Burgess Hill Girls Review 2026: 120 Years of Empowering Young Women

In 1906, Miss Beatrice Goode founded a school with a revolutionary belief: that girls deserved an education equal to boys. Some 125 years on, Burgess Hill Girls has grown from that pioneering start into a thriving all‑through school on a 14‑acre site on the edge of town, about a five‑minute walk from the station on the London–Brighton line. Today, it educates nearly 600 girls from nursery through sixth form, alongside select boys in the nursery, and admits international boarders from Africa, China, and beyond.

The school's recent milestone moments have shaped its trajectory. Mrs Heather Cavanagh, appointed Interim Head in 2024 after thirteen years leading the Prep School, has brought a background in educational innovation and outdoor education to the helm. The staff embrace both academic rigour and the full complement of soft skills that prepare girls for an increasingly complex world. Academic results consistently rank the school among the top independent institutions in Sussex; GCSE entries place it 203rd (FindMySchool ranking), well within the top 10% of schools in England, whilst A-level performance ranks 55th (FindMySchool data), positioning it in the elite tier.

For families seeking a girls-only education combining academic ambition with genuine pastoral care, Burgess Hill Girls delivers without the pretension of more traditional establishments. Most families live within a thirty-mile radius, making daily attendance feasible alongside an increasingly popular boarding option.

Walking the campus reveals a school that respects its heritage without being imprisoned by it. The main academic buildings cluster together efficiently; separate buildings house the Pre-Prep in Edwardian villas, the modern Sixth Form centre with dedicated lecture rooms and study spaces, and Little Oaks, the contemporary 2008-built nursery and infant wing set into the sloping site to create high ceilings and a sense of spaciousness. Two Victorian houses serve as on-site boarding accommodation.

The culture balances achievement with accessibility. Girls describe genuine friendships across year groups rather than the cliquishness that can plague single-sex schools. School uniform is compulsory up to the Sixth Form, creating a levelling effect appreciated by parents across different economic circumstances. The boarding houses are deliberately mixed, integrating international students fully rather than creating a separate community. Staff describe their approach as "almost non-selective yet achieving better results than many more also competitive schools". The school takes girls of varied starting points and maximises their individual potential.

Pupils mention the school's emphasis on resilience and problem-solving, not just being told the answer. Learning support is embedded throughout rather than siloed into separate departments. The relatively small cohort sizes, with just sixty to eighty girls per year group in the main school, mean that every student remains visible to staff. In the prep school, each class has a teaching assistant alongside the class teacher, reducing the pupil-to-adult ratio significantly.

The atmosphere during school day observations is calm and purposeful. Girls move between lessons without the chaos of larger schools; the refurbished teaching blocks provide modern learning spaces. The boarding community in particular speaks of the school's "homely" quality, with house staff maintaining open-door policies and active engagement in evening and weekend activities. Gap Assistants (visiting placement holders) work with boarding staff to plan evening social programmes.

GCSE Performance

GCSE outcomes reflect consistent academic ambition. In 2024, 68% of grades were classified as 9-7 (the highest academic bands), compared to 54% in England. The school ranks 203rd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 10% of independent schools. Locally, it ranks first among schools in the Burgess Hill area for secondary performance. This sustained position reflects sustained investment in teaching quality and curriculum design rather than short-term fluctuations.

All subjects are offered across sciences (sciences taught separately rather than as a combined award), humanities, languages, and the creative and performing arts. English and mathematics are prioritised with careful setting by ability from Year 9 onwards.

A-Level Performance

A-level results demonstrate particular strength. In 2024, 91% of entries achieved grades A*-B, substantially above the England average of 47%. The breakdown shows 35% at A*, 31% at A, and 25% at B. The school ranks 55th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), an elite positioning that reflects the calibre of students progressing to sixth form and the quality of advanced teaching.

Twenty-six A-level subjects are offered, including Classical Greek, Russian, and History of Art alongside the sciences, humanities, and arts. This breadth allows girls to construct genuinely individual programmes rather than being constrained by timetabling limitations.

Teaching follows a traditional academic model with clear structures. Subject specialists lead their departments, and the school has actively invested in recent years in computing and robotics education, partly driven by Mrs Cavanagh's priority for STEM education during her tenure in the Prep School. Independent schools in the sector are not required to publish detailed curriculum maps, but the school's website indicates that it follows the national framework with enrichment beyond statutory content.

Class sizes average around eighteen in the Senior School, dropping below twelve for A-level sets. The Sixth Form benefit from teaching approaches that blend seminar-style discussion with more formal lectures, particularly for facilitating subjects like history and languages where oracy and cultural breadth are essential. Computing, physics, chemistry, and biology are taught in well-equipped laboratory spaces.

Teachers understand their subject deeply and generally convey enthusiasm for their discipline. The school actively recruits from universities and retains staff for extended tenures, creating consistency. Professional development for staff is taken seriously, with internal training on wellbeing, mental health first aid, and inclusive teaching practices embedded throughout the year.

University Destinations

The 2024 leavers cohort of 33 students saw 70% progress to university, with a further 18% entering employment and small numbers pursuing further education or apprenticeships. The school tracks destinations carefully but does not publish granular breakdowns in the manner of some selective schools. From available information, students regularly progress to Russell Group universities, with Cambridge appearing consistently. The school explicitly states that it works with students to explore diverse options beyond traditional destinations, including animation, robotics, and aeronautics programmes at institutions beyond the Russell Group.

The BOLD Programme, the school's leadership and enrichment initiative for sixth formers, includes structured university preparation. The Tomorrow's Women Conference, run annually by Lower Sixth students, draws speakers from professional sectors and invites older students to reflect on post-school transitions.

Post-GCSE Progression

Most girls progressing from GCSE into the Sixth Form remain at Burgess Hill Girls. The Sixth Form, though selective in practice, welcomes external applicants and hosts approximately 40% external entry to Year 12. Girls coming from state schools in the surrounding area are known to transition successfully.

This is the school's greatest distinctive strength, and where its size and resources combine to create genuine abundance. The extended co-curricular provision reflects the school's belief that academic excellence and personal development flourish together.

Music: A Defining Strength

Music reaches across the school. The Chapel Choir (open to all) performs at school services and competes in competitions; separate ensembles include an Orchestra, a Swing Band, and smaller chamber groups. Year 7 and 8 pupils learn recorders; those showing aptitude progress to individual instruction. The school timetables weekly rehearsals for major ensembles, treating them with the same seriousness as academic lessons.

String teaching is delivered by visiting specialists, and the school subsidises some instrumental tuition for talented musicians regardless of family finances. The Music School (a dedicated building) hosts practice rooms, recording facilities, and ensemble rehearsal spaces. Popular culture is not ignored; the school offers sessions in contemporary music production and composition.

Drama: Highly Professional and Accessible

Senior school pupils engage in three major productions annually, requiring significant time investment from pupils and staff. Recent productions have spanned Shakespeare, modern plays, and original work. The Lower School (Years 7-9) stages their own productions, creating multiple pathways for involvement. A dedicated theatre with approximately 200 seats provides proper performance space, and sound and lighting equipment are managed by sixth formers gaining technical skills.

Drama at GCSE and A-level is taught by specialists, and the school sends students to compete in drama competitions across the region. The Drama Club meets weekly and runs workshops on specific techniques.

STEM and Technology

Computing and robotics have been significant growth areas. The school entered the LEGO Design competition recently and had designs shortlisted for inclusion in a national "Newspaper of the Future" initiative, demonstrating pupil engagement beyond the curriculum. Coding clubs and robotics projects allow younger pupils to experiment without grades attached. Science enrichment includes a dedicated dissection club, creating hands-on learning opportunities. The school has invested in modern laboratory equipment and maintains separate GCSE sciences as standard practice.

Sports: Rowing and Beyond

Rowing is a genuine strength. Girls from Year 7 upwards access the sport, and the school hosts competitive fixtures against other independent schools. The facilities include access to on-water training through partnerships with local rowing clubs. Hockey and netball are compulsory in younger years and continue as fixtures sports through the school. Tennis, badminton, table tennis, and swimming are all offered. Girls participate in county competitions and achieve notable success; a Year 7 pupil was recently recognised as the UK's number one under-13 pole vaulter, highlighting the breadth of athletic talent within the school.

A partnership with Burgess Hill Rugby Club (2025 news) sees the school sponsoring girls' rugby, reflecting current momentum in women's sports development.

Leadership and Character

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs through the school and achieves strong participation, particularly at Bronze and Silver levels in younger age groups. Annual expeditions are planned both domestically and internationally. The BOLD Programme for sixth formers includes mentoring younger students, organising the Tomorrow's Women Conference (the school's annual professional speaker series on female empowerment), and involvement in community service projects. Pupils volunteer at local charities and contribute to the nearby Primary School.

Creative Arts Beyond Drama

Art and Design are taught as separate subjects with their own dedicated spaces. Photography, jewellery making, ceramics, and textile work are all offered as options or clubs. The school regularly exhibits student art internally and participates in external exhibitions.

Publishing and Writing

The school produces Together Magazine, a student-led publication capturing school life across all phases. Year 3 pupils participate in creative writing workshops run by visiting authors, extending literacy beyond the core curriculum.

Social and Academic Societies

Chess, debating, and academic clubs flourish. The Debating Society competes at regional and national level. Film Club meets weekly, attracting sixth formers particularly. House competitions in various disciplines create friendly inter-house rivalry and participation opportunities for girls who don't identify as athletes or musicians.

Fees for 2025-2026 vary by year group. Pre-Prep and Prep School fees (Reception through Year 6) begin at approximately £6,500 per term, depending on year. Senior School fees (Year 7-11) are approximately £9,000 per term (all figures are termly and exclusive of VAT where applicable; parents should verify on the school website). Sixth Form fees are similarly structured. Boarding fees add substantially; full boarding reaches approximately £14,000 per term in addition to day fees for senior students, though the school offers flexible boarding options at lower cost.

Fees are inclusive of lunch, textbooks up to Year 11, and standard academic costs such as art and science materials. Sixth Form students are encouraged to purchase some individual texts; textbooks are not provided in this phase.

The bursary programme (up to full fee remission) is presented as a genuine commitment to access across different socioeconomic backgrounds. Scholarships at ages 11+, 13+, and 16+ cover academic, music, art, sport, and drama achievement, typically offering 10-25% reduction and often combined with bursaries. For nursery fees, Burgess Hill Girls offers current figures on request, as figures can change. A sibling discount applies: 5% for a second child, 10% for a third, and 15% for a fourth.

Payment of fees must occur on or before the first day of term unless families opt for nine-month direct debit arrangements. The school partners with Flywire for international payments, streamlining foreign exchange and reducing fees for families paying from overseas.

Pastoral support is structured and accessible. The form tutor knows pupils well and oversees academic progress and personal wellbeing. In the Sixth Form, personal tutors maintain particularly close relationships, meeting one-to-one termly. A school counsellor is available, and the school is explicit in signposting mental health resources. The Sixth Form pastoral team includes trained mental health first aiders.

Peer mentoring systems see older pupils supporting younger ones, both academically and socially. Pupil mentors receive training and meet regularly with supervisors. The school's anti-bullying procedures are detailed and include a clear escalation pathway. Online safety and digital wellbeing are taught explicitly in Personal Development lessons.

The boarding provision (detailed separately) extends pastoral care into evenings and weekends. House staff live on site and maintain visibility during free time, supporting girls' settling and social integration.

Boarding is available from Year 7 upwards and caters to approximately 100 pupils. The school offers full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi-boarding options. Casual boarding is charged at £118 per night. Entry into boarding is not automatic; families choose it based on their circumstances or because their child requests the experience.

Two on-site boarding houses provide accommodation, each designed to house girls across multiple year groups rather than segregating by age. The mixed composition deliberately creates peer support networks. House staff (including the Housemaster or Housemistress) live on site, and matrons provide daily welfare support. A typical week includes structured study time, evening activities (film nights, games evenings, quizzes), and planned exeats allowing pupils to go home typically every three weeks.

The school has received international student interest from China, Africa, and Hong Kong, with dedicated guides published in Mandarin, Spanish, and other languages. This international presence enriches the boarding community and ensures girls are exposed to different perspectives.

School hours run from 8:50am to 3:20pm for main school. Before-school supervision begins at 8:00am and after-school activities extend until 6:00pm, with no additional charge for this wraparound care. Lunch is compulsory and included in fees. The school provides daily minibus transport across Sussex, with routes covering Brighton, Crawley, Horsham, East Grinstead, Lewes, Uckfield, and Washington. Private transport and parking on-site are available for drivers arriving early.

The campus location proves advantageous: five minutes' walk from Burgess Hill railway station (the London to Brighton line), close to excellent road networks, and ten miles from Brighton city centre. For international boarders, this transport connectivity facilitates independent travel to London airports and continues south to the coast.

Entry Points and Process

Entry is possible at multiple points: Nursery (from age 2.5), Reception, Year 3, Year 7, and Year 12 (Sixth Form). Admissions are handled through the school directly rather than local authority coordination. Friday Open Mornings run regularly during the admissions season. Registration is required by November for the following September entry. The school recommends early registration, particularly for competitive entry points like Year 7 and Year 12.

Year 7 Entry

Prospective Year 7 pupils undergo entrance assessments in English and Mathematics, testing comprehension, reasoning, and problem-solving. A candidate interview with the Head of Year 7 or designated staff member explores interests, academic ambitions, and fit with the school's values. The school describes itself as "almost non-selective"; prioritization focuses on identifying pupils who will thrive within the school's environment and who demonstrate genuine interest in the opportunities available.

Year 12 (Sixth Form) Entry

Sixth Form entry requires a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 5-6 (the 4-9 scale introduced post-2015), though individual subjects may have higher requirements. Students seeking A-level sciences are typically required to have achieved grade 6 or above in GCSE Sciences. Interviews precede offers, and the head of Sixth Form meets external candidates to discuss subject choices and Post-18 aspirations.

Scholarship and Bursary Applications

Separate processes apply for scholarship and bursary candidates. Scholarship assessments typically occur in January or February preceding September entry. Candidates sit additional papers examining aptitude in the relevant discipline (e.g., higher-level reasoning for academic scholarships, music examinations for music scholarships). Bursary applications require supporting financial documentation and assessment of family income; the school explicitly states that no student is excluded from applying due to financial circumstances.

Limited catchment clarity. The school draws from a wide geographic area thanks to minibus transport, but families should confirm transport availability from their postcodes during the admissions process. Transport is not complimentary; costs vary based on route distance and are charged separately from fees.

Boarding culture. While boarding is optional, the 100-strong boarding population creates a visible school culture that emphasises staying over for evening events, outdoor expeditions, and weekend activities. Day pupils are welcome at all activities, but some of the most distinctive experiences (weekend trips, extended expeditions) are marketed primarily to boarders. Families choosing day-only should clarify what weekend activities are available.

Competitive sixth form entry. External candidates applying to Year 12 should understand that the sixth form is selective. The school is not obliged to accept all internal Year 11 leavers proceeding to sixth form, though in practice this rarely occurs. External applicants face genuine competition for places.

Single-sex education. This is fundamental to the school's philosophy and mission. Families seeking co-education should look elsewhere. The school actively emphasises the benefits of an all-girls environment for confidence, leadership development, and freedom from gendered expectations in subject choice.

Burgess Hill Girls has leveraged its 120-year heritage and mid-size scale to create a school that combines genuine academic rigour with an expansive co-curricular offer. Results rival far more selective and prestigious schools; the GCSE ranking places it in the top 10% in England, whilst A-level performance sits in the elite tier. Yet the school remains unpretentious and genuinely focused on bringing out the best in each individual girl, regardless of starting point.

The leadership under Mrs Cavanagh is fresh and forward-looking, particularly in STEM and outdoor education. The boarding provision is becoming increasingly significant and opens the school to a genuinely international cohort. For families wanting an independent single-sex education emphasising both academic excellence and personal character development, within commutable distance of London and Brighton, Burgess Hill Girls delivers exceptional value.

Best suited to girls who thrive in single-sex environments and families able to afford independent school fees (or qualifying for bursary support). The school's inclusive approach means entry is achievable for girls of varied academic backgrounds; academic excellence at GCSE and A-level reflects careful teaching and selection of cohorts rather than extreme selectivity at age 11.