We are

GREAT

We are

GREAT

You’ll have
heard great things

Because we are Great Ballard

At Great Ballard we aspire to greatness. It's in our name. But also in our heritage. Set in a stunning national park, the great outdoors is matched by a warm, caring and nurturing environment indoors. Filled with great leaders, great thinkers, great carers and great motivators. Special people who encourage self-discovery and expression in all our pupils. Encouraging them to progress from great smilers, great tidy uppers, inquisitive great explorers, confident great performers, great doers and great learners to become positively great self-believers, great achievers and great role models.

Welcome from the Head

When Ivor Poole established Great Ballard in 1924 he made a promise that the school would be different. That courage to stand out from the crowd still energises us a century later. Poole wanted everyone to be cared for and treated fairly and Great Ballard today is a family in which everyone matters and no one is invisible. It is a school that cares, a school built completely around its pupils, a school with a heart.

Poole’s principles remain unchanged but the world beyond school refuses to stand still. Our duty to equip young people for an unpredictable future has never been more apparent. Our curriculum is broad and forward thinking and we encourage pupils to look beyond our idyllic West Sussex setting and develop the skills required to be adaptable and to make a difference in their world. We focus on leadership, problem solving and enterprise while covering a broad range of traditional subjects. We also nurture a passion for technology, computer science and communication skills which we champion along with the highest standards of literacy and numeracy. We see unique potential in all our children and support them to become the very best versions of themselves.

With an ethos rooted in building the strongest relationships and on empathy and respect, our young people recognise a need to be role models and to lift others. We take education beyond the classroom, making the most of our wonderful location to prioritise creativity, teamwork and pupil well-being. And we never lose sight of the value of the arts and exercise in shaping happy, healthy and resilient young lives. Great journeys begin with great preparation.

Matt King, Head 

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meet us

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Great Times

A little glimpse of school life

GB students take part in LAMDA showcase

News
January 29, 2024
A selection of LAMDA students recently took part in a Spring Showcase, in preparation for the upcoming Worthing Festival.
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Prep Pupils Attend Young Voices

News
January 22, 2024
GB pupils join more than 8000 at Young Voices in the O2.
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Great Ballard make Duke of Edinburgh History!

News
January 11, 2024
Great Ballard's first ever D of E group tackled their Bronze expedition this Summer term with great results and even greater memories.
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Term dates

Spring Term 2024
Inset
4th- 5th January

Term starts
Monday 8th January

Half term
12th- 16th February

Term ends

Friday 22nd March
Summer Term 2024
Inset
11th- 12th April

Term starts
Monday 15th April

Half term
27th- 31st May

Term ends

Friday 5th July
Autumn Term 2024
Inset
4th- 6th September

Term starts
Monday 9th September

Half Term
21st October- 1st November

Term ends
Friday 13th December