Why Join
Special Attention
Class sizes are obviously much smaller than in the state sector so that children are taught in a friendly and intimate atmosphere where each child has the advantage of close personal attention from his or her teachers. In addition, each boy and girl has a Form Teacher, specially appointed for his or her ability to relate to 11 and 12 year old children. They meet the pupils at least twice a day for a catch-up, and register them each morning.
The Chaplain also teaches in the Lower School and is always on hand for friendly advice or a chat. The school welcomes children of all faiths and none, though the principles of kindness and love that are at the root of the Christian message underpin all that we do.
Specialist teaching
Brighton College's 11-year olds are all taught by subject specialists in their departments. These teachers bring their specific subject knowledge into the classroom and also the love that they have for their subject area which can be so transformative in a school, enthusing children with a passion for History, Biology, Art, Spanish and so much else.
Specialist facilities
Lower School pupils have full use of the many outstanding facilities at the college: specialist laboratories for Chemistry, Physics and Biology; the magnificent Art and Photography centre; ICT suites; the Confucius language laboratory; and the gymnasium and swimming pool. Every classroom in the school is equipped with the latest interactive whiteboard technology and every teacher trained in its uses.
A special curriculum
The college is not obliged to follow the national curriculum and chooses not to. We believe that our own curriculum better prepares children for GCSEs, A-levels and beyond. It is innovative and imaginative yet rooted in a desire to provide strong foundations in the basics: spelling, punctuation and grammar as well as arithmetic.
The curriculum in the Lower School is designed to prepare children for the challenges of the 21st century. In addition to Maths, English and Science, all taught by subject specialists in well equipped and stimulating departments, pupils all learn Mandarin Chinese as well as French or Spanish. In addition, they study Latin, ICT, Music, Art, Drama and PE. An innovative ‘Story of Britain and the World' course has also been developed to provide pupils with a proper sense of the nation's story and of global developments. This course leads directly into, and informs the study of, History, Religion, Philosophy and Geography which pupils will study as discrete options when they reach Year 9. We believe that at the end of their two years in the Lower School, the children will be at a level where they can easily cope with the GCSE and A-Level courses that follow.
A Special Place
The Lower School is very much part of the wider college, a community of which we are very proud. The young people here are effortlessly cheerful, caring and compassionate individuals. There is a wonderful rapport between year groups and the older pupils serve as excellent role models for the younger children.
In addition, the college has a teaching body that must rank amongst the best in England. They care about the subjects they teach, they convey that enthusiasm to the children and, together, they create a climate of learning that inspires the young people here to realise their dreams and to achieve more than anyone ever thought possible. It all begins in the Lower School.