Outstanding boarding at Steyning Grammar School

In December, A-level Chemistry students spent a day at the University of Sussex Chemistry department

Known as SGS, it’s a successful, vibrant and exciting day and boarding school, split across four sites in the picturesque Sussex countryside, and focused on supporting the learning and development of every student.

In December 2020, SGS joined the high-achieving Bohunt Education Trust (BET) and in April 2022, Adam Whitehead will take the helm as headteacher, working alongside the school’s senior leadership team, board of governors and senior leaders at BET and trustees to shape the next chapter for Steyning Grammar School.

More than £1m has been invested across the school sites and some 3,000 hours of Covid catch-up lessons have been delivered. Pupils taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme have also completed 930 hours of volunteering, while the school has raised more than £6,000 for a range of local and national causes.

Steyning Grammar School has outstanding facilities including a swimming pool

These achievements reflect the ambitions of this unique school with a revered history, which combines all the benefits of an 11-18 comprehensive school with boarding provision rated as outstanding by Ofsted and its guiding Church of England ethos. The most recent inspection of the main school rated the school as ‘good with outstanding features’.

Outstanding boarding

The boarding facilities at SGS are one of the most successful in the UK: it is the only state boarding provider in Sussex, rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for the last four consecutive inspections.

SGS Boarding provides young people with a real ‘home from home’. With private study space for sixth formers, boarders enjoy the independent nature of boarding life with a wide range of facilities and common areas to enable students to spend leisure time with friends in a clean, safe and comfortable environment. For more information email [email protected].

Steyning Grammar School teams have have outstanding results in football, rugby and more

Flourishing sixth form

The SGS team is rightfully proud of the sixth form’s supportive and inclusive ethos and excellent academic and pastoral provision.

It offers a broad range of pathways to support all students – not just in their sixth form studies but in preparation for university, apprenticeships and employment.

University experience

In December, A-level Chemistry students spent a day at the University of Sussex Chemistry department working on their required practical examinations. The students experienced life at university for the day, with practical tasks in the undergraduate laboratories in the morning and lectures in the afternoon.

Elevate Education

In December, 80 Year 11 students participated in an Elevate Education seminar to learn key study skills and how to apply these in all subjects, in order to become one of SGS’s game-changers. The session was followed by specific Maths and English skills.

Sporting

Sport and physical activity play an important part of life at SGS, thanks to its outstanding facilities including extensive fields, AstroTurf, hard courts, sports hall, gymnasium, dance studio, swimming pool and fitness suite. The PE extracurricular programme has been a big success and more than 200 sporting fixtures have taken place.

Standout performances include:

- Year 7 girls’ football won the District Tournament

- Year 8 Rock Road and The Towers Football teams came first and second in the district

- Year 10 Netball League winners

- Year 11 Rugby team remain unbeaten in the district league

- Senior girls won the Sussex Schools Swimming competition

- Many students selected to compete in their sport in county, regional and national level

For more information see www.sgs.uk.net.