ROEDEAN SCHOOL is an all-girls day and boarding school that offers a unique take on education. Academic success is a key element of the School’s focus, but its real magic lies in its inclusive, broad-ranging approach to learning. Roedean’s students benefit from a challenging and supportive environment where girls grow into bright, resilient, socially aware young women who are eager to make their mark on the world.

From its stunning coastal location to its holistic educational ethos, here’s what makes the School special.

Where Is Roedean School?

You’ll find Roedean School just 10 minutes east of Brighton, overlooking the English Channel from a clifftop position. Roedean’s beautiful 45-acre campus has its own tunnel down to the sea, near the marina, and is a few minutes from the beaches of Brighton town. While the School is close enough to the city for students to enjoy the lively culture Brighton has to offer, it’s also far enough removed that Roedean escapes the bustle of urban life. Nestled between the sea and the South Downs National Park, pupils enjoy stunning views of nature, with wide open land and seascapes inviting a sense of space and calm.

When Was Roedean School Built?

The three Lawrence sisters who founded Roedean in 1885 believed that girls deserved access to as good an education as boys. The original School building, Wimbledon House, opened at 25 Lewes Crescent in Kemp Town, Brighton, where just 10 pupils studied. In 1898, the School moved to its present site, where it has remained ever since, except for the years between 1940 and 1945, during which the site was used as a Naval Torpedo training base for the Second World War, and the School was evacuated to Cumbria.

In the last 10 years, the School has invested more than £14 million into its outstanding facilities. At a glance, these include a 355-seat theatre, a floodlit all-weather pitch, a 25-metre indoor pool, a golf course, newly restored netball and tennis courts, the school farm, dance studios, and a fully refurbished library and boarding houses.

How Many Pupils Currently Attend Roedean School?

Nearly 140 years after the Lawrence sisters’ founding vision, Roedean is thriving. Student numbers have seen a dramatic increase since 2013 and have now almost doubled, with 100% growth in pupil numbers over a decade. This is particularly impressive considering the current sector decline in independent boarding schools, especially those solely for girls.

The School enjoys a 50/50 balance of day and boarding pupils, who each belong to a House. Alongside the 350 girls who attend in the day only, who are mostly from the UK, international students from more than 40 countries also attend the School. This mix of UK and overseas students gives Roedean a multicultural vibrancy, which helps pupils develop social awareness and cultivate a deep respect for diversity.

What’s Different about a Roedean Education?

Holistic and progressive, Roedean’s ethos goes far beyond the pursuit of academic excellence to nurture students’ passions and personal growth through a range of co-curricular activities. While pupils regularly achieve top marks in exams, results are not the end of the story. Each Roedean girl’s value lies in her multifaceted interests and skills, her curious nature, her compassion, and her power to incite change: in short, her individuality.

Roedean’s meaningful investment in the local community and beyond further reflects its holistic ethos. Students embrace a variety of philanthropic opportunities through charity work, volunteering, and partnerships. Every Year 12 student takes part in weekly community service, and each year group focuses their efforts on a dedicated local community project.

What Are the Prospects for Roedean School Leavers?

As a result of their Roedean journey, school leavers feel academically and socially prepared for the next steps in their education. Each year, Roedean students attain places at top UK and international universities, and the wide range of subjects selected for higher study reflects the girls’ diverse interests. Some students pursue highly ranked specialist courses, while others choose apprenticeships and vocational training.

A Roedean education enriches all areas of life and recognises that academic results, while important, are not the final word in success. It is this well-rounded approach to education that produces independent and creative young women “who are ready to stand up and make a difference in the real world.”

About Roedean School

Roedean School is a leading, independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18. Situated on the seafront near Brighton, the School’s location combines the best of bustling seaside culture with serene, natural beauty. The School’s vision is for every student to be happy, curious, engaged, creative, independent, confident, and compassionate. Thanks to this guiding mission, students can develop their strengths and passions, pursue the highest academic and personal standards, and build strong foundations for their futures.

Leading independent guides such as Muddy Stilettos, Tatler Schools Guide, the Week Schools Guide, the Good Schools Guide, and the Telegraph have all given Roedean top accounts. In November 2021, the Independent Schools Inspectorate report found Roedean to be “excellent” in academic and other achievements and personal development categories.

Learn more about Roedean School.