Sussex House School

Private preparatory school in London, England

Stuart

Tudor

Norman

Colour(s)Dark blue, ochre and mulberryFormer pupilsOld Cadogan'sWebsitesussexhouseschool.co.uk

Sussex House School (commonly known as Sussex House), is a boys’ preparatory school located in Chelsea, London. Founded in 1952, the school occupies a house designed by Norman Shaw at 68 Cadogan Square, and since 1994 has operated as an independent charitable trust. It typically has a roll of around 180 pupils.

Affiliated to the Church of England, pupils use nearby St Simon Zelotes as the school chapel. Sussex House has a strong reputation in music and drama and puts on several plays and concerts each year. It offers a variety of sports but is known in particular for its success in fencing. The headmaster maintains links with Eton, KCS Wimbledon, St Paul's, Westminster School, and Winchester College; in any given year around 80 per cent of leavers depart for one of these institutions.^[1]

Former pupils are known as Old Cadogans and include actor Daniel Radcliffe, author Edward St Aubyn, gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, and filmmaker Matthew Vaughn.^[2]

History

Sussex House School was founded in 1952 and received charitable status in 1994.^[2]

Profile

As of October 2019, the school had 184 pupils enrolled. Of these, 28 spoke English as an additional language and 39 were identified as being very academically gifted, for whom the curriculum is modified. A report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate noted that most pupils come from families with professional and business backgrounds who live within a five mile radius of the school; the ability of the pupils is above the national average.^[3] It has a full-time staff of 21, supplemented by visiting sports and music staff.^[2]

There is a variety of student activities, including an architecture club, whose members go on walking tours of Chelsea, and coding club.^[4] Although a number of sports are on offer, such as cricket and football, Sussex House has been especially successful in fencing, and has produced more national champions than any other school in Britain.^[5]^[6]

A board of trustees is responsible for all aspects of running the school, supported by a team of advisory governors. The headmaster is one of the trustees.^[3] Nicholas Kaye, a graduate of Magdelene College, Cambridge, is the current headmaster and was appointed to this role in 1994, having been deputy since 1986.^[7]

Admissions

The admissions process comprises an interview and a written exam; the latter is taken in January each year and features questions on English, Maths and verbal reasoning. A report from the previous school is also taken into consideration. In total, 36 boys are admitted each academic year.^[8]

The main pre-prep feeders are reportedly Garden House School, Eaton House Belgravia, Redcliffe School, Norland Place School, and Hawkesdown House.^[8]

Fees

School fees are charged termly and are payable by the first day of each term. As of 2022, the fee is £8,100 per term, for a total of £24,300 over the three term academic year.^[2]

Trustees and governing body

Trustees

J. A. Crewe
Mrs. J. M. Elias M.A.
M. A. J. Goedhuis M.A., M.B.A.
N. P. Kaye M.A., F.R.S.A.
R. T. G. Winter C.B.E., B.A, F.C.A

Governors

J. A. Crewe (Chairman)
Mrs. J. M. Elias M.A.
J. D. Gallant B.A.
Mrs. N. M. Gayner
P. D. Hargreaves M.A.
R. T. G. Winter C.B.E., B.A, F.C.A

Notable former pupils

Former pupils are known as Old Cadogans, after the street on which the school is located.

Martin T. Barlow, Professor of Mathematics at the University of British Columbia
Jasper Britton, actor
Armand D'Angour, author and Fellow in Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher (2019)
Aubrey de Grey, biomedical gerontologist
Peter Dubens, internet entrepreneur and investor, founder of Oakley Capital
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, Leader of the House of Lords (2010–2013)
Dean Godson, former leader writer of The Daily Telegraph
Jason Goodwin, author and historian, The Janissary Tree (2006)
Tarquin Hall, author, travel writer and journalist
Rowan Joffé, screenwriter and director, Brighton Rock (2010) and Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
Robin Le Mesurier, guitarist
David Litman, American entrepreneur
Richard Mason, novelist, The Drowning People (1999)
Daniel Radcliffe, actor
Edward St Aubyn, novelist known for the Patrick Melrose series
David Szalay, novelist
Matthew Vaughn, filmmaker
Andrew Wolstenholme, civil engineer, former Chief Executive of Crossrail

References

^ "Senior Schools". Sussex House. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "About Sussex House". Sussex House. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Sussex House School" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. October 2019. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ "Sussex House School". Tatler. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ Webb, Mel (17 February 2003). "The teacher with the knack for producing young blades". The Times. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ "About Sussex House Fencing Club". Sussex House Fencing. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
^ "Headmaster". Sussex House. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Sussex House School". London Pre-Prep. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2022.