Sussex House School

Sussex House School (commonly known as Sussex House), is a boys’ preparatory school located in Chelsea, London. Founded in 1952, the school occupies a house designed by Norman Shaw at 68 Cadogan Square, and since 1994 has operated as an independent charitable trust. It typically has a roll of between 180 and 190 pupils.

Sussex House School
Location
68 Cadogan Square London , SW1X 0EA England
Coordinates	51.4946°N 0.1615°W / 51.4946; -0.1615
Information
Type	Private preparatory school
Motto	‘Lead me to the rock that is higher than I’
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	1952
Local authority	Kensington and Chelsea
Department for Education URN	100514 Tables
Headmaster	Nicholas P. Kaye
Gender	Boys
Age	8 to 13
Houses	Stuart   Tudor   Norman
Colour(s)	Dark blue, ochre and mulberry
Former pupils	Old Cadogan's
Website	sussexhouseschool.co.uk

Affiliated to the Church of England, pupils use nearby St Simon Zelotes as the school chapel. Sussex House offers a variety of sports but is known in particular for its success in fencing. The headmaster maintains links with Eton, KCS Wimbledon, St Paul's, Westminster School, and Winchester College; in any given year around 80 per cent of leavers depart for one of these institutions.^[1]

Former pupils are known as Old Cadogans and include actor Daniel Radcliffe, author Edward St Aubyn, gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, and filmmaker Matthew Vaughn.^[2]

History

Sussex House School was founded in 1952 and received charitable status in 1994.^[2]

Profile

As of October 2019, the school had 184 pupils enrolled. Of these, 28 spoke English as an additional language and 39 were identified as being very academically gifted, for whom the curriculum is modified. A report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate noted that most pupils come from families with professional and business backgrounds who live within a five mile radius of the school; the ability of the pupils is above the national average.^[3] It has a full-time staff of 21, supplemented by visiting sports and music staff.^[2]

There is a variety of student activities, including an architecture club, whose members go on walking tours of Chelsea, and coding club.^[4] Although a number of sports are on offer, such as cricket and football, Sussex House has been especially successful in fencing, and has produced more national champions than any other school in Britain.^[5][6]

A board of trustees is responsible for all aspects of running the school, supported by a team of advisory governors. The headmaster is one of the trustees.^[3] Nicholas Kaye, a graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge, is the current headmaster and was appointed to this role in 1994, having been deputy since 1986.^[7]

Admissions

The admissions process comprises an interview and a written exam; the latter is taken in January each year and features questions on English, Maths and verbal reasoning. A report from the previous school is also taken into consideration. In total, 36 boys are admitted each academic year.^[8]

The main pre-prep feeders are reportedly Garden House School, Eaton House Belgravia, Redcliffe School, Norland Place School, both Wetherby Kensington and Notting Hill Schools and Hawkesdown House.^[8]

Fees

School fees are charged termly and are payable by the first day of each term. As of the 2024/2025 school year, the fee is £11,100 per term, for a total of £33,300 over the three term academic year.^[2]

Trustees and governing body

Trustees

• J. A. Crewe
• Mrs. J. M. Elias
• M. A. J. Goedhuis
• N. P. Kaye
• R. T. G. Winter

Governors

• J. A. Crewe (Chairman)
• Mrs. J. M. Elias
• J. D. Gallant
• Mrs. N. M. Gayner
• P. D. Hargreaves
• R. T. G. Winter

Notable former pupils

Main category: People educated at Sussex House School

Former pupils are known as Old Cadogans, named after the square on which the school is located (Cadogan Square).

• Martin T. Barlow, Professor of Mathematics at the University of British Columbia
• Jasper Britton, actor
• Armand D'Angour, author and Fellow in Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher (2019)
• Aubrey de Grey, biomedical gerontologist
• Peter Dubens, internet entrepreneur and investor, founder of Oakley Capital
• Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, Leader of the House of Lords (2010–2013)
• Dean Godson, former leader writer of The Daily Telegraph
• Jason Goodwin, author and historian, The Janissary Tree (2006)
• Tarquin Hall, author, travel writer and journalist
• Rowan Joffé, screenwriter and director, Brighton Rock (2010) and Before I Go to Sleep (2014)
• Robin Le Mesurier, guitarist
• David Litman, American entrepreneur
• Richard Mason, novelist, The Drowning People (1999)
• Daniel Radcliffe, actor
• Edward St Aubyn, novelist known for the Patrick Melrose series
• David Szalay, novelist
• Matthew Vaughn, filmmaker
• Andrew Wolstenholme, civil engineer, former Chief Executive of Crossrail