Great Walstead is an independent prep school for girls and boys from pre-school (2 ½) to Year 8 (13) set in more than 260 acres of wonderful Sussex countryside close to the village of Lindfield, neighbouring Haywards Heath.

At Great Walstead, we value the whole process of learning, not just the outcome.

We reward children who are academic risk takers, who show resilience and determination as well as that most important trait: curiosity. These qualities are seen in abundance in younger children, you only have to watch five year olds at play, where they are naturally inquisitive about everything around them. Yet as children get older, some of these qualities are lost as they become too focused on getting things right. This is all too often at the expense of offering opinions and ideas, in case they are wrong.

We create a learning environment where children feel comfortable being risk takers, prepared to make mistakes in order to find out more. Learning is a lifelong process which doesn’t end when we leave school or finish university.

By developing a genuine love and understanding of learning in our girls and boys, we feel we are preparing them for a world which is ever-changing and increasingly competitive.

We believe in enabling all our children to make the best academic progress they can, but appreciate the importance of play and child initiated learning which we do through our wonderful outdoor environment. A game in the woods and a maths lesson are, at this age, equal learning opportunities - we call it “Mud Pi”.