Ardingly College case studies (39)

Impact of partnership work done in 2025 (ISC annual Census 2026)

• 13 state schools involved
• 2001+ state school pupils involved
• 244 staff hours given

Impact Statement

Activity: Yr 6 STEM Day
Schools: Lindfield Primary, Ashdown House, Belmont School, Copthorne, Great Walstead, Handcross Park, Penthorpe, St Andrew’s
Objective: Engaging Yr 6 pupils with the Ardingly College Solar car project and more widely with STEM learning.
Details: Pupils worked in mixed-school teams to design build and race a mini solar car. Pupils developed connections with state school pupils and developed their STEM skills collaboratively.

Activity: Make a Noise! Music Day
Schools: Downlands Community School, Warden Park Academy, The Burgess Hill Academy, St Paul’s CC Burgess Hill and a few pupils from West Sussex Music Service
Objective: Creating music with a number of state schools
Details: Pupils spend the day working in instrumental sections and then a whole big band to rehearse and perform pieces of music. All pupils worked alongside each other in a supportive and creative atmosphere.

Activity: Astro Day
School: Warden Park
Objective: To learn about Astrophysics, astronomy and physics
Details: Pupils spent the day in workshops and listening to external speakers, also spending time in a planetarium.

The following are activities which have either not run despite state schools having been invited or else have run but many state schools have not attended despite having been invited: Solar Car, Make a Noise!, Shakespeare Conference, Economics Forum, Maths Challenge.