Campus & Facilities
Our Campus
At LVS Hassocks, our students learn a range of academic and vocational skills in a stimulating environment.
We are incredibly proud of our beautiful campus and our Estates Team work tirelessly to ensure we are utilising the area to the full as an additional educational resource for the school.
Our school provides a supportive education set within a tranquil and relaxing 36-acre campus in the countryside.
The Oast House
Our site was originally an old priory that dated back to the late 1960s (The Priory of Our Lady of Good Counsel). When it was built, the renowned church architect Michael Blee had been commissioned to design this new convent. His architectural ideas for the site were prize-winning back in the day. The standout feature of the convent was a church of a very original, if not quirky, design. It is what we now call The Oast House.
It is a unique cone-shaped building standing over 30 meters tall. The Oast House is a central feature of the school providing a place for music lessons, relaxation, meetings and celebration.
Wildlife
Due to its location, LVS Hassocks has an abundance of wildlife in and around the campus, currently we have a herd of roe deer, wild ducks, moorhens, buzzards, red kite, kestrels, slowworms, rabbits, foxes and a healthy population of bats all sharing our wonderful site.
We also hold a grazing license with a local shepherdess for 16 acres of land for her herd of Suffolk sheep who live on the site for part of the year.
Classrooms
Our students are taught in modern classrooms, including a dedicated food-technology lab, IT suite and a creative art room.
Other facilities include areas for practical learning and health-related activities, including the sports field, outdoor gym, games area and the school garden.
Horticulture
We are thrilled to have recently received the RHS Campaign for School Gardening Level 4 Award for successfully using tools, protecting plants, harvesting produce and more.
We have poly tunnels, an orchard, large raised-beds and a solar-powered work shed/classroom. We also have chickens that allow the students to learn about animal husbandry. The students really enjoy working in the grounds and we produce quite a harvest, some of which gets used in our school lunches.
Physical Activity
We offer a modern Multi-Use Games Area, providing a secure and flexible outdoor space for students to play basketball and various sports, regardless of the weather. Alongside this, we have grass pitches for football, accompanied by a fully-equipped outdoor gym.
The site also has an indoor sports area for badminton, table tennis, and indoor gym.
The Oast Café
The on-site Oast Café gives students the opportunity to practice work and social skills in a safe environment supported by our dedicated staff. The students sell cakes, snacks and drinks to staff, fellow students and members of the public who pass by on the bridle path that runs past the school. The café has seating inside and out as well as a servery.
Music Room
With a variety of instruments such as keyboards, a drum kit, guitars, African drums and ukulele, the music room is a fantastic space for students to unleash their creativity. Not only are they able to use this room during their lessons but it is also available every lunchtime for music club and is used as a space for students who use music to regulate. It is a place where students come to discover and develop their talents and to benefit their overall wellbeing.
Original Buildings
Apart from the conical Oast House, the rest of the original convent is known as the “main building”. This is home to classrooms, dining rooms, our reception and the therapy suite. Our oldest building is the Kingsland Building which was built circa 18th century. This currently houses offices, our IT room, the library and meeting rooms.
New Buildings
Our campus has an eclectic mix of the old and the new. Significant investment in the campus means that we have new facilities that cater for the needs of our students. Newer buildings on our campus are the Sussex Centre, which is our training and assembly hall, and the larger Buchanan building that now houses seven classrooms.
Dining
Healthy eating plays an important part of daily life at LVS Hassocks. Our enthusiastic catering staff have established a great rapport with our students and work hard to get them to expand the range of foods they eat. We have a servery and a nearby Dining Hall.
There is always a strong emphasis on fresh produce and a balanced diet. We aim to help students to recognise that healthy eating is critical for their all-round wellbeing.
Location
We are located in Sayers Common, a quiet village just off the main London to Brighton A23. We are around half an hour’s drive from the centre of Brighton. Our excellent road connection means that our students come from a wide radius, including Brighton, Hove and Lewes, and as far north as Croydon. Students typically arrive by taxi or they or dropped off by parents. We have a secure drop-off and collection routine to ensure this all happens smoothly.
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