Veronica won an Art Scholarship to Roedean School and joined in Year 9

Veronica, outside Roedean School, which she joined in Year 9

We looked at schools near where we live in Lewes, including Lewes Old Grammar School, Chailey School and Priory School, before settling upon Roedean School. It was its feel and facilities that really inspired me to want to go there.

I had to pass Roedean's entry exams (Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths and English) and required an Art Scholarship to attend.

Sompting Abbotts really helped to prepare me well for it all – academically, creatively and athletically – which I am grateful for. I also had to work hard to pull a good portfolio together but I enjoy Art so it didn't feel too difficult. The face-to-face interviews I had to do were the most nerve-racking.

Veronica, in the grounds of Sompting Abbotts

Now I love my new school, even if it was quite daunting initially making new friends. I felt quite shy and got lost a lot. But I put in the extra effort to get out of my comfort zone to meet people and it has paid off and helped me settle into Roedean life. I’ve now made some lovely friends. Most of the other girls came from private schools too and I’m getting to know pupils who have come from all over the world. That’s really eye-opening.

The classes are larger than I was used to at Sompting Abbotts. There are around 20 children per class. As Roedean is a big school, it was challenging the first couple of weeks getting used to there being different pupils in each subject class.

It’s also all girls but that hasn’t made much difference to me. At Sompting Abbotts, by the time we got to the senior stage, we girls tended to stick together and do our own thing anyway.

Veronica, top left, with her netball team at Sompting Abbotts

There are more subjects at Roedean but the workload is similar. I think the pace of work at Sompting Abbotts has helped me ease into Roedean's academic demands. I've heard other pupils coming from different schools finding them much harder to cope with.

The environment at Roedean is very different from the warm family feel at Sompting. It's so much bigger and less intimate because of the school’s size and number of pupils (around 600 girls). But the staff are so friendly and welcoming, even down to the guys who direct the traffic around the car park. It's a positive and rewarding environment. I highly recommend it.

Roedean School

Founded in 1885, Roedean School is an independent day and boarding school for girls in East Sussex. Its campus has a spectacular view over Brighton Marina and the English Channel, with a private tunnel down to the beach.
The ISC says: “Roedean provides an outstanding holistic education for 630 day and boarding girls from 11 to 18. They have the space to grow up at their own pace and realise their full potential, and, happy and confident, they thrive in this environment. Academic results are impressive, and the girls' studies are complemented by a range of co-curricular activities – it is precisely this rounded education which produces independent and creative young women who will make their mark in the world.”
01273 667500
www.roedean.co.uk

One of the biggest reasons why I’m enjoying being at Roedean so much is that there’s loads of choice for extra-curricular activities – there’s so much to try out and new things to learn.

The clubs take place at the end of each day or at lunchtime and there are new options each term: netball, hockey, choir and Ancient Greek (I’m doing that now and loving it). Other club options are Harry Potter, LGBTQ, Helping on the Farm, Duke of Edinburgh, Ecology and lots more.

I’ve just confirmed my GCSE choices. I’ve opted to take Latin, History, French, Art and Triple Science, along with the mandatory subjects of English and Maths. Looking at my choices, these were all subjects I really enjoyed at Sompting Abbotts. I haven't considered what I’ll take for my A-Levels yet.

“I’ve so many good memories of Sompting Abbotts – playing outside especially and getting involved with the school productions – and I so loved the family feel at and growing up there knowing all the children and staff.”

— Veronica

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Next steps

The journey is far from finished when your child ends their time at our prep. Our children move onto a range of schools, many of them with scholarships, awards and exhibitions. The most frequent independent senior school destinations are Lancing College, Brighton College, Christ's Hospital and Hurst College, among others. The most popular state secondary school destination is Steyning Grammar.Which school will suit your child's strengths and needs best? Our staff are happy to talk your options through with you and guide you. We hope our leaver interviews below will help you, too, in your decision-making.