St Andrews Prep

St Andrew’s Prep is a non-selective school independent day and boarding school for girls and boys from the age of 2 to 13. We accept children at any stage during an academic year and any year entry point for day pupils and from Year 3 for boarding children.

We welcome all prospective enquiries whether you are seeking a place in the Nursery, Pre-Prep or Prep school. We encourage you to come and see for yourself the opportunities that a St Andrew’s education can offer your child so do come along for a personal visit or attend of our Open Mornings.

Children achieve extraordinary things at St Andrew’s. We are proud of the breadth and excellence of our curriculum and co-curricular activities. Every day our children explore new frontiers; putting on spectacular plays, competing in teams locally, regionally and nationally, working hard to gain places in some of the country’s leading schools or raising monies for charity. Other quieter successes make us equally proud and happen every day – perhaps a fear is overcome or something new attempted.

But what is a broad curriculum?

From an early age, children are taught by experienced teachers in each subject area, with specialist teaching for Drama, Music and Sport. The majority of our older children play instruments and there is a fabulous mix of musical groups to join. Sports teams start from Year 3 and we want all the children to wear the school shirt. Our top teams regularly compete in county and national competitions. There are two big school productions each year for Years 5 to 8 and many other smaller productions in house or participation in local dramatic events. Our wide range of co-curricular activities enable children to develop and pursue passions and interests.

In the Pre-Prep and now the Junior Department, the children love going to the Forest School and Beach School to enhance their studies and have fun. Both the Nursery and the Pre-Prep are able to enjoy all the facilities available to the Prep School, including vast playing fields, a swimming pool, music department and several outdoor play areas.

In the classroom children are stretched and many go on to take scholarships for senior schools. Having a genuine choice of senior schools at thirteen is important and allows parents to find a school that is right for their child.

Boarding is integral to the school offering a friendly, family atmosphere which is very important for children experiencing their first taste of boarding and it is a very good introduction to boarding in preparation for a child’s move to their senior school. There is an active and purposeful schedule for boarders in the evenings and at weekends. Children foster friendships, become integrated and contribute to the school.

We provide the children with the environment, support and resources to learn and develop and above all it is the potential and character of each individual that we seek to nurture daily at St Andrew’s. The confidence, happiness and fulfilment of every child is our absolute priority so that they can flourish both at school and beyond.

St Andrew’s Prep School is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for 2-13 year old pupils. Full details of the St Andrew’s culture and ethos can be found in the prospectus.

If you would like to receive a printed copy of our prospectus and other relevant information please click here to provide your details.

St Andrew’s School was inspected by the ISI week commencing 9 May 2012 for EYFS. A copy of the report can be found below.

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) inspection, carried out in May2012 found St Andrew’s to be outstanding in all four areas of assessment. Some of the highlights in the report included:

St Andrew’s Prep school prepares girls and boys for Common Entrance and Scholarship entrance to a range of senior schools.

The Headmaster’s personal knowledge of senior schools in the locality and his ability to match up your child to the most appropriate one is a key strength of the school. The emphasis on the right school for the right child is paramount and the promotion of parental choice is a keystone.

In February 2010, after careful discussion, the charities of Eastbourne College and St Andrew’s School (now St Andrew's Prep) amalgamated to form one charity – Eastbourne College Charity. The schools considered the strategic advantages of such a development and their governing bodies felt that this was the right time to consolidate the two charities into one and strengthen and guarantee the long-term future of first-class independent education for children of all ages in the town of Eastbourne and beyond. The two schools operate under one board of governors which is made up of representatives from the former governing bodies.

The amalgamated charity has enabled carefully targeted capital investment in the improvement of facilities of both schools. The proximity of the two sites ensures many opportunities for facilities are shared, for example the Year 5s at St Andrew’s staged a production of James and the Giant Peach in the Birley Centre. As well as the many educational benefits that flow, the two schools benefit from sharing expertise and resources in critical areas such as ICT, bursarial functions, human resources, compliance with the ever-growing regulation that applies to schools, marketing and the maintenance of buildings and grounds. Since the amalgamation there is considerable mutual benefit for both schools and children aged 2 to 18 are the primary beneficiaries of this partnership.

The schools continue to operate independently, each with its own head responsible to the overarching governing body through a joint finance committee and two general purpose committees – one for each school.
 
St Andrew’s Prep continues to be a prep school that prepares girls and boys for Common Entrance and Scholarship entrance to a range of senior schools; Eastbourne College continues to recruit from a very wide range of feeder schools. The emphasis on the right school for the right child is paramount in both schools and the promotion of parental choice is a keystone.