Sussex House School

Focus 

Tradition and imagination

Day fees 2025/26

$47,400

Term dates

• Term 1: 3 September to 11 December 2025
  
• Term 2: 7 January to 25 March 2026
  
• Term 3: 22 April to 1 July 2026
  

Ages

8-13

Pupil count

180

Spear’s Review

Few schools can boast of the stability that Sussex House can, with Nicholas Kaye serving as headmaster since 1994. The Chelsea-based school retains its traditional charm: older boys still wear gowns, the study of Latin is compulsory, and ancient Greek is an option for older boys. 

Teaching is undertaken by specialists in their subjects, while a form tutor will oversee a boy’s personal development throughout his life at Sussex House. Indeed, even the headmaster teaches English literature to older boys and runs the school’s architecture club.

Outside the classroom, boys are treated to an array of sports and activities – football, cricket, cross-country, golf and fencing – all overseen by specialist coaches. During wetter weather, at lunchtime or after school, boys can take part in the school choir, carpentry club, games workshop club or oil painting club, or try their hand at bridge and other card games.  

Head teacher

Nicholas Kaye, headmaster of Sussex House since 1994, read English at Magdalene, Cambridge, undertook music research at City University and has a diploma in religious education. A writer and lecturer on French music, Kaye is also the musical director and conductor of St Mary Magdalene Music Society. He is a trustee of Asra Hawariat School in Addis Ababa as well as the Albert Schweitzer Institute.

Senior school destinations

According to the school, Sussex House achieves outstanding results for the Common Entrance exam, and around 80 per cent of boys continue their academic journeys at leading public schools such as Eton, King’s College School Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Winchester and Westminster.

Admissions

According to the school, parents do not need to put a child’s name down at birth; they can register any time before the school’s January entry test. The entry test consists of English, mathematics and verbal reasoning components; an interview also will be conducted. The interview is an opportunity for the school to discover boys’ potential and determine whether they show an individual spark and interest in the world around them.

Notable alumni

Notable ‘Old Cadogans’ include:

• Daniel Radcliffe (actor)
  
• David Szalay (novelist)
  
• Matthew Vaughn (film-maker)
  

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 45 minutes

Location

Click for more information about the research process and expert insight behind the Spear’s Schools Index.