Private schools in East Sussex (2026)
27 fee-paying schools, 16 taking boarders, listed by A level results where the school publishes them, then by name.
| School | Ages | A level |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton College Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Boarding | 11–19 | A+ |
| The Montessori Place Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Boarding | 1–19 | A- |
| Roedean School Brighton and Hove · Girls · Boarding | 11–18 | B+ |
| Mayfield School Mayfield (Wealden) · Girls · Boarding · Roman Catholic | 11–18 | B+ |
| Eastbourne College Eastbourne · Co-ed · Boarding · Church of England | 12–19 | B+ |
| Bede's Senior School Upper Dicker · Co-ed · Boarding | 13–19 | B+ |
| Oxford International College, Brighton Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Boarding | 13–19 | B |
| Battle Abbey School Battle · Co-ed · Boarding | 0–18 | B |
| Greenfields School Wealden · Co-ed · Boarding | 2–19 | B- |
| Brighton Girls GDST Brighton and Hove · Girls · Day | 3–18 | B- |
| Claremont School Hastings · Co-ed · Boarding | 1–19 | B- |
| Michael Hall School Forest Row · Co-ed · Day | 2–19 | B- |
| Lewes Old Grammar School Lewes · Co-ed · Day | 3–19 | C+ |
| Kings Brighton Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Boarding | 14–19 | C+ |
| Buckswood School East Sussex · Co-ed · Boarding | 10–19 | C |
| Annan School Uckfield · Co-ed · Day | 2–11 | — |
| Bede's Prep School Eastbourne · Co-ed · Boarding | 0–13 | — |
| Brighton College Prep School Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Day | 3–12 | — |
| Cumnor House School Danehill · Co-ed · Boarding | 2–14 | — |
| Darvell School Robertsbridge · Co-ed · Day | 4–16 | — |
| Lancing College Preparatory School At Hove Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Day · Anglican | 3–13 | — |
| Marlborough House Vinehall School Vinehall Street · Co-ed · Boarding · Christian | 2–14 | — |
| Sacred Heart School Wadhurst · Co-ed · Day · Roman Catholic | 2–11 | — |
| Skippers Hill Manor Preparatory School Five Ashes · Co-ed · Day | 2–13 | — |
| St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne · Co-ed · Boarding | 0–14 | — |
| St Christopher's School Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Day · Church of England | 4–13 | — |
| Windlesham School Brighton and Hove · Co-ed · Day | 2–11 | — |
Not a ranking. Fee-paying schools do not sit the same tests as state schools: many take IGCSEs, which the government's GCSE tables leave out, so we list them by their average A level grade where they report it (Department for Education 16 to 18 results) and then by name. Many fee-paying schools do not report A levels, so a dash does not mean poor results. Fee income per pupil is the school's income from fees in its latest Charity Commission accounts divided by its pupils: a guide to cost, not the fee list, and only shown where the charity runs that one school. Inspections: Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted.
Questions
What are the best private schools in East Sussex?
By average A level grade: Brighton College (A+), The Montessori Place (A-), Roedean School (B+). Not every school publishes A levels, so look at inspection reports and visit too.
How many private schools are there in East Sussex?
27 mainstream fee-paying schools, 16 of them taking boarders.
How much do private schools in East Sussex cost?
As a guide, the Independent Schools Council's 2026 census puts the average day school fee in South East at £6,769 a term (about £24,400 a year with VAT) and the average boarding fee at £15,239 a term, before VAT. Individual schools charge more or less than this, and more for older pupils: each school's website gives its fee list.
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