Can anyone give me the inside track on the schools: Motcombe, Pashley Down or St. John's Meads. Which is the perferred school and why?

Never even 'eard of 'em

All are good schools. I have a son at Pashley. Motcombe and Pashley feed into Ocklynge junior which also has a very good reputation.

The main problem is I believe, that most of the infants feed into one junior. Because of this the junior is packed to the rafters with huge classes.

As Pinkhibiscus said they are all good schools, some people believe Motcombe is too big as there are so many classes per year... St John's Meads is probably considered the 'best', it offers a great deal but it is also has its faults such as it being a predominantly middle class school, so your child may not get to mix with a great variety of backgrounds... however teaching and pastoral care is excellent. This said it is a very difficult school to get into... If you are ordering choices I would say St John's, then Pashley down then Motcombe...
I hope this helps, I myself have visited and researched almost every school in a 3 mile radius of Eastbourne- obsessive I know but at least I have peace of mind.

I worked at Ocklynge for a few years and my oldest is about to leave Yr 6, and my middle is due to go up from Pashley - both schools have been absolutely brilliant.
Please don't be put off by Ocklynge's size - the classes (at 33-35) are no bigger than anywhere else, and my children have only benefited from the extra facilities that the school gets.
The Ofsted report was 1's all the way - the head bought us cream cakes to celebrate! and the atmosphere for both children and adults is amazing.
As a junior school, they have their own swimming pool, and specialist music, rugby, swimming, cricket, football, and tennis teachers - an enormous chess club and choir, 4 link countries, they teach Spanish and ICT - I just think it's a fabulous school.
St John's has a good reputation, but as a church school, I've found them to be bordering on the rude to enquiring parents, and although a lot smaller, it has had some bullying issues as it's a 'primary' as opposed to separate infants and juniors.
Pashley and Motcombe are similar, and I know both schools have teachers' children there, and I don't know anyone who's not had a positive experience.
My own DS had a bullying problem at Pashley, but once it was identified, and he moved class, everything settled back down and he's been really happy.
I would go and visit them and then you'll be able to form an opinion, and if in doubt, pore over the Ofsteds. But Eastbourne is really quite well served for schools, and I don't think there's much difference in the service received from the schools themselves - although some are struggling because of catchment areas, they all work very hard!
Hope that helps!
(By the way - I was a Music Teaching Assistant at Ocklynge, I went to Trinity College of Music, and have returned to 'cello teaching as it pays better - I loved working there, and miss the whole staff and school!)

Was just curious of the catchment area of these schools as we are looking to move to Roselands or old town area of Eastbourne, do you think I'd be able to get my children into one of the old town schools if I lived in Roselands?

I have four children and all my children went to Roselands and Stafford. They served my sons well. Why don't you visit? There's also St Andrews Infants and Tollgate Junior close to the Roselands area and I have had good reports from friends who have children there. Hope that helps!

Agree with everyone - both Pashley and Motcombe are excellent, nurturing and happy schools. Ockylynge is fantastic - had two children go through - both very difficult and equally well catered for. My third is about to join

My niece went to Ocklynge. SIL worked there. Excellent school.