Co-ed School of the Year Finalist

We are delighted to share that Brighton College has been named a finalist for Co-ed School of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026.

Being proudly co-educational is at the heart of life at Brighton. Boys and girls do not simply learn alongside one another; they challenge and inspire each other every day, whether they are debating ideas in the classroom, rehearsing together on stage, making music, competing on the sports field or pursuing the many different interests that make College life so vibrant. It is an environment in which pupils grow up as equals. They learn to respect different perspectives, celebrate one another’s successes, and pursue the things they love without being constrained by stereotypes.

That culture of shared ambition and mutual respect sits alongside exceptional achievement. Last year saw outstanding GCSE and A-level results, a record 45 Oxbridge offers and pupils securing places at leading universities around the world, alongside national successes across sport, music, drama, dance and the arts.

Head Master, Steve Marshall-Taylor said: “Our privilege as teachers is to help define ‘what is normal’ for the pupils in our care. For us, it is normal that girls and boys learn and grow up together as equals; it is normal for us that girls and boys sing and dance and act and solve problems and eat and build friendships together as equals. A truly co-educational school should give every child the freedom and quiet confidence to discover who they are, to pursue the things they love and to learn from the girls and boys around them. It is wonderful to have this ‘powerful normality’ recognised by the Independent Schools of the Year Awards, and it is a fantastic reflection of our pupils and staff, whose kindness, curiosity and shared ambition make Brighton College the happy and thriving community it is.”

And there is even more to celebrate across the wider Brighton College family, with three other schools also reaching the finals, more than any other schools group in the world. Brighton College Prep Handcross has been shortlisted for Prep School of the Year, recognising the exceptional education and breadth of opportunity offered to children at our 52-acre prep school in the West Sussex countryside. Further afield, Brighton College Dubai is a finalist for School of the Year for International Student Experience, while Brighton College (Singapore) has been shortlisted for International School of the Year.

Principal, Richard Cairns said: “To see Handcross, Dubai and Singapore recognised alongside Brighton makes this an especially proud moment for the Brighton College family. Each school has its own distinctive character, but all share a commitment to kindness, curiosity, confidence and providing an exceptional education for every child.”

The winners will be announced at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards ceremony in October. We wish our four Brighton College schools the very best of luck!