Private secondaries in East Sussex - for 6th form

thnkingaboutoptions · 2022-03-05T21:51:58+00:00

Does anyone know anything about private 6th forms in Sussex? DS is bright and there isn't a decent 6th form in our town, so we're considering sending him to a private 6th form but I know next to nothing about them! We will go to open days, but they won't be for a while. I'm aware of Eastbourne College, Brighton College, Bedes and Battle Abbey. I'd love to hear any info anyone has about them. Also are there any others we should be looking at? Thanks :)

Sunshinemother · 18/02/2023 12:56

Hi-
does anyone have any info on 13 plus international route to Brighton College? The interview etc. any info which might help or advice
thanks

Ohwiseone · 21/03/2022 00:49

My daughter is at EBC. If you would like to know anything then please don't hesitate to ask away.
We love the school, it has very impressive buildings and facilities with outstanding pastoral care.
The College has amazing sporting facilities for rugby, squash, swimming, fives, hockey etc.
I would never consider Battle Abbey as it does have the beautiful Abbey site (that really is like Hogwarts!) But it's sporting facilities are poor and it's growth is kept in check by being on the Abbey site.
If you are looking for state then HCC is excellent as are Judd and Skinners in Tun Wells but I'd never consider Bexhill sixth form.

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 08/03/2022 21:46

This thread has been really useful, thank you so much everyone. We'll go look at a few in the autumn, once DS is in year 10.

And I'll keep my ears to the ground for any more info in the meantime...

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Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 08/03/2022 21:38

Its very Hogwarty at night when the lights illuminate the stained glass windows wow, sounds very atmospheric!

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londonmummy1966 · 07/03/2022 23:23

Its very Hogwarty at night when the lights illuminate the stained glass windows. The uniform is pretty amazing though - Tudor coat, Geneva bands, knee breeches and yellow socks and they march into lunch to their own military band. Sixth formers also get to march through the City of London to the band as well on St Matthew's day although my DD has missed both her opportunities due to COVID

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 21:33

Useful stuff, thank you both.

Tonbridge is probably too far away I think.

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HostessTrolley · 06/03/2022 20:35

We didn’t have the option of Eastbourne college but son was very well taught and well supported at Bexhill. He went on to get offers at all the universities he applied to, and chose to do a masters in Maths at Nottingham.

The two that went to the Judd, one got a first in computer science and works in cyber threat intelligence in London, the other is a medical student at a London uni. Both were very well supported and taught, can’t fault the school at all.

RagzRebooted · 06/03/2022 20:32

We considered Bexhill but went for Heathfield Sixth Form instead (DS didn't go there for secondary) as it's smaller and more nurturing, which will suit him better. If he was outgoing and Sporty we would probably have gone for Bexhill, but HCC seems to be better academically and pastoral care wise.

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 20:24

@HostessTrolley

We lived in East Sussex and two of ours went up to the Judd school in Tonbridge for sixth form. It’s an all boys super selective grammar for years 7-11 but has a mixed sixth form. The entry criteria for sixth form isn’t actually that high, and the rugby is very good. Our eldest went to Bexhill College for sixth form and did very well too.

That's useful, thank you :)

Bexhill College is our nearest state 6th form, although it's a train ride away. What did you make of it? Please could I ask, if your choice was Eastbourne College or Bexhill, would you have a strong feeling either way?

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Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 20:22

@londonmummy1966

CH is mainly boarding but there quite a few local day pupils in each year. One of the good things is that all the day pupils are allocated a desk and bed in house so that they can go in and socialise on a level playing field with the boarders - especially important as they get older and have free periods etc. They can stay until quite late in the evenings as well so they don't miss out on the co-curricular programme - which is very extensive.

I'm not aware of school buses but it has its own train station.

It's own train station, wow!

I wonder how many CH kids secretly feel like they're going off to Hogwarts? I'd certainly use that to sell it to my DC if they were going there age 11

Seriously, though, giving day kids their own bed sounds really well thought out.

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HostessTrolley · 06/03/2022 19:37

We lived in East Sussex and two of ours went up to the Judd school in Tonbridge for sixth form. It’s an all boys super selective grammar for years 7-11 but has a mixed sixth form. The entry criteria for sixth form isn’t actually that high, and the rugby is very good. Our eldest went to Bexhill College for sixth form and did very well too.

londonmummy1966 · 06/03/2022 18:50

CH is mainly boarding but there quite a few local day pupils in each year. One of the good things is that all the day pupils are allocated a desk and bed in house so that they can go in and socialise on a level playing field with the boarders - especially important as they get older and have free periods etc. They can stay until quite late in the evenings as well so they don't miss out on the co-curricular programme - which is very extensive.

I'm not aware of school buses but it has its own train station.

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 18:13

He likes rugby (hates football!).

Not 100% essential, but I know he'd love to go somewhere he could play on the rugby team.

I know Eastbourne's strong on rugby.

I notice, for example, that although Bedes is strong on sport in general, it looks like their core sports are Cricket, Hockey and Football.

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thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 18:07

I can't work out if you're trying to steer me towards more academic schools as you think they're better or just saying that some of the schools give a more "all round" education and are better for some DC and not for others?

FWIW my son is bright, into science, history, computing, politics and ideas, generally.

But - he's not had any experience of a private education, I wonder if even a school that's seen as "all round" might be a bit of a shock to the system, work wise?!

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LIZS · 06/03/2022 14:15

They are still selective but less so than Brighton, Tonbridge, Lancing for instance.

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 14:12

@LIZS

Whereabouts are you? Assume you are looking at day schools not boarding/flexi? Ardingly, Worth, Lancing might be alternatives. Battle, Bedes and Eastbourne are more all round than academic.

Thanks LIZS.

Our nearest is Eastbourne College.

When you say they're "more all round than academic" do you mean in comparison with other private schools? I'm assuming they're still more academic than non-selective schools?

DS is in state secondary now, and we would have happily sent him to state 6th form if there was a decent one in Eastbourne - but there isn't. We might still send him to a state 6th form, I need to look at the one in Bexhill.

But my mum has offered to pay for private 6th form, and I feel this could be a real opportunity for DS.

I'm assuming Eastbourne College would be a good place with great opportunities for young people who want to study sciences and go on to university?

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LIZS · 06/03/2022 14:01

Whereabouts are you? Assume you are looking at day schools not boarding/flexi? Ardingly, Worth, Lancing might be alternatives. Battle, Bedes and Eastbourne are more all round than academic.

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 06/03/2022 13:49

@ElIie

You’re probably right. The statistics don’t lie - girls do better at all girls schools in all areas both academically and socially. Boys tend to do well as either ime. There’s also a big international market for girls schools.

Moira House is quite a complicated one. It was purchased by Roedean a few years ago at the behest of Roedean’s very successful headmaster. Roedean had been going a bit downhill but when he was appointed headmaster he turned it around and it is hugely successful now.

He thought he could do the same for Moira, as well as a financially troubled local prep school. Turned out to be a big mistake and there was a lot of murky, mismanaged finances involved.

Oh goodness, that's a shame about Moira House.

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ElIie · 05/03/2022 23:16

You’re probably right. The statistics don’t lie - girls do better at all girls schools in all areas both academically and socially. Boys tend to do well as either ime. There’s also a big international market for girls schools.

Moira House is quite a complicated one. It was purchased by Roedean a few years ago at the behest of Roedean’s very successful headmaster. Roedean had been going a bit downhill but when he was appointed headmaster he turned it around and it is hugely successful now.

He thought he could do the same for Moira, as well as a financially troubled local prep school. Turned out to be a big mistake and there was a lot of murky, mismanaged finances involved.

derekthe1adyhamster · 05/03/2022 23:15

Well it's a state school, so there's no harm in trying. But best to look for private options just in case
CH is mainly a boarding school though, so not suitable if that's not your thing

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 05/03/2022 23:13

@ClarasZoo

Bhasvic has a large catchment. Way beyond Brighton

Yes, apologies, I over-simplified. Their second group of catchment postcodes are beyond Brighton - they include places like Lancing and Haywards Heath for example, but we're not in any of those areas. And if you're outside those areas, and there are still places then it's decided by lottery, by subject.

I had a good look at whether there was a way DS might be able to have a good chance of getting a place at BHASVIC and I don't think there is - we can't move him half way through his GSCEs. I mean, it won't hurt to apply but I don't we only stand a slim chance of getting in. It is, very literally, a lottery!

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derekthe1adyhamster · 05/03/2022 23:07

And my other son went to BHASVIC - he did exceptionally well. You do have to be very self sufficient. It doesn't spoon feed, which does happen more in the private sector

Original poster

thnkingaboutoptions · 05/03/2022 23:06

@ElIie

Yeah that was BHASVIC - they get excellent results.

Sorry, I should have clarified Hurstpierpoint and Lancing College are co-ed! Roedean and Brighton Girls are the Brighton girls schools I was referring to :)

Thinking about it, I believe there are a lot more girls’ schools compared to boys’ schools in Sussex…

Is it because it's more common to want to send your girls to single sex and your boys to co-ed?

I'd be guilty of that tbh. I've just discounted Tonbridge as I don't want DS to go to an all boys school. But I would certainly consider single sex for DD.

I notice Moira House (girl's private school) in Eastbourne has announced it's closing. That's a shame, I'd heard it was a good school.

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derekthe1adyhamster · 05/03/2022 23:04

My ds went to CH it's a fabulous school.
However, I know many parents and teachers who work at Brighton college, and it's a great school for academic pupils. I know of no more drugs issues than in other private schools.

ElIie · 05/03/2022 23:02

Yeah that was BHASVIC - they get excellent results.

Sorry, I should have clarified Hurstpierpoint and Lancing College are co-ed! Roedean and Brighton Girls are the Brighton girls schools I was referring to :)

Thinking about it, I believe there are a lot more girls’ schools compared to boys’ schools in Sussex…