The Prep School is housed in the main mansion where the former reception rooms and bedrooms of the ‘old house’ have been converted to classrooms or dormitories.
Children join the Prep School in Year 3 and progress through the school in year groups. Teaching in Year 3 is largely form-based, with setting first being introduced in Year 4. The scope of the setting is increased in the later years.
The majority of the children leave at 13+ and the school has a very good record in preparing children for their Common Entrance and Scholarship exams, as well as the Cranbrook assessment.
The curriculum is broad, balanced and demanding. As an independent school, we are not bound slavishly to the National Curriculum but aim for the high standards set out in the syllabi published by the Independent Schools Examination Board. An overview of the curriculum is provided in the annual Courses Guide.We look forward to welcoming you to our school.
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The day begins at 8:30am, with a Form Tutor period. Children have the opportunity to prepare for the day ahead, while Tutors can give out notices and lend helping hands. On Mondays and Fridays, an extended tutor period continues until the first lesson begins at 8:50 am. On Tuesdays there are assemblies and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Chapel services.
Morning lessons run from 8:50am until 1:05 pm, with a break and an opportunity for a snack, drink, and some fresh air between 10:45 and 11:05 am. ‘Big Break’ encompasses lunch and extra-curricular activities.. Academic, sports, drama and music activities rotate, depending on the day of the week.
Afternoon lessons on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays run from 4pm to 5:15 pm while, on Wednesday afternoons, the Senior teams’ sports matches take place and the Junior years take part in their clubs. The day finishes at 5:15 pm, unless children choose to stay for Prep, in which case they stay until 6pm or 6:30pm.
Boarding at Saint Ronan’s is very well-established, having been part of the School for some 130 years!
We aim to provide a secure, friendly and family-style environment for the children. The incomparable setting of the house and grounds, as well as the community spirit that boarding engenders, provide a wonderful opportunity for children. This may be because they are wanting to gain experience for full boarding at a later date or that they simply want a chance to be with their friends overnight and have some fun.
Boarding is available from Monday night through to Thursday night, for all pupils from Year 5 upwards. Pupils in Year 4 are invited to board on Wednesday nights.
The children are looked after by Mr Fox, who lives in the school house with his wife, young family and Bramble the dog! He is assisted by a number of the teaching staff, a live-in gap student and the resident matron, M’Julie. This extended family is on hand to give care and support and to ensure that the pupils enjoy their boarding experience.
Every night the children meet for supper at 6.30pm before heading off to play. Supervised activities are on offer, or the children can enjoy having some free time. At 8pm the children wind down by showering and getting into their pyjamas. Healthy snacks are on offer and they watch TV, play table football or chat about the day. Bed times vary from 8.30pm-9pm, depending on age.
The boarding provision is regularly inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The most recent inspection took place in October 2013, where the quality of boarding was judged to be ‘excellent’.
We love our Chapel and take joy in our services, which are held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings each week. We also meet for two or three Friday Evensongs.
The Chapel is one of the only vestiges left of the original building in Worthing. It was dismantled there and reassembled – brick by brick – where it stands today. In 2014, Old Ronians paid for the Chapel Corridor to be redesigned and created a memorial garden to Old Ronians who were killed in the two World Wars.
With the exception of the Carol Service, which takes place at Benenden Church, virtually all other services are held in the school’s Chapel.
Our visiting Chaplain is Father Iori Price; David Force (our Director of Music) is the Organist and Choir Master and Emma TV is the Verger!
Music plays a prominent part in the life of the Chapel. We love to sing together, have an exceptional Chapel Choir and enjoy the beauty of hearing the children singing solos or playing instrumental pieces. The children in Year 8 all read in Chapel at least once during the Academic year.
Chapel is, and will remain, a much-loved and a very special place in the school. It embodies all that is best about our pastoral approach and what really matters in life.
Saint Ronan’s is set in the 249 acre Tongswood estate. This estate proudly boasts some of the most picturesque Wealden countryside and is, without doubt, a very adventurous place to be young. The centre-piece of the estate is the imposing and impressive Tongswood House, a rambling Victorian mansion which is listed because of its architectural and local historical significance. The Prep School is based in the main mansion, where the former reception rooms and bedrooms of the ‘old house’ have been converted into classrooms or dormitories.
The Pre-Prep and Music departments are housed in the purpose-built Harris Building. Our sports centre, The Founder’s Hall, was opened in 2010 and an Astro added in 2015. The Nursery and Science laboratories are in the elegant Stable Block and the former ‘Power House’, historically used for generating electricity, has been converted to provide an extensive centre for DT and Art. The Children’s Farm, sited in the Old Orchard, is much enjoyed, as is the Forest School in Tongswood itself.
Headmaster
Mr William Trelawny-Vernon
Title: Headmaster
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), University of Exeter.
Contact details: williamtv@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
After completing a degree in Biology at Exeter University, I worked in Fund Management in the City. After about four years, I decided on a career change and retrained whilst teaching at Stowe. In 1995, I was appointed a Housemaster and in 2003 took up the Headship of Saint Ronan’s. Other experiences include being a Governor of three schools, a School Inspector and a GCSE coursework moderator. For a while I was also a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve!
Roles at School
Being Headmaster keeps me busy and involved in all that goes on.
Away from the Classroom
I love gardening, walks in the country, local history and spending time with the family.
Deputy Headmaster (Pastoral)
Mr Ross Andrew
Title: Deputy Headmaster (Pastoral)
Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons), P.G.C.E., University of Plymouth
Contact details: rossandrew@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
After leaving school I studied Marine Oceanography at Plymouth University. Thereafter I skippered several yacht deliveries before deciding to embark on a career in the City. I completed a Diploma in Technical Analysis before taking up a job on the floor of the London Metal Exchange. It didn’t take long for me to realise that I was not cut out for the city! I returned to the sea as a Hydrographical Surveyor, eventually being responsible for a team producing detailed 3D maps of oil wells. After developing appendicitis whilst three hundred miles off-shore, and all the complications this created, I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of training to be a teacher!
Roles at School
As well as being Head of Chemistry, I am the Pastoral Deputy Headmaster. This involves ‘being in charge of Minuses’ (as the children say!). I am involved in the non-academic side of the day to day running of the school. I also teach games and have been involved in the setting up and running of our very own farm.
Away from the Classroom
I enjoy all outdoor pursuits but most especially sailing and walking. Unfortunately, with three children, the time off I have for these things is limited! I’m a keen, but not very knowledgeable, gardener and like to think I’m pretty good at DIY!
Deputy Headmaster (Academic)
Mr Dale Bright
Title: Deputy Headmaster (Academic)
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), Higher Diploma (Ed), University of Cape Town
Contact details: DaleBright@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
I grew up on the cricket and rugby fields a few avenues down from Newlands, in the shadow of Table Mountain. I went to Rondebosch Boys Prep School, where I excelled at being naughty. At senior school, both my older brothers were prefects but the only time I visited the Headmaster was for a hiding. During my gap year I delivered pizzas, pumped petrol, coached sport and discovered a passion for white-water kayaking and canoe expeditions. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, I taught at South Africa’s oldest school, SACS, for two years. Highlights of my time at SACS included water polo tours to the Eastern Cape and surf camps up the west coast. I met my wife Andrea on the Orange River in Namibia, where we both led 6-day river expeditions into the desert, sleeping by the fireside under the stars. In 1999 I represented South Africa at the Touch Rugby World Cup in Sydney. In 2001 we moved to London. I was Head of PE and Sport at Fulham Prep School and Andrea taught Reception at the Pre-Prep. Highlights included trips to Rome, France, the Lake District and an annual U10 rugby tour to Cornwall.
Roles at School
In September 2008 I joined the Saint Ronan’s as Head of Geography and in 2009 I was given the additional roles of Key Stage 3 Co-ordinator. I enjoy being part of a busy prep school and so I try to involve myself in many aspects of this great school. A particularly enjoyable activity is being part of the Boarding team – the boys sing “Mr Bright, Mr Bright – has come to turn off the light!” The Games afternoons are another bonus, with football and cricket being particular favourites. I am setting up school swimming squads and am an Upper Form Tutor. Sometimes I even get to go skiing!
Away from the Classroom
I love spending time with Andrea, Rachel and Matthew. In the summer we usually set up our tent on the banks of the Tarn River in France and then explore the Pyrenees or Alps. At Christmas, we try to visit Cape Town to see our families and to catch some surf and sun. I enjoy playing Touch Rugby for England and I like bike-riding in Bedgebury, gathering blackberries, braaing, snorkelling for crayfish, going to church, listening to lions and hyenas during Kalahari nights, star-gazing and watching whales from the cliff path in Hermanus.
Director of I.T.
Mr Ben Clarke
Title: Director of I.T.
Qualifications: B.Sc. (Hons.), M.B.C.S., University of Kent
Contact details: benclarke@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
My teaching career began at Saint Ronan’s but before that, I worked at Philips Electronics in their Research & Development Laboratories in Redhill.
Roles at School
Amongst other things I look after the school’s IT systems, edit the school magazine (“The Ronian”) and am involved with all things Alumni related. I also enjoy being involved with the technical side of drama productions.
Away from the Classroom
I have a close connection with South Africa and like to visit every other year or so. Otherwise, I spend much of my time developing my appreciation for Real Ale.
Assistant Headmaster
Mr Timothy Fox
Title: Assistant Headmaster
Qualifications: B Ed (Hons), College of St. Mark
Contact details: timfox@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
I attended the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth, where I gained my teaching degree. My first job was at Maiden Erlegh School, Reading, where I spent two years before heading to the mountains of France to work for the British Ski Academy in Chamonix. This was a great experience and, as I was keen to explore further, I then travelled to the Southern Hemisphere for another year with Rachel, to whom I am now married. Eventually we decided that we should come home and that decision led to teaching jobs in and around Tunbridge Wells for a few years, before I arrived at Saint Ronan’s.
Roles at School
I am Head of Boys' Games at Saint Ronan's. This has been great fun and the school has grown in size and facilities. After a couple of years, I became the resident Housemaster and it is these two roles that combine to keep me busy. I am also lucky enough to run the Year 8 Leavers' Expedition to Bude every summer.
Away from the Classroom
Being a PE teacher, my interests tend to be on the sporty side! I still try to play tennis once a week and enjoy skiing. Over the last few summers I have been learning to surf and, when I have the time, I love going to watch Brighton and Hove Albion (who I'm sure will be in the Premier League soon!!)
Head of Learning Support
Mrs Lucy Taggart
Title: Head of Learning Support
Qualifications: BA (Hons), PGCE, Oxford Brookes, SEN Diploma
Contact details: lucytaggart@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
I was educated in Shropshire, in a remote boarding school, where I spent many happy days playing the piano and flute and representing Junior England in lacrosse. On leaving, I went straight to Oxford Brookes to read Politics and Music and headed to London in 1993 to do my PGCE at Froebel College, followed by my SEN Diploma in 2005. After teaching in London for ten years, I moved to East Sussex as my husband is a doctor in Rye. I started teaching at Saint Ronan’s in September 2003.
Roles at School
Running the Learning Support Department is an incredibly rewarding job and I love seeing the children progress through the school. I teach English to years four, five and six and help out with girls’ games whenever possible!
Away from the Classroom
When I’m not driving our four children round the countryside to various sporting activities, I love playing the piano and going for the occasional jog. Our annual trip to Spain is the highlight of my year!
Mrs Elizabeth Peacock
Title: Teacher
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), PGCE, University of Oxford Brookes
Contact details: lizzpeacock@saintronans.co.uk
Life before Saint Ronan's
After studying Maths at Oxford Brookes, I went ‘up North’ to Newcastle to do my PGCE Maths teaching qualification. My first teaching job was at Benenden School, where I ended up teaching for 15 years! I also taught at Sevenoaks School for 4 years. Once I discovered Saint Ronan’s, that was it - I joined in 2013 with my four boys and never looked back!!
Roles at School
I love teaching Maths to pupils in Years 4 - 8 and am also a passionate member of Tongswood house.
Away from the Classroom
Out of school, I love playing the piano, listening to Brazilian Jazz and camping.
My children changed schools in yr 2 & yr 4 and they settled in instantly. The school has a lovely family feel, the staff do a brilliant job inspiring the children. Both my girls weren't particularly sporty when they arrived but both grew to love sport and my eldest has carried that through into senior school. The music is also exceptional, you really feel your children come away with a well rounded education not just academic. Both my girls have got into their senior schools of choice and I am sad to say farewell to Saint Ronan's but thank you for all you have done for my children. Highly recommended.
Hayley S
This is a real gem, right at the top of its game. The children are loved and cared for by the entire staff. I wish I had had the opportunity many years ago. They achieve so much by example, gentleness and kindness. Floret St Ronan's and long may you continue to flourish.
Terry D
Saint Ronans is quite unique and magical.. the children work hard and play equally hard... the teachers are approachable and your child will flourish... our daughter has taken every opportunity and through all her own self motivated hard work turned herself into an amazing all rounder who is thriving in sports, academics and music. What’s not to like.
Sharon B
