Eastbourne College

Facilities

Sport

Sport is an important part of life at the College. We believe in both excellence – sport at the highest level – and participation: every pupil takes part in some way as an integral part of their educational and personal development. In recent years the College has achieved remarkable success. Its teams have impressed on the regional and national circuit and it has produced international sportsmen and women. A number of former pupils are currently playing professional sport and making a good living from it. Each term the girls and boys have a major team sport that in Years 9 and 10 everyone is expected to play, usually three times a week. Opportunities to represent the College are available to everyone, be it as elite players or as enthusiastic members of other teams. Typically there are teams available from A to C level but these extend to E level in some sports to ensure that teams are available to support our ‘sport for all’ ambition. Running alongside the College's major sports programme and catering for a wide range of ability and interest are many other games activities. A large number of pupils represent the College at these 'minor' sports each week. From Year 11 onwards pupils can opt to move into these sports full time as an alternative choice to the major sport. Alternatively, these sports can be pursued in a pupil’s own time. Pupils in Years 9 and 10 are able to involve themselves in the minor sports as part of the junior activities programme. There is a wide range of sports to choose from - rugby, soccer, cricket, hockey, netball, rounders, volleyball, , tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, water polo, fives, athletics, basketball, judo, fencing, rowing, sailing. GCSE and AS-level PE may be taken. Most major sports enjoy international tours at regular intervals.

Drama, Art, Music

Biennial arts festival. Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Many musical groups including orchestras, choirs, swing, military bands, chamber music groups, pop groups. Regular organ and choral scholarships to Oxbridge. Drama: GCSE and AS-level drama offered. All Year 9 pupils act in a play. Many pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other productions. Strong tradition of old Eastbournians making careers in performing arts.

New developments

All boarding and day houses have been rebuilt or refurbished recently. A sizeable new extension to Nugent House now accommodates rising girl boarding numbers. An award-winning Science Centre was built in 2002; a new Design & Technology Centre and an ICT Centre were opened in 2003; and the Birley Centre, a whole-school facility to include a new music school, is being built with completion due by September 2011. The modern Cavendish Learning Resources Centre (1998) has an extensive fiction and reference stock and is in the centre of the school buildings. A new digital language laboratory opened in 2005. Future plans include enlargement to the dining hall, a classroom block and a new sports hall.