Frewen College: Northiam, Rye, East Sussex,UK

Frewen College is based at Brickwall House, near Rye in East Sussex. Brickwall is a 17th century country house and estate, and was home to the Frewen family, for over three hundred years.

Dyslexia was first described by Dr W Pringle Morgan in 1896, whose practice was based at Seaford in East Sussex. It is known that Morgan’s practice encompassed a number of schools in the area and it seems likely that these included Down House School, then based at nearby Rottingdean. Down House School was established in 1910 by Seaburne Godfrey Arthur May Moens, an amateur historian born in India. The school was evacuated to Herefordshire during the Second World War and upon its return settled at Brickwall House. We know that, by this time, the school already possessed specialist experience with dyslexics.

Down House changed its name to Brickwall House School, and then to Frewen College after Admiral Sir John Frewen GCB transferred the school into an educational trust. Since 1972 the school has specialised in dyslexia and related learning difficulties.

This special school for Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia, and Speech, Language and Communication needs is located in the beautiful Wealden countryside, on the borders of Kent and Sussex, just on the outskirts of the historic village of Northiam. The school is based in and around a Grade 1 listed Jacobean mansion that was the family home of the Frewen family for over 300 years. 

The Preparatory School is based in a Grade 2 listed Queen Anne farmhouse, and even the Art and Design block has its own Grade 2* listing. These historic buildings are supplemented by a number of modern purpose-built facilities. 

The school is set in listed gardens that were originally laid out in 1681, and include the oldest walled gardens in Sussex. They incorporate an arboretum (with the Lady Jane Frewen bluebell walk, shown here) and a topiary chess garden, and are opened each year under the National Garden Scheme, and for the local Hospice. We have introduced vegetable and fruit gardens which pupils help with, and over the next two years will be developing a sensory garden, a nature walk and a conservation area. We have just opened a mountain biking trail, which some of our older pupils helped to design and build. 

In the boys’ boarding house there are two common rooms – junior and senior (both equipped with large plasma screen TVs) and a quiet room. We encourage boarders to personalise their rooms and nearly all are en suite, with a maximum of four beds in junior bedrooms, and two in the senior rooms.

Girls’ boarding is located in a comfortable modern house (previously the Head’s house), with its own private garden, and facilities that at least match the boys’. The girls join in with the boys for most meals and many activities, but have their own common rooms 

This boarding school for Dyspraxia and Dyscalculia, and Speech, Language and Communication needs is accredited by the ISA, registered by the DCSF, BSA and CReSTeD, and a supporting corporate member of the BDA. Average class size 6 pupils with on-site therapists. Forces and Expat children welcomed. 

Pupils in Key Stage 3 follow a traditional curriculum, based on the National Curriculum, with additional English and Literacy, and, where required, additional support and therapy.

At Key Stage 4, pupils study English, Maths, Science, plus four option subjects. Pupils may take GCSEs, Entry Level, vocational subjects, or a mixture of these depending on their ability in individual subjects. They also follow a programme of PSHE, Games, and Literacy sessions.