  33. ^ Will Emery Gay Head Boy Public School The Huffington Post, 25 August 2013
  34. ^ Public School appoints first gay head boy Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times (London), 25 August 2013.
  35. ^ Griffiths, Sian (25 June 2017). "Top school Brighton College to celebrate Pride parade". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Brighton College :: Independent Schools Inspectorate". isi.net. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  37. ^ "Brighton College | Home" (PDF).
  38. ^ "Results | Brighton College". Brighton College Sixth Form Results.
  39. ^ "Best GCSE Results Ever Achieved by any School in Sussex". Brighton College GCSE Results. 28 August 2024.
  40. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Academic Results". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Enrichment". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Sports life". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ "Eddie Jones to host England training camp at Brighton College". The Argus. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  44. ^ Jones, Martin (1995). Brighton College 1845–1995. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 67. ISBN 0-85033-978-2.
  45. ^ Jones (1995), p.212
  46. ^ "Staff List". Archived from the original (ASP) on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  47. ^ "Brighton College News". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  48. ^ Hyslop, Leah (24 September 2010). "Daily Telegraph". London. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  49. ^ "Abu Dhabi Week". Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  50. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "College News". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ "Brighton College to open outpost in Bangkok". The Telegraph. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  52. ^ Stacey, Viggo (6 May 2019). "Brighton College links with Cognita on Singapore school". The PIE News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  53. ^ "Brighton College to Open School in Hanoi". whichschooladvisor.com. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  54. ^ "Brighton College Prep Kensington Opens". Country & Town House. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  55. ^ "Brighton College expands with London prep". Attain. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  56. ^ "Enrol your children in a new London prep school". Evening Standard. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  57. ^ "Lois Gaffney". Independent Schools Show. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  58. ^ "Materinal Change Inspection Report for Brighton College Prep Kensington". Independent Schools Inspectorate. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

Bibliography

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  • G. P. Burstow, "Documents relating to the Early History of Brighton College", The Sussex County Magazine, October 1951 and August 1952.
  • G. P. Burstow & M. B. Whittaker (ed. Sir Sydney Roberts), "A History of Brighton College." (Brighton, 1957).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "A Short History of Brighton College." (Brighton College, 1986).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College 1845–1995." (Phillimore, Chichester, 1995) ISBN 0-85033-978-2.
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College v Marriott: Schools, charity law and taxation.", History of Education, 12 no.2 (1983).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Gothic Enriched: Thomas Jackson's Mural Tablets at Brighton College Chapel.", Church Monuments, VI (1991).
  • Jones, Martin D. W. (1997). "Edmund Scott and Brighton College Chapel: a lost work rediscovered" (PDF). Sussex Archaeological Collections. 135: 309–311.  
  • H. J. Mathews (ed.), "Brighton College Register, Part 1, 1847–1863." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1886).
  • E. K. Milliken (ed.), "Brighton College Register 1847–1922." (Brighton, 1922).
  • Anon., "Brighton College War Record 1914–1919." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1920). Compiled by Walter Hett.
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