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