Lancing College

Lancing College was founded in 1848 by the Rev. Nathaniel Woodard, when he published A Plea for the Middle Classes and set out his vision of an Anglican boarding school “based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith”. Woodard’s aim was to provide for children of the emerging professional and middle-classes the kind of public school education previously reserved for aristocratic families. Originally known as the “College of St Mary and St Nicolas”, the school initially operated at Shoreham-by-Sea before relocating to its present site on the South Downs above Lancing village.

The college is situated on a hill which is part of the South Downs, and the campus dominates the local landscape. The college overlooks the River Adur, and the Ladywell Stream, a holy well or sacred stream within the College grounds, has pre-Christian significance. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith," and the discipline of the prefect's cane. John Dancy was appointed headmaster in 1953 to improve academic standards, which had taken second place to prowess in sport. Lancing was the first of a family of more than 30 schools founded by Woodard. Other schools include Ardingly College, Bloxham School, The…