Reece joined Lancing College in Year 9 having achieved the Headmaster's Award
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We looked at Lancing and Shoreham College but after going the Open Days, I decided that having the option to flexi-board really appealed to me – plus the big choice of GCSEs at Lancing College.
To get in, I had to pass my Common Entrance and that was hard work, made harder by the fact that I had to do my lessons and exams online during the pandemic. But I knuckled down and I passed, and also received the Headmaster’s Award.
What I’m most enjoying is all the different activities* I can do at Lancing College at the end of the day. *[There are no formal lessons after 15.45 on Monday to Friday, when co-curricular activities take place, and Tuesday afternoon is wholly given over to co-curricular activities and sport.]
I’m less keen on the requirements to do Saturday school and going to Chapel twice a week! Every third weekend though is exeat so Lancing College finishes at 4pm on the Friday that week. *[Saturday morning comprises a slightly later start, a tutor period, four timetabled periods and sport fixtures in the afternoon.]
Reece, second from right, on the sports field at Lancing College
Being able to board has been brilliant. I don’t have the stress of coming home every night and having to travel in in the mornings.
Settling in wasn’t hard. The school made us all feel very welcome. I stayed the first three nights when I arrived and that really helped me to meet the boys in my dorm so I had a starter-pack of core friends.
Since then I’ve made loads of new friends, both inside and outside my house. I’m in Teme House, which has around 65 boys across all year groups. We’ve a great Housemaster and a kitchen, common room and a games room. I especially like having the sixth-formers in our house, too. They are kind of like big brothers.
Reece, far right, with other members of Teme House
Now I stay three nights out of five, so every other night. That means I can still see my family and my brother, Lincoln, every day. (That was important as we have a very strong bond). But from Year 11, I think I’d like to board weekly as the workload will step up.
Arriving here felt very different to Sompting Abbotts at first. It’s so much bigger. I think there are more pupils in my house than in Sompting Abbotts alone. It’s also more diverse. It feels that there are more international pupils than there are pupils from the UK at Lancing College.
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.”
I thought the workload would be much more but it’s not; certainly not in the third form (year 9) – that is really a ‘settling-in’ year. Now I’m studying for my GCSEs, though, the pace has stepped up. I’m doing Maths, English, Double Science, Spanish, Geography, Product Design and Classical Civilisation.
When I look back, I felt that I was really well prepared by Sompting Abbotts. When I arrived at Lancing College, I found that I had been working at a higher level than a lot of the other new pupils, so that was an advantage to me.
Reece, receiving a trophy at Sompting Abbotts from Principal Mrs Sinclair
“I still miss Sompting Abbotts and its teachers – especially Mr Douch, Mr Mac and Mrs Tewkesbury! I have great memories of playing Manhunt with my friends in the big grounds, table tennis in the mornings, our class parties, climbing trees, the swimming pool and all the fun outdoors that I had. I loved the French trip and the Summer Camp too.”
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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!