Roedean School
Brighton, East Sussex · BN2 5RQ
Roedean is one of England's most storied girls' independent schools, set in a dramatic clifftop position above Brighton with sweeping views of the English Channel. Founded in 1885, it combines a proud tradition of academic rigour with a modern emphasis on developing confident, globally-minded young women. The school offers both day and boarding places across four boarding houses, and its co-curricular programme — including the distinctive Roedean Diploma — reflects a genuine commitment to education beyond the classroom. Under recent leadership the school has pursued a deliberate reinvention, boosting academic results, wellbeing provision and its partnership programme.
- →Prestigious boarding school heritage with a spectacular sea-view campus that offers a genuine sense of community and immersive school life
- →Strong and improving academic results at both GCSE and A Level, with a culture that challenges girls without sacrificing wellbeing
- →The Roedean Diploma — a structured enrichment framework that encourages breadth beyond A Levels and builds a distinctive profile for university applications
- →A confident all-girls environment that actively promotes female leadership, STEM engagement, and empowerment through programmes like partnerships with external organisations and role model initiatives
Who thrives here
Girls who want a nurturing but stretching all-girls environment — whether they are academically driven, artistically creative, or sporty — and who will thrive with the independence, community spirit and sense of adventure that boarding or a strong day-school culture at Roedean provides.
Strengths at a glance
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
At a glance
Contact & visit
Roedean Way
Brighton, East Sussex
BN2 5RQ
Nearest stations
Notable alumni
Baroness Tessa Jowell
British politician and former Secretary of State for Culture
Dame Stella Rimington
Former Director General of MI5
Janet Suzman
Acclaimed actress and theatre director
Carol Thatcher
Journalist and author, daughter of Margaret Thatcher
Davina McCall
Television presenter and broadcaster
Recent investment
Frequently asked questions
What are the fees at Roedean School?
Day fees at Roedean School are approximately £33,660 per year (2025/26). Boarding fees are higher.
How do you get into Roedean School?
Roedean School admits pupils at 11+, 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by 11+ Selective Examination. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
What are Roedean School's exam results?
At Roedean School, 34.6% of A-levels were graded A*–B and 71.4% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
Is Roedean School a boarding school?
Roedean School offers boarding as well as day places.
What is Roedean School's latest inspection rating?
ISI rated Roedean School “Excellent” (2021).
What parents say
Frequently praised
✓Exceptional sense of community and house spirit — boarding and day pupils alike feel they belong to something special
✓Improving academic results and a school that takes girls' ambitions seriously without being a pressure cooker
✓Superb co-curricular breadth — from the farm to drama productions to endurance challenges — giving girls genuine stories to tell
✓Staff who know pupils individually and a pastoral care system parents describe as genuinely responsive and warm
Common concerns
!The clifftop location, while stunning, can feel isolated for day pupils without their own transport, particularly in the evenings
!As a school in transition and reinvention, some parents note that results and reputation are still catching up with ambition in certain academic areas
!Fees are significant and bursary availability, while present, is not always well publicised