My friends son has recently started at St Bedes in year 9 (left prep at yr 8). She is very pleased with it. He is a very academic boy and won a scholarship there. Im not too keen on it as I dont like the idea of saturday school, think weekends should be free for other activities. Not too sure of the exam results but from what Ive been told they dont rank that high.
Eastbourne College is lovely. I went to Moira House School which is further up the hill, near Meads village. We used to have socials with the boys from Eastbourne (Although I believe it is co-ed now)The grounds and buildings are divine. I did all my music exams there and have to say that the facilities were great even then (going back quite a few years now!) Eastbourne also recently finally got a listing in the Tatlers guide. The masters also always used to wear the black gowns, very Eton on sea!
However they also have sat school, so wouldn't be my choice but the results are quite good. My friends brother left with 5 A grade A levels and is now a barrister!
Battle Abbey is the one I would like my son to go to when he leaves prep. They have really pulled their socks up and came top in East Sussex league tables for exam results. Lovely atmosphere, small classes and as far as I am aware (ex neighbour teaches there) all classes do run even if there is minimal interest in the subject (at A level). I visited the prep school at Bexhill when looking for a prep and hated the prep, huge buildings (old Charters Ancaster site) with so few pupils, not nice atmosphere, but the Abbey has this magic feel to the place. I really wanted to go there back in the '80's even with the grotty beige/brown uniform they used to wear!
Admission sec said that interest in the school has risen 50% since exam results published not sure if they were trying to make me part with my registration fee earlier than usual or not!
most pupils from my sons school seem to go there.
Have you looked at Buckswood? I know nothing about the school except my son loves their waistcoats?! prob not an ideal way to choose a senior school!
St Richards is a state school and is the no 1 in East Sussex, Claverham in Battle came 2nd (my mum teaches there!) worth looking at for 11+ move?
Also have you looked at grammar schools? Judd, Skinners, TWG and Cranbrook have super reputations. Cranbrook is also a 13+ grammar, well worth looking at.
If they wouldnt mind boarding, Brighton College is amazing, Roedean for your daughter? or Moira House? I would like my daughter to follow me and attend Moira House but she is only 4 so we have a long way to go till she gets to this stage!
Has your childrens prep head given you any indications of which school he/she thinks would be suitable for your children. Most schools often give talks in yr6 to help parents decide which school would be best suited to the child.
Which prep are your children at? We live nr Battle so you might be able to guess where my 2 are at!
Best of luck
CGM x