Brighton College

Brighton College is an independent co-educational school for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Brighton and Hove. It occupies two sites: the main college for ages 11 to 18 and a preparatory school for ages 8 to 13. The college stands in the Kemptown area, east of the former Kemptown railway station. Its principal buildings follow the Gothic Revival style, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott between 1848 and 1866. Later additions were created by his pupil Sir Thomas Graham Jackson. The school grounds were established as an extra-parochial district by George Bell, Bishop of Chichester. Brighton College is recognised for outstanding academic results. In 2024 it ranked first in the country for A-Level results, with 87% of grades at A*-A. It has received multiple awards, including England’s Independent School of the Year in 2012 and 2019. The school introduced compulsory Mandarin Chinese in 2006 and became the first public school to sign a deal with the Chinese government. It has also played a significant role in legal history, winning a landmark case on charitable tax status in the 1920s. Visitors to Brighton College see a blend of historic and modern architecture. The original Gothic Revival buildings feature flint and Caen stone. Recent additions include the Alexander Arts Centre, the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion, and the School of Sports and Science with university-standard laboratories. The chapel holds an episcopal licence for weddings. The campus reflects the school’s ethos of kindness and respect, supported by community service programmes and a strong emphasis on tolerance and diversity.