Founded 1867; incorporated 1911.
Endless horizons endless opportunities
Few top senior independent schools in Britain offer a six-minute stroll to the doorstep of a national park, an international tennis venue, a county cricket ground, two challenging golf courses, award-winning beaches, theatres, a modern art gallery, a brand new shopping centre with state-of-the-art cinema, and a mainline station to London (85 minutes), London Gatwick Airport (55 minutes) and Ashford International (direct trains to Europe).
Independently minded since 1867
Founded over 150 years ago, today Eastbourne College reaches out like never before, connecting its boarding and day pupils with a raft of opportunities that abound within a few hundred metres of the school. The College’s learning environment is second to none thanks to a recently completed £33 million development, an outstanding, supportive house system, and a timetable which optimises educational contact time, provides guided optional Saturday morning enrichment sessions, and promotes a busy calendar of competitive sport and time to socialise.
A traditional heart. A modern mind.
We’ve always done things differently at Eastbourne College. We’re proud of our heritage, but always looking forward. Progressive and innovative. Empowering our pupils to question the answers and find their own path in life. Set in idyllic coastal surroundings, this is a place that truly makes a lasting impression. We encourage children to be confident and also teach them to be kind, courteous and considerate of others, put simply, good people that others want to be around.
Why Eastbourne College?
•Holistic approach to learning, nurturing success in and out of the classroom.
•Over 57% of grades achieved 7, 8 or 9 (equivalent to A or A*) at GCSE and over 75% of grades were awarded at A* to B at A Level in 2023.
•We sit in the top 4% of schools nationally for academic ‘value added’ which means on average our pupils achieve one grade above their predicted grade.
•Diverse and exciting co-curriculum, offering everything from Art to Zumba.
•Strong support network where pupils feel at home from day one.
•Flexible, family-friendly for both boarders and day pupils, and those that need a combination of the two.
World-class campus
In 2019, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE officially opened Eastbourne College’s Project 150. The £33 million P150 development places the College at the forefront of learning environments in the UK.
Facilities include:
•32 state-of-the-art classrooms
•two technology suites
•cricket pavilion with live-stream match 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); year-round multi-sport training
•Sport England-compliant six-lane 25 m indoor swimming pool
•fitness suite for elite and inclusive participation
•two glass-backed squash courts
•alfresco-feel dining hall
•Tim’s café
•stunning entertainment and exhibition spaces.
Admissions
Year 9 entry. Early registration for a place is recommended in Year 5/6. The College runs an Early Offer system which uses underlying ability score data and a detailed headmaster/mistress reference about a Year 6 or 7 pupil who is registered with us and whom we have been able to meet during a personal visit in order to make a firm offer of a place. Please contact the Admissions Department for more information.
Sixth form entry. Applicants for the sixth form should be predicted a GCSE grade average of 6.5 or above and receive a very positive reference from their current school. We normally expect sixth form applicants to complete a minimum of 8 GCSEs. If you would like to be considered for entry to the sixth form at the College in August 2024, please contact us to arrange a visit. This should be done as early as possible and certainly no later than by the end of the first term of Year 11.
Scholarships and bursaries. Academic, creative arts and sports awards are offered. In line with most top independent schools, the great majority of awards given at the College are valued at between 5% and 20% of the day or boarding fees, but more may be offered in exceptional circumstances and awards may be supplemented by a means-tested bursary.
Bursaries are means tested according to the Charity Commission criteria.
Entry forms for scholarships can be obtained from the Admissions Department.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Boarding: £14,580 (Years 9–11), £14,805 (Sixth Form); Day: £9,570 (Years 9–11), £9,755 (Sixth Form). An additional supplement for overseas pupils applies. Fees include meals and most extras.
Preparatory School. The charitable bodies governing Eastbourne College and the independent prep school, St Andrew’s Prep, amalgamated in February 2010 to become one charity. Collaboration between the two schools had always been extremely close but, until then, there had been no formal financial or governance links between them. This was a change of governance and not of the school. The schools continue to operate independently and St Andrew’s prepares boys and girls for a variety of schools including the College.
The Eastbournian Society brings together all those with a College connection: parents of current and former pupils, current and former staff, Old Eastbournians, friends, neighbours and local businesses. In particular, strong links are maintained with former pupils who offer careers assistance to current pupils (there is a convention every year to support the careers and higher education programme). The Society provides a series of social events and career and business networking opportunities. It comprises also the College’s fundraising activity, providing funds for bursaries and new developments.
The Devonshire Society (legacy club) meets annually.
Charitable status. Eastbourne College Incorporated is a Registered Charity, number 307071. It exists for the purpose of educating children.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
President: His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, KCVO, CBE, DL
Vice-Presidents:
The Earl of Burlington
His Excellency Nasser Judeh, BSc
General The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, GCB, CBE, DSO, DL
Chairman: Mr P A J Broadley, MA Oxon, MSc, FCA
Vice-Chairman: Mr J P Watmough, LLB
College Chaplaincy:
Chaplain: Revd D J Merceron, BA Institute of Archaeology
Chief Operating Officer and Clerk to the Board of Governors: Abbey Gough, BA, FCA
Senior Management Team:
Headmaster: The Hon T N M Lawson, MA Christ Church Oxford
Second Master: Mr C W Symes, BSc, MEd, MCGI Edinburgh
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr J M Gilbert, BSc Cardiff, MBA, MRSC
Deputy Head (Co-curricular): Mr A T Lamb, MBE, BA University of New England NSW Australia, Dip Ed, DL
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs G E Taylor-Hall, BA Liverpool
Development Director, Eastbournian Society: Mrs E C B Garrett, BA Warwick
Director of Marketing and Admissions to the Eastbourne College Charity: Mrs G L Crowhurst, BA Oxford Brookes