Ardingly College has announced that Great Walstead Prep School is joining its “family of schools”.

The two West Sussex schools have had a close relationship for many years, with Great Walstead being a significant feeder prep school to Ardingly College’s Senior School.

On its website Ardingly College stated: “This new partnership will allow Great Walstead School to enter the next phase of its strategic development, to grow and develop for the future, while ensuring its long-term stability. It also ensures that local families retain the choice of a ‘through school’ option from 3 to 18 with Ardingly College, or Great Walstead’s more traditional Prep School offer until 13, with entry into a range of Senior Schools.”

Ben Figgis, head of Ardingly, commented: “We’ve worked together closely for many years and welcomed many fantastic children into our Senior School from Great Walstead. This partnership offers lots of mutual benefits and, above all, will ensure that our beautiful corner of West Sussex remains a hub of outstanding independent education for generations to come.”

Chris Calvey, head of Great Walstead, added: “This is the start of an exciting new chapter in Great Walstead’s history. Ardingly College was the obvious partner as we considered the next stage of our strategic development. We’re looking forward to sharing teaching best practice and continuing to go from strength to strength together, as supportive partners.”

Ardingly College stated that its family of independent schools includes Ardingly College Prep School as well as schools in China and Kazakhstan, with further schools being planned in other countries. Great Walstead’s partnership with Ardingly College also means the school will be incorporated into Woodard Schools, an educational charity started by Ardingly’s founder, philanthropist Nathaniel Woodard, which now educates more than 30,000 pupils in the UK across academy, independent and state-maintained schools.