Eastbourne College rated 'excellent' in inspection
EASTBOURNE College has been deemed 'excellent' by school inspectors.
The school gives its pupils 'an excellent range and quality of education' and they say 'it succeeds in offering a full boarding experience to all pupils, boarding and day'.
The independent school of 630 boys and girls aged 13 to 18 years was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in September and the report has just been published.
The inspectors make judgements on different aspects of a school including the quality of education, the quality of care and relationships and the effectiveness of management.
In the nine different areas that the inspection covered, the school received the top rating of excellent or outstanding in seven of them; the other two were good.
The inspecting team reported that, "Eastbourne College pupils successfully aspire to and achieve academic excellence.
"Pupils do well, often outstandingly well, in public examinations.
"The academic curriculum is balanced, broad and appropriate. The teaching encourages pupils to behave responsibly and to enjoy their learning.
"Pupils think critically and creatively."
The inspectors also recognised the value of the extended day and full week for both boarders and day pupils alike and felt that the co-curricular programme was a distinctive and outstanding feature of the school.
"By giving its pupils a coherent, full and challenging boarding education, Eastbourne College amply fulfils its principal aim.
"Its day pupils, as much as its boarders, make the most of all that the school offers."
The team reported that the quality of pastoral care for both boarders and day pupils was excellent.
The school has a framework where each pupil is allocated to a house and the inspection recognised the pivotal role that the housemasters and housemistresses play in the day-to-day life of the school and in the academic and social development of pupils.
Teaching staff were praised for their professionalism and commitment.
"Teachers wholeheartedly support the three strands of the curriculum for which the school stands.
"They play a full part in teaching a broad and successful range of academic subjects; they contribute unstintingly to the co-curricular programme; and they are wholly committed to the unseen curriculum, the well-being and personal development of their pupils."
Credit was also given to the headmaster, Simon Davies, and his leadership team as 'the school continues to be outstandingly well led and managed'.
"The head leads with passion, foresight and enlightenment."
The inspection found the school had no major weaknesses, but advised the school should develop imaginative and varied teaching techniques and make greater use of ICT, which 'still does not play a large part in teaching or learning'.
Mr Davies said, "This is a first rate report that reflects very well on the College as a community and on the relationships within it."
He was delighted that the inspecting team had identified that the school does not distinguish between boarding and day pupils and that it achieves its aim of creating a community centred on key values of pursuit of excellence, participation, courtesy, integrity and kindness.
"The school succeeds in providing a coherent and excellent co-educational boarding experience for boys and girls, boarders and day pupils," he added.
"Eastbourne College is a happy and inspiring community that successfully emphasises the key values for which it stands."
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Saturday 11 February 2012
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