Rosalind won a Year 9 Drama Scholarship to Lancing College
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I only really looked at Lancing College when I was considering senior schools. I had my heart set on going there. It has incredible facilities: an internal theatre and open-air theatre, an equestrian centre, and big sports fields. I knew other students who had gone there from Sompting Abbotts. So I could see they were thriving there and enjoying it.
I won a Drama Scholarship to come here. But initially, I had to do tests and a written essay to secure my place and then interviews. Sompting Abbotts helped me practise for these so I felt fairly confident. The college then applied my Common Entrance (CE) results for class setting. Sompting Abbotts helped me prepare for it all and I achieved As and three A*s in my CE, which put me in the second highest set at Lancing College.
“The sports are great here too …
… The coaches are always so encouraging. They feel like part of the team. I got onto the A hockey team and played in defence for both the third and fourth form. This year in the fifth form, I’ve played in the seconds team in lots of matches against other schools. I made the B team for netball in the third and fourth form and the U16As in fifth form. You make lots of friends in the process and the team spirit is epic”
Now I’m here, I am absolutely loving every second. I genuinely look forward to each new day. There’s always something to look forward to or get involved in.
I was nervous about joining. It felt a big step up from Sompting Abbotts. But there were fun induction days for us new third formers (Year 9s). The campus felt huge to start with But I soon got to know the routines and to meet the teachers.
A lot of children from Lancing College have come from the Independent School sector. There are students with Foundation Scholarships from the state sector too. So there’s a lovely mix of pupils, plus many international students. So I now have friends from all over the world.
Equestrian Centre
“Lancing has an equestrian centre. I kept my pony in it until she had to retire and will have my new horse there. It’s so incredible having your own horse at school and going down to see them in activity time in the day. We have an equestrian team that goes out to compete for the college, as well as internal competitions at the yard for all pupils. You don’t need a horse to take part. The yard has college horses for all students to use. Anyone can have lessons, even if you’ve never been on a horse before.”
For the first month as you settle into Lancing, not much homework is assigned. So you can relax when you join. In the third form, the homework is only slightly more than at Sompting Abbotts. The workload increases as you progress through the fourth form and fifth form. But I haven’t found it too hard.
For my GCSE’s I am taking Maths, English Language, English Literature, Triple Science, Geography, Drama and Physical Education.
There are some GCSE coursework large projects to complete. But you have months to do these. The only time I find my workload building up is if I don’t follow my golden rule: ‘do the work as soon as it has been set’. Otherwise you end up with five pieces of work to do in one night!
Combined Cadet Force
“I’m also part of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) here. It’s an educational partnership between the school and the Ministry of Defence. So I get to do lots of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities.”
What I think really helped me here was Sompting’ Abbotts development of my social skills and confidence (right from the age of 4 when I started in the pre-prep). This meant I was never afraid to introduce myself to a new student or teacher. I’ve stayed friends with the people from my Sompting Abbotts class, too, here.
Lancing College
The ISC says: “Set in spectacular countryside, Lancing College is a co-educational school with a reputation for academic excellence. Extensive facilities are complemented by dedicated teaching staff and outstanding pastoral care. Pupils' lives are enriched with sporting and cultural opportunities. Lancing is a happy, busy community dedicated to the nurturing of independent minds and well-rounded individuals.”
Muddy Stillettoes Sussex says: “An academically selective co-ed day and boarding school for 13-18 year olds occupying a self-contained campus within the South Downs housing some 600 pupils. Although it’s easily accessed via the A27 and overlooks the coast, the campus itself is charmingly rural. It’s famed for the largest school chapel in the world with an imposing Gothic Revival building that towers imperiously over the surrounding area, a veritable king of the hill. Exceptionally visually impressive, Lancing has a distinctly open-minded and holistic feel to it.”
“Arriving here with a Drama Scholarship has meant …
… I’ve had access to amazing drama workshops and masterclasses working with professionals. Lancing College puts on a wide range of plays every year. Since joining, I’ve been in My Fair Lady, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Schaffer’s Black Comedy and Macbeth. My GCSE drama studies have helped develop my writing, directing and acting skills.
Every teacher at Sompting Abbotts has influenced my life in one way or another. But I particularly remember Mr Douch for his English lessons that were always so engaging and enjoyable. Nobody ever switched off! I loved the school plays he directed and wrote himself too. We laughed so much in rehearsals. And I’ll never forget my science teacher (and Year 8 form teacher) Ms Scale. She really helped us all get through our common entrance and her science lessons were always so well planned. I think they really laid the foundations for my GCSE triple science studies now.
Rosalind’s advice for Sompting Abbotts children starting at Lancing College …
• With your interviews and scholarships, remember to always be yourself. Lancing College wants you to be you.
• Don’t worry about coping with the work at Lancing College. Sompting Abbotts prepares you so well. You’ll have strong foundations in place for learning.
• Don’t just stick to what you know, or what you’re already good at. There are lots of opportunities at Lancing (like the third form ‘carousel’ where you get to try all the activities on offer). Give everything a go, even if you’re convinced you don’t like it. You may surprise yourself.
• Make yourself known to the teachers or sports coaches in subjects or sports you’re keen about. You’ll get to meet them on the induction days and they want to hear from you.
• Don’t only stick with your peers from Sompting Abbotts. Reach out to other students (even if they’re not in your house). The friendships I made at the start of third form have lasted.
“I’ve loads of amazing memories of Sompting Abbotts. When I was little, I called it ‘the castle on the hill’.
I’ll never forget playing outside during breaks, making dens in the woods, rolling down the grassy slopes in summer, and sledding down them when it snowed.
I loved how we hung out together, across year groups. The school felt like like one big, safe family.
Now I’ve tons of friends at Lancing College from other schools, but nobody talks about their last school with the same special memories as we do about Sompting Abbotts!” ”
Read more leaver interviews here
Next steps
Charlie won an Academic Scholarship to Christ’s Hospital and joined in Year 9. He now boards full-time and although homesick at the start, now rarely wants to go home!