Brighton College

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Not to be confused with University of Brighton.
For other uses, see Brighton College (disambiguation).

Brighton College
Brighton-college.svg
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Eastern Road

Brighton
,
East Sussex
,
BN2 0AL

England
Coordinates50°49′11″N 0°07′11″W / 50.8196°N 0.1197°W / 50.8196; -0.1197Coordinates: 50°49′11″N 0°07′11″W / 50.8196°N 0.1197°W / 50.8196; -0.1197
Information
TypePublic School
Independent day and boarding school
MottoΤΟ Δ’ΕΥ ΝΙΚΑΤΩ
(Let right prevail)
Established1845; 176 years ago (1845)
FounderWilliam Aldwin Soames (1787-1871)
Local authorityBrighton and Hove
Department for Education URN114614 Tables
Chairman of the GovernorsThe Lord Mogg
HeadmasterRichard Cairns
Staff150
GenderCoeducational
Age3 to 18
Enrolment1088 (ages 11 - 18)
Houses14
PublicationBrighton Review
Former pupilsOld Brightonians
ChaplainReverend Rosie Amess
Websitewww.brightoncollege.org.uk

Brighton College is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton, England. The school has three sites: Brighton College (the senior school, ages 11 to 18); Brighton College Preparatory School (children aged 8 to 13, located next to the senior school); and the Pre-Prep School (children aged 3 to 8).

Brighton College was named England's Independent School 2019 of the Year by The Sunday Times.[1] In 2018 it was ranked 5th in the country for average A-level results,[2] with 99% of grades being A*-B.[3]

In 2011, Brighton College opened its first international campus in Abu Dhabi. Brighton College International Schools (BCIS) has subsequently opened campuses in Al Ain, Bangkok and Dubai.[4]


History[]

Founded in 1845 by William Aldwin Soames, Brighton College was the first Victorian public school to be founded in Sussex.[5] Soames originally planned for use of the Brighton Pavilion, but after refusal by Queen Victoria, built the school in the suburb of Kemptown, Brighton.

The school occupied a niche in the development of English secondary education during the 19th century. Activities include:

  • The use of individual classrooms for teaching small groups[5]
  • Being an early pioneer in teaching both modern languages and science[5]
  • Inventing the school magazine (1852)[5]
  • Building the first school gymnasium (1859)[5]
  • Erecting the first purpose-built science laboratory (1871)[5]

Brighton College led the legal fight to secure the charitable tax status currently enjoyed by all registered charities. A long-running legal action between the school and the Inland Revenue from 1916 to 1926 produced a series of changes to tax law in the 1918 Income Tax Act, the 1921 and 1922 Finance Acts and, above all, section 24 of the 1927 Finance Act. The case (Brighton College v Marriott) went to the High Court in 1924,[6] the Court of Appeal later that year,[7] and ultimately the House of Lords in 1925.[8]

It was the first independent school to introduce compulsory Mandarin Chinese from the age of 13, and in 2006 was the first public school in England to sign a deal with the Chinese government to encourage the teaching of Mandarin and Chinese culture.[9]

Large numbers of Brighton College boys fought in both World Wars, with 149 Old Brightonians fallen in World War I[10] and 173 during World War II.[11]

Houses[]

The pastoral system at Brighton College is house based. There are 14 houses[12] which are split by gender (with the exception of Alexander House). Staff of both sexes can be attached to any house. Houses contain between 48 and 85 pupils and are supervised by a house master or house mistress (HMM) and a team of personal tutors. Boarding houses also have a matron and house keeping staff.[12] The HMM appoints Upper Sixth Formers (Year 13) as house prefects to look after and mentor younger members,[13] and one as head pupil to represent their house at house events and competitions.

In September 2017, Brighton College's 14th house was opened, Alexander House. This was the first mixed-gender house in the college and is only for the Upper Sixth formers who decide during their Lower Sixth year that they wish to move into this house, with all members coming from other boarding houses. In their final year roughly half of boarders chose to enter the house[citation needed].

List of houses[]

House Abbreviation Colour(s) Gender Boarding/Day
Abraham Ab. Black/White M Boarding
Alexander Ax. Blue & Gold M/F Boarding
Aldrich Al. Sky Blue M Day
Chichester Ch. Purple F Day
Durnford Du. Green M Day
Fenwick Fe. Lilac F Boarding
Hampden Ha. Black M Day
Headmaster's (Head's) He. Orange/White M Boarding
Leconfield Le. Navy Blue M Day
New Ne. Magenta F Boarding
Ryle Ry. Yellow M Day
School Sc. Violet/White M Boarding
Seldon Se. Turquoise F Day
Williams Wi. Red F Day

Awards[]

  • England's Independent School of the Year 2019 - The Sunday Times[1]
  • England's Independent Secondary School of the Decade 2010-2020 - The Sunday Times
  • England's Public School Headmaster of the Year 2012 by Tatler magazine.[14]
  • England's Independent School of the Year 2012 - The Sunday Times[15]

Site and buildings[]

The Main Building
Artist's impression of the Sports and Science Centre

Brighton College is located in Brighton's Kemptown area, in the east of the city.[16] The school occupies three sites, facing south onto Eastern Road. It is immediately to the east of the site of the former Kemptown railway station, across Sutherland Road. Its principal buildings are in the gothic revival style by Sir George Gilbert Scott RA (flint with Caen stone dressings, 1848–66). Later buildings were designed by his pupil and former student at the college Sir Thomas Graham Jackson RA (brick and flint with cream and pink terracotta dressings, 1883–87; flint with Clipsham stone dressings 1922–23).

George Bell, Bishop of Chichester created the school grounds as an extra-parochial ecclesiastical district. Placed outside the parish of St. Matthew's, Brighton, the school chapel holds an episcopal licence to perform weddings.

Under the stewardship of Head Master Richard Cairns, the school has added a series of buildings to the college campus:

  • 2008: the Alexander Arts Centre
  • 2011: The Skidelsky Building (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2011: the new Pre-Prep school
  • 2012: the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion (winner of a RIBA award), a new cricket pavilion at the school's fields near East Brighton Park. It was opened by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in July 2012.[17]
  • 2012: the Simon Smith Building (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2013: New House (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2014: Cairns Tower (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2015: The Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (winner of a RIBA award)
  • 2017: Alexander House
  • 2017: The Kai Yong Yeoh Building (RIBA nominee; Sussex Heritage Trust Award nominee)
  • 2020: the School of Sports and Science - this £55 million building, which includes 18 university-standard laboratories, a rooftop running track, swimming pool and double-height sports hall, was designed by the Rotterdam-based Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).[18]

Lower School[]

In September 2009, the school opened a new "Lower School" for children between the ages of 11 and 13. The site of this new part of the Senior School is on the old Art Block, with that now having moved to above the Woolton Quad. The Lower School means that Brighton College has been open to intake children at the age of 11 into the senior school for the first time in its history, as opposed to its traditional youngest intake of thirteen-year-old boys and girls, since the academic year starting 2009.

Policies[]

The College Chapel

In January 2016, Headmaster Richard Cairns announced that Brighton College would scrap gender-specific uniforms and instead introduce a "trouser uniform" and a "skirt uniform"[19] with both boys and girls under age 16 being free to choose which to wear. According to Cairns, Brighton College is “reacting to a changing society which recognises that some children have gender dysphoria and do not wish to lose their emotional gender identities at school.”[20] Parental consent must be provided in order for a pupil to choose their uniform, and a pupil must wear either the "trouser uniform" or the "skirt uniform" in totality rather than a combination of the two. In addition, such a choice must be made on a permanent basis. [21]

In 2017 the school invited Stonewall Ambassador Ian McKellan to share its anti-bullying message. The school has regularly made headlines for its pro-LGBT stance, emphasising the right of all pupils to feel safe and supported.[22] For the 2013–14 academic year the school appointed the first openly gay head boy of an English independent school.[23][24] In August 2017 the school participated in the Brighton Pride Parade, becoming the first private school in the United Kingdom to do so.[25] The float was backed by Ian McKellan. This has become an annual event for the school, with pupils and staff designing and making the float.

The school positions community service as a “vital part of school life”.[1][3] Pupils are involved in 328 days of community service a year – which includes visiting elderly people, teaching pensioners about technology, and working with local community initiatives.

The school is recognised[1] as having an ethos of kindness and respect, in addition to academic excellence. The school's most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate report summarises:

Throughout the age range, pupils are exceptionally well educated in line with the school’s ambitious aims. The school is highly successful in preparing pupils for public examinations, as well as developing their breadth of knowledge and stimulating independent and enquiring minds. … Pupils show unusually high levels of knowledge, understanding and academic skills, appropriate to their age and ability. Results at GCSE and A level over recent years have been exceptional, and above the national average … Pupils of all ages show very high levels of spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness and development. They are reflective, thoughtful and well behaved, possess a strong sense of right and wrong, and are conscious of the importance of social justice. They have a strong appreciation of tolerance [and] embrace diversity.[26]

Fees[]

For the 2018/19 academic year the fees were £23,160 for day pupils. Boarding ranged from £33,390 - £37,470 pa.[3] The school offers a number of scholarships and bursaries, offered on the basis of merit and need.[27]

Activities[]

In the 2019 A-level examinations Brighton College achieved 99% A*B (82%A*/A). In the 2019 GCSE examinations they scored 94% 9–7.[28] Class sizes at GCSE average 18, and at A-level they average 8. 26 subjects are offered at A-level.[3][29]

The school has an extensive co-curriculum provision, with the option of “over 100 clubs and activities”[30] in which pupils may participate. This includes drama (with 15 productions a year), dance (7 styles of dance and 70 classes per week), music (22 music groups) and art (100% A* results).[3]

The school has an ethos of "sports for all"[31] and offers a range sport choices. The major sports are athletics, cricket, netball and rugby. All pupils participate in games of their choice twice a week.[3] The college was selected to provide training ground for Japan during the course of Rugby World Cup 2015.[citation needed] Going forward, England Head Coach Eddie Jones, Japan coach then, has hosted the elite player squad training camps at the college.[32]

Principals and Head Masters[]

Brighton College Gateway arch and Headmaster's Study, Dawson Building
  • Rev. Arthur Macleane (1846)
  • Rev. Henry Cotterill (1851), subsequently Bishop of Grahamstown and Edinburgh
  • Rev. Dr. John Griffith (1856)
  • Rev. Dr. Charles Bigg (1871), subsequently Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Oxford
  • Rev. Thomas Hayes Belcher (1881)
  • Rev. Robert Halley Chambers (1892), formerly Principal of Victoria College, Jersey, subsequently Head Master of Christ College, Brecon
  • Rev. Arthur Titherington (1895)
  • Rev. Canon William Dawson (1906), formerly Headmaster of and The King's School, Grantham
  • Rev. Arthur Belcher (1933), a pupil 1886–95, son of Rev. Thomas Hayes Belcher
  • Christopher Fairfax Scott (1937), formerly Headmaster of Monmouth School 1928-37
  • Walter Hett (1939)
  • Arthur Stuart-Clark (1944), formerly Headmaster of Steyning Grammar School
  • Roland Lester (1950) (acting)
  • William Stewart MC (1950), subsequently Master of Haileybury and Imperial Service College
  • Henry Christie (1963), subsequently Warden of St Edward's School, Oxford
  • William Blackshaw (1971)
  • John Leach (1987)
  • Dr. Anthony Seldon (1997), subsequently Master of Wellington College
  • Simon Smith (2005) (acting)
  • Richard Cairns (2006)

The title of principal was changed to Head Master in December 1885.[33] The requirement for the Head Master to be an ordained priest of the Church of England was removed in 1909.[34]

Note: Simon Smith returned to his position as Second Master after Richard Cairns took leadership in 2006.[35]

Notable alumni and members of staff[]

Main article: List of people educated at Brighton College
See also: Category:People educated at Brighton College

Brighton College Abu Dhabi[]

In 2010, Brighton College announced that it was "helping to set up schools in Abu Dhabi".[36] This venture was a for-profit franchise operation through a company the school had set up, Brighton College International Schools Ltd, in a joint venture with a UAE property development company called Bloom Properties.[citation needed] Brendan Law, previously of Westbourne House School in Chichester, West Sussex, was named Headmaster of Brighton College Abu Dhabi in September 2010,[37] and the school opened in September 2011.[38] Law was replaced by Ken Grocott, former Head of Geography at Brighton College, in September 2012.[39]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Thomas, Zoe (25 November 2018). "Independent Secondary School of the Year: Brighton College". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ^ "All schools and colleges in England - GOV.UK". Find and compare schools in England. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Brighton College, Brighton". The Good Schools Guide. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Home | Brighton College International Schools". www.brightoncollegeinternational.com. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Brighton College History". Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. ^ June 1924, 40 T.L.R. 763-5
  7. ^ November 1924, 1 KB 312
  8. ^ November 1925, AC 192-204
  9. ^ "College makes Chinese compulsory". BBC News. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  10. ^ "WW1 Roll of Honour". Brighton College Remembers.
  11. ^ "WW2 Roll of Honour". Brighton College Remembers.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "Pastoral Life at Brighton College". Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Pastoral Life at Brighton College". Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.[verification needed]
  14. ^ "The Tatler School Awards 2012". Tatler. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  15. ^ "Star quality shows as Brighton College rocks". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  16. ^ "Stab Vests and Butter Knives" Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Fr. Robert Easton, September 2011, Farmington Trust
  17. ^ Sussex Living magazine http://southdownsliving.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/earl-and-countess-of-wessex-open.html
  18. ^ Moore, Rowan (11 January 2020). "Brighton College's Sports and Science Centre review – Hogwarts meets George Lucas". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 12 April 2020 – via www.theguardian.com.
  19. ^ Espinoza, Javier (20 January 2016). "Brighton College scraps century-old uniform code to accommodate transgender pupils". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  20. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/20/brighton-college-axes-uniform-dress-code-accommodate-transgender-pupils The Guardian, 20 January 2016
  21. ^ "Brighton College Uniform Policy 2020-21" (PDF). Brighton College. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  22. ^ Cairns, Richard (27 February 2017). "Children must learn that homophobia is unacceptable - that's why we teach our pupils about the dangers from day one". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  23. ^ Will Emery Gay Head Boy Public School The Huffington Post, 25 August 2013
  24. ^ Public School appoints first gay head boy Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times (London), 25 August 2013.
  25. ^ Education Editor, Sian Griffiths (25 June 2017). "Top school Brighton College to celebrate Pride parade". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Brighton College :: Independent Schools Inspectorate". www.isi.net. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  27. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Scholarships & Bursaries". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  28. ^ pm, Olga Aug 17 at 6:45 (20 September 2019). "Brighton College UK Guide: Reviews, Ranking, And Fees". Britannia StudyLink Malaysia: UK Study Expert. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  29. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Academic Results". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  30. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Enrichment". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  31. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "Sports life". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  32. ^ "Eddie Jones to host England training camp at Brighton College". The Argus. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  33. ^ Jones, Martin (1995). Brighton College 1845-1995. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 67. ISBN 0-85033-978-2.
  34. ^ Jones (1995), p.212
  35. ^ "Staff List". Archived from the original (ASP) on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  36. ^ "Brighton College News". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  37. ^ Hyslop, Leah (24 September 2010). "Daily Telegraph". London. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  38. ^ "Abu Dhabi Week". Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  39. ^ College, Brighton; Brighton; Sussex, East; Bn2 0al. "College News". Brighton College | Independent School of the Year. Retrieved 20 December 2019.

Bibliography[]

  • G. P. Burstow, "Documents relating to the Early History of Brighton College", The Sussex County Magazine, October 1951 and August 1952.
  • G. P. Burstow & M. B. Whittaker (ed. Sir Sydney Roberts), "A History of Brighton College." (Brighton, 1957).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "A Short History of Brighton College." (Brighton College, 1986).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College 1845-1995." (Phillimore, Chichester, 1995) ISBN 0-85033-978-2.
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College v Marriott: Schools, charity law and taxation.", History of Education, 12 no.2 (1983).
  • Martin D. W. Jones, "Gothic Enriched: Thomas Jackson's Mural Tablets at Brighton College Chapel.", Church Monuments, VI (1991).
  • Jones, Martin D. W. (1997). "Edmund Scott and Brighton College Chapel: a lost work rediscovered" (PDF). Sussex Archaeological Collections. 135: 309–311. open access
  • H. J. Mathews (ed.), "Brighton College Register, Part 1, 1847-1863." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1886).
  • E. K. Milliken (ed.), "Brighton College Register 1847-1922." (Brighton, 1922).
  • Anon., "Brighton College War Record 1914-1919." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1920). Compiled by Walter Hett.

External links[]

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