Anyone know anything about Eastbourne Secondary schools?

[SparklePrincess]

Doing a bit of research into schools in Eastbourne area at the moment. If anyone has an opinion (good or bad) could you please let me know?
Its mainly the secondary education thats important, but if you know about primaries too its a help. It seems they still have catchment areas in Eastbourne which restricts where to buy a house a bit.
My own research suggests that The Cavendish school, Willingdon or Bishops Bell are the best bets. Though Bishops Bell is probably a non starter because its a religious school.
Thanks.

Just bumping this up for anyone who hasnt seen it. Advice much appreciated. Good or bad news accepted.

Hi SparklePrincess, seems there are not many mumsnetters in Eastbourne. I'm moving there next month and was also looking for some info about schools. Didn't get any responses. I was looking for primary schools and could let you know what I have found out, if you are interested!

That would be great pinkhibiscus, thanks.

It seems that despite many peoples idea that Eastbourne is populated with elderly people, it is actually one of the fastest growing towns in the UK and I don't think schools have caught up. At least not for primary. The "good" and hence oversubscribed schools seem to be on the Old Town, Meads, Willingdon side of town. St Johns Meads and St Thomas a Beckett are considered very good as are Pashley Down and Motcombe, which are infant schools. I am having difficulty getting a place for my 5 year old. Sorry, dont have any info about secondary schools. Hope this helps.

Thanks ph. Thats a bit concerning considering I have 2 children to find spaces for.
I would be really grateful if you could post any info if you hear any gossip about the local comps.
Happy christmas.

I'm interested in East Sussex schools in general at the moment. Sparkle- I think you were looking at Cranbrook as well (?) which is something that I'm also thinking about for weekly boarding.

evelina - you asked me to find this thread and post what I know about Cranbrook.

My parents live near Cranbrook - within the catchment area - and I know plenty of people around there who have done the classic thing of sending their children to Marlborough House, Dulwich Prep etc in order to get them into Cranbrook as day pupils at 13. But I don't know that much about the boarding side. I used to know the wife of a boys' housemaster there and she enthused a lot about it and the lovely atmosphere for the children. Some children do full boarding, not just weekly, and she was involved with weekend activities.

What sort of thing do you want to know? Are you looking at Cranbrook because it is good value for money?

Thanks Anna .
Well, I've looked at the website in a bit more depth now and it has answered a few of my questions, for example I now know that weekly boarders still have to pass the ability test.
Basically, we would really like private/grammar/good state in that order. Financially grammar would be best but obviously very hard to get into to especially for 3 children. The trouble with Kent is that it's a bit all or nothing with the 11 plus meaning that there are few good schools "in the middle". We may be moving towards East Sussex (very early stages of deciding) so I was just investigating all the possibilities in the area.
Do you know of many people in the Cranbrook area who send their children to a state primary and then to one of the preps for just 2 years before Cranbrook or do they tend to go privately from nursery age upwards?
Another possibility, which you've mentioned, is Judd because there is no catchment area and a number of train links although I imagine this is super selective.

I know children who went to state primary (within the catchment area) and then to Angley (comprehensive/sports college) in Cranbrook for two years before going to Cranbrook School. I don't know anyone who has sent their child to a private school at 11-13, pre-Cranbrook entrance. You could just contact the local prep schools - Marlborough House, Dulwich Prep, St Ronan's etc - and ask them whether this is a possibility.

Cranbrook is a good school but not as good academically as Judd or Tonbridge Grammar (girls). It's a gentler school, though. I have two cousins who went to Judd and two to Tonbridge Grammar (and I went there briefly). My cousin who went to Judd most recently (left about six years ago) was very happy there - his parents would have paid for private boarding school (his brothers went to Lancing and his sister to Benenden) but he preferred Judd.

Looks like my husband & I are splitting up so Cranbrook wouldnt be possible for us anymore. I need to find decent state schools in an affordable location now.
Can anyone comment upon any of the comps in East Sussex? I dont really want Hastings or Bexhill, but may be forced into it if I can afford nothing else.
Any help gratefully received.

Really sorry to hear that you have had a tough time over Christmas, Sparkle. FWIW, I think it's a really common thing for marital difficulties to spark off at this time of the year. When I worked in a family law office, my supervising partner said that over the years he had always been busiest in the New Year because people spent more time with each other over the Christmas period and found that they didn't always like it. Hope this doesn't sound trite as I don't know your circumstances at all, but I've been following your posts as we are also looking into schools (both primary and secondary) in relation to a possible move into East Sussex.
For secondary there seem to be two good comps in Uckfield and Heathfield. The Uckfield one is listed on the Sunday Times 2007 parent power list so it must be good.
There seem to be quite a few good primaries around the Uckfield area as far as I can tell, but this may be too far east for you. The BBC league tables website is always a good starting point I have found.
I saw your other post about the school in Hastings but I don't have any knowledge I'm afraid.

Anna, thanks for your help again. I phoned Kent CC admissions helpline today, and they said that Judd and Skinners had no catchment at all and it was all down to the pass mark in the 11 plus, whereas Tunbridge Wells is a catchment school. We didn't talk about the girls' grammars.

I live a few miles from Eastbourne and as far as i know the best secondary schools in Eastbourne are Ratton and Cavendish School.

Thanks for that flamehead. Am I right in thinking that the only ones to avoid are Causeway & ETC?

Hello realise ages since this post, but any recent thoughts on Cavendish in Eastbourne? Thanks