FAQs

This represents the next natural step in the increasingly close relationship between St Andrew’s Prep and Eastbourne College. Feasibility studies for the relocation of St Andrew’s began in 2024, with the Board of Governors giving full approval in late 2025 to progress to the design stage.

ECi310 enables us to respond proactively to the challenges facing the independent school sector, while securing a strong future for both schools and preserving the distinctive qualities that make each community special.

Subject to planning approval, our aim is for the new Prep School to open in academic year 2028/29. We will share updates as the project progresses through each key stage.

No. What we are sharing at this stage is an early concept developed as part of the feasibility work. These illustrations are intended to give a sense of direction rather than represent finished designs.

Over the coming months, we will appoint a specialist team to support the next phase of the project, bringing our vision to life and finalising designs in preparation for a planning application.

We have taken professional advice ahead of announcing our plans and do not anticipate any issues under the current planning framework.

Once a design team is appointed, we will work closely with the local planning authority to ensure proposals are appropriate, sensitive to the site and aligned with policy. The development will take place on our existing campus, carefully balancing new buildings with heritage spaces. ECi has a strong track record of delivering projects of this kind successfully.

Creating a Prep School within an all‑through campus strengthens our ability to support children throughout their educational journey. United on a single campus, this move will establish ECi as the only all-through independent education provider in Eastbourne for pupils aged 4 to 18. 

ECi stands for Eastbourne College Incorporated, the charity that unites Eastbourne College and St Andrew's Prep.

The number 310 marks a significant moment in the schools’ shared journey. In 2027, Eastbourne College and St Andrew's Prep will celebrate 160 and 150 years respectively of educational excellence coming together - a combined 310 years of history. Subject to planning approval, 2027 is also the year in which we intend to begin building our new prep school, making ECi310 a fitting name for this exciting project.

The number also symbolises new beginnings, reflecting a vision that looks firmly to the future while honouring the schools’ rich shared heritage.

ECi310 represents a transformational plan to bring the two schools together on a single campus, creating Eastbourne’s only all-through independent education for children aged 4 to 18.

There will be complete continuity of education. St Andrew’s Prep will continue to operate as it does today, with no winding down of the current site and no reduction in focus on pupils. Families will be kept informed at every stage to ensure a smooth and well‑managed transition when the time comes to relocate to the Eastbourne College campus.

Nothing will happen immediately, as St Andrew’s will continue to occupy the site right up until the new Prep School is ready to open. In the meantime, the Charity will begin preparatory work in relation to the future of the site so that plans are in place once it becomes vacant. The St Andrew’s Prep site will most likely be sold following the move to the College campus in order to fund the new development.

The Charity is required to comply with Charity Law in relation to the sale of assets and to secure the best terms reasonably available. Appropriate independent professional advice will be sought at the relevant time, in accordance with Charity Law requirements. The site is very well suited to continued educational use, and we would very much welcome that outcome.

We are committed to keeping our community updated with news and progress as plans continue to develop.

We know how deeply St Andrew’s Prep matters to families, past and present. Preserving what makes it special is central to this move.

The St Andrew’s name, values and ethos will carry forward into the new Prep School. This includes warm pastoral care, small class sizes, a child‑centred approach, and a strong sense of community and wellbeing.

While the setting will change, the heart of St Andrew’s will remain firmly in place.

Yes. The new Prep School will have its own self-contained, distinct and dedicated environment. Daily Prep life for Reception to Year 6 - including teaching, meals, assemblies and tutor time, will take place within exclusive Prep facilities, including classrooms, music and drama spaces, art, SEND provision, library, wellbeing snug, changing facilities and medical/rest areas.

The children will also have carefully managed access to the College’s leading facilities, such as our sports facilities, Design Technology, science labs, Dance Studio, and Big School for Performing Arts, will be introduced gradually and in an age-appropriate way. This access is a natural expansion of shared use of the swimming pool, which has worked effectively since September 2025.

Year 7 and 8 children will remain under the Prep umbrella, with all key points of engagement taking place within the Prep School. These include registration, tutor time, assemblies, break times, mealtimes, and certain lessons. This structure supports our ambition to keep children ‘younger for longer’, while enabling an increasing number of specialist subjects to be taught within the College classrooms. In doing so, pupils can stretch their wings and become more familiar with the College facilities, helping to make the transition into Year 9 far less daunting.

We will continue to provide a nursery provision from 9 months in The Lodge.

Pre-school children will continue to be part of the St Andrew’s community, either as our youngest pupils in the new development or within The Lodge, depending on pupil numbers and demand nearer the time. We will keep families fully informed as plans develop.

Boarding has always been part of St Andrew’s history. There is scope for preparatory boarding to continue on the College campus if demand exists. While it is unlikely to be housed within the Prep building itself, there are suitable self‑contained locations on campus that could support this provision.