Eastbourne College Guide: Reviews, Rankings And More

Pastoral Care

Eastbourne College has developed a system to encourage, guide and nurture every pupil towards their best self. Their pastoral team includes the house masters and house mistresses, tutors, matrons, the deputy head, chaplain, assistant head pastoral, medical centre and school counsellor. They will work with each pupil to instill the school’s key values and develop their individual strengths. 

Each house forms their own identity to help pupils grow after classes. A non-hierarchical structure helps promote friends through the year groups and prevent bullying. The houses usually create healthy competition in debating, drama, singing and even sports. 

The pupils also have their own tutor in their house to organise their academic work, set personal targets and keep track of their progress during their time at Eastbourne College. 

There are also many programmes on teenage issues including alcohol, body image, drugs, mental health and self-esteem to support their mental growth. The school encourages recovery by putting in extra effort to assist pupils with difficulties or prior issues. The headmaster approaches the education of all children with a holistic approach. 

Extracurricular Activities

The art department here is teeming with new ideas and projects where huge canvases rest alongside pottery and fine art, and textile works are showcased in a fashion show. The College has a strong record of pupils winning the Arkwright scholarships and other national design and art awards.

The pupils here utilise their state-of-the-art Birley Centre for music, dance and much more. With a 180-seat auditorium, gallery space and an incredible recording studio, the Centre has hosted many shows from visiting artists to extend their pupils’ skills and cultural horizons. One of the most famous collaborations in creative arts is the partnership with Ballet Rambert, Glyndebourne – these include professional actors, directors, musicians, artists and craftsmen. 

The musical talents here are described as “unbelievable” with plenty of domestic performances and school open concerts. The Drama department of the College has produced high quality theatre and nurtured famous household names such as Eddie Izzard and Downton Abbey actor Ed Speleers. 

Professional sportsmen and Olympians lead and coach the pupils in Eastbourne College in athletics, cricket, fives, hockey, netball, rugby, sailing and tennis. The girls excel in tennis and hockey while the boys show off their skills at rugby. A girls’ cricket team has been newly established and the College plans to add a girls’ football team as well. There is also an aquathlon team. The College achieved the highest rate of gold awards in DofE in Sussex. 

There is also community service which starts in Year 10 for the pupils to take on new challenges, train their teamwork as well as contribute to the community with volunteer work in charity shops, schools and old people’s homes.

The £33 million Eastbourne College’s Project 150 has just been completed with a myriad of supporting facilities including:

• 32 state-of-the-art classrooms
• Two technology suites
• Cricket pavilion with live-stream video analysis
• Dance studio with sprung floor and ceiling recess for ballet lifts and throws
• Large Sport England compliant sports hall (5 badminton courts long) enabling year-round multi-sport training
• Sport England compliant six lane 25m indoor swimming pool
• Fitness suite for elite and inclusive participation, comprising cardiovascular machines (skiing, rowing, running, spin bikes and cross-trainers), free weights and cross-fit area, sprint track, and stretching / Pilates area
• Two glass-backed squash courts
• Alfresco-feel dining hall
• Tim’s Cafe, including comfy sofas, widescreen HD TV, full barista service and WiFi for catching up on studies (ideal preparation for university and beyond)
• Stunning entertainment and exhibition spaces.