21st May 2026
Seaford’s “Ad Alta” Characteristics for Success
We are delighted to share Deputy Head Ash Arya’s article for Sussex Life magazine on Seaford’s “Ad Alta” characteristics for success. The piece explores how these values help shape confident, resilient, and compassionate students who are ready to thrive in the wider world.
Seaford’s Ad Alta characteristics for success, including focus, resilience, preparedness, collaboration and ambition, play a key role in helping students achieve their academic personal bests. From students exceeding their GCSE Challenge Grades to Sixth Form pupils demonstrating determination and adaptability, these qualities help our students develop the confidence and mindset to succeed not only at school, but throughout life.
At Seaford, Ad Alta is not simply a motto, it is a lived philosophy that inspires students to aim high, embrace challenge and keep learning long after they leave the classroom.
Lifelong Learning for Future Success
In a rapidly changing world, lifelong learning has become a vital foundation for personal development and long-term success. As industries evolve and new technologies reshape how we live and work, the ability to adapt, reflect and continue learning has never been more important. At Seaford College, near Petworth, this mindset lies at the heart of its Ad Alta ethos, Reach for the Heights.
A Seaford College education goes far beyond academic results. While literacy, numeracy and critical thinking remain essential, the school places equal emphasis on developing personal qualities such as resilience, focus, collaboration, ambition and preparedness. These characteristics empower students not only to achieve their academic personal bests, but also to thrive well beyond the classroom.
John Green, Headmaster, explains: “At Seaford, we don’t believe in league tables. As a proud academically non-selective school, we celebrate personal bests. For some, an A* or a 9 might be the goal; for others, a B or a 6 represents real success. These are known as Challenge Grades, and every student knows what they are aiming for in each subject. These ambitious but individual goals inspire students to succeed and achieve their academic personal bests.”
Seaford’s Ad Alta characteristics for Personal Development support this lifelong approach to learning. Recently, Senior Prefects led an assembly exploring how personal bests are achieved through focus, preparation, resilience, collaboration and ambition. Sharing reflections alongside practical advice, they encouraged pupils to strengthen these qualities in everyday school life.
Ad Alta is more than a motto at Seaford; it is a lived philosophy. As the Senior Prefects explained: “At Seaford, we believe in personal bests both inside and outside the classroom. We treat students as individuals, identify their unique strengths and educate the whole person. The result is a genuine love of learning and the confidence to reach for the heights.”
Since the Ad Alta characteristics were introduced, students have increasingly taken ownership of their progress. These qualities are reflected in termly academic reports, where students and parents track scores out of four for each characteristic. High scores consistently correlate with students achieving, and often exceeding, their academic personal bests.
Tia Bedford, Head of Maths, shared one striking example. A GCSE student who joined Seaford in Year 9 began in a middle maths set with a Challenge Grade of 5. As his focus and ambition scores steadily improved, he moved up sets, raising his Challenge Grade first to a 6 and then a 7. By Year 11, his Ad Alta scores were exceptionally strong, and he ultimately achieved an 8 in Maths, narrowly missing a 9. “He truly learnt that time and effort pay dividends,” she says.
Eddy Reynold, Head of Business, recalls a Sixth Form student who changed one of his A Level subjects late in Year 12. With structured support from staff and parents, the student showed ambition, organisation and resilience in catching up missed content. Despite inevitable setbacks, he remained focused and is now on track to achieve at least a grade B.
George Vernon, Director of Middle School, highlights the journey of a Year 11 student whose resilience developed through sustained pastoral support. Working closely with staff, her family and No.46 (Seaford’s wellbeing hub), she built strategies to manage anxiety and maintain engagement with her learning. This steady progress culminated in outstanding mock examination results, with several subjects meeting or exceeding her Challenge Grades. “Her story shows what resilience looks like in real life: supported progress, trust in the process and the confidence to thrive,” he says.
Personal development continues into the Sixth Form, where enrichment is embedded into the school day. James Kimber, Director of Sixth Form, explains: “Our life skills carousel helps students develop practical skills such as first aid, finance, car maintenance, self-defence and food preparation, preparing them for life beyond school.”
Amanda Shaw, Head of Food Technology, adds: “As students prepare to leave Seaford, it’s important they gain practical skills. Many have really enjoyed learning to cook dishes such as curries, noodles and pasta.”
Students themselves recognise the value of these opportunities. Eva, Year 12, says: “These sessions are really important because they help you develop skills for later life.” Cameron, also in Year 12, adds: “First aid has been especially useful. It’s a great opportunity to learn skills you wouldn’t normally get and feel more prepared for the future.”
Academic support is also available through one-to-one learning support tuition. For students transitioning into GCSEs or A Levels, Seaford’s Academic Access and Achievement department helps them manage longer assignments and develop organisation, research and study skills. “These are essential skills for school, higher education and the workplace,” says Nell, Learning Support Teacher. Jen Owen, Head of Academic Access and Achievement, adds: “With practice and support, pupils gain confidence and take ownership of their learning.”
A Year 8 student received targeted support from Seaford’s Learning Support team to develop his organisational skills. Over the course of the year, his ‘prepared’ score steadily improved in his school reports, reflecting growing confidence and stronger learning habits. These skills have provided a secure foundation for his continued success as he progresses into Year 9 in Seaford’s Middle School.
The Ad Alta characteristics are recognised as invaluable not only at Seaford, but far beyond, including at university, in apprenticeships, the workplace and throughout adult life. By embedding lifelong learning and personal growth into everyday education, Seaford College equips students with the mindset, skills and confidence to adapt, grow and succeed in an ever-changing world.
