Brighton College Prep Handcross
School summary
Set in the village of Handcross near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, Brighton College Prep Handcross educates around 438 boys and girls from age two through to thirteen, making it a small and close-knit community where children can be known well as they grow. The school spans nursery to the end of prep, with the option of boarding alongside day places. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded its highest grade of "excellent" both for the quality of education and for pupils' personal development, and all compliance requirements were met. Led by Headmaster Mr Jonnie Besley, it is well suited to families seeking a rounded, supportive prep experience with a clear path through the early years.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Free month · No payment needed
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 2 December 2025
Teaching & academics
With the ISI rating both academic outcomes and personal development as "excellent", the school combines strong teaching with genuine attention to how children develop as people. Around eleven per cent of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting individual needs are identified and catered for within the classroom. As a prep school running to age thirteen, the focus is on preparing pupils thoroughly for the next stage of their education.
Headmaster · Mr Jonnie Besley
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships are offered across academic work, art, drama, music and sport, an indication of the range of activities pupils can pursue beyond the core curriculum. The boarding provision adds a further dimension to school life outside lesson time.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 10.67%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £14,862 - £29,649
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £28,626 - £38,709
One means-tested full bursary available and one free place in nursery
Schools nearby
Cottesmore School
Pease Pottage, South East
Atelier21 Future School
Crawley, South East
Amberley Court School
Crawley, South East
Farney Close School
Haywards Heath, South East
Aurora Redehall School
South East
Burgess Hill Girls
Burgess Hill, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, all-through prep with top ISI marks and a broad scholarship offer, supported by limited means-tested bursary provision for families who need it.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
Free month · No payment needed
Brighton College Prep Handcross 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.