About us

The school is set in a stunning location in Eastbourne, tucked between the South Downs and the sea in East Sussex. The school was founded in 1877 and is one of the most highly established prep schools in the area.

The St Andrew's academic and sporting reputation is second to none and is something of which it is very proud. In 2019, the Year 8 leavers gained a total of 38 academic, art, drama, music and sport scholarships to a number of prestigious senior schools including Eastbourne College, Millfield, Bede's and Lewes Old Grammar School.

Facilities include vast playing fields, a state-of-the-art sports hall and dance studio, beautiful, indoor swimming pool, a music studio, Forest and Beach schools and a stunningly refurbished boarding house. As part of the Eastbourne College Charitable Trust, the prep school also makes use of the wonderful facilities at Eastbourne College including two astroturfs and the superb performing arts centre, the Birley Centre.

All children thrive in this happy school which offers an outstanding curricular and extra-curricular education. There are opportunities galore to try something new - be it on stage, in the classroom, on the sports field or attending one of the many school activities for children from Reception to Year 8 including, but by no means limited to, chess, fives, jazz dance, mountain biking, pottery, skiing, table tennis and shooting.

Boarding is an integral part of life at St Andrew’s Prep and the stunning facilities are now amongst the best in any prep school. The boarding house is fun, friendly and cosy. The housemaster and his team have created a homely atmosphere and understand the importance of making the children feel like they are at ‘home’. St Andrew’s offers full boarding, weekly boarding, and overnight ‘sleepovers’ to girls and boys from Year 3 (age 7).

Our fantastic Forest School is one of the many hidden gems at St Andrew’s Prep. It’s hugely popular with all ages and allows children to investigate and experiment with new skills in forestry such as woodcarving, cooking and shelter building. Our Beach School, just five minutes walk from the school gate, provides, amongst others, opportunities to build fires, sand-sculpt, rockpool and make mobiles, crowns or boats from wood, rocks and shells washed up on the shore.

In early 2010, the charities of Eastbourne College and St Andrew’s amalgamated. Both schools benefit from shared resources including the new creative arts Birley Centre, fantastic sports pitches and shared support staff. Importantly, the two schools remain independent - each retaining their own head and name and a shared commitment to offer choice at 13. The two schools believe that it is essential that all children go to the right school for their individual needs and the St Andrew’s Prep headmaster works closely with parents to offer advice and help when selecting a senior school. There is no automatic right of transfer from one school to the other.

Latest news

12 Jun 2025

St Andrew's Prep named Finalist in the 2025 Education Choices Awards

We are delighted to announce that St Andrew’s Prep has been selected as a finalist in the Education Choices Awards 2025 for Opportunities in Art and Music – a recognition of our commitment to creativity across the curriculum.

12 Jun 2025

St Andrew's Prep named Finalist in the 2025 Education Choices Awards

The arts are central to school life at St Andrew's Prep. From music and drama to art and design, creativity is woven into the daily experience of every pupil. With over 20 specialist staff – many of them practising artists and performers – pupils benefit from expert guidance in music, drama, dance and art. Weekly curriculum lessons, vibrant clubs, and scholarship pathways ensure that all children, from Nursery to Year 8, are supported and inspired to develop their talents.

Major productions, like Moana and our High School Musical Jr sit alongside trips to Paris and Venice, while partnerships with Eastbourne College, Glyndebourne and the local community provide exciting collaborative and community-based opportunities. Pupils also regularly achieve success in competitions and scholarships to top senior schools.

Headmaster Tom Gregory said, "We believe every child deserves the chance to discover and express their creative voice. This recognition is a consequence of the passion and dedication of our staff, and the wonderfully inclusive culture of the arts at St Andrew’s Prep.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to our staff, parents and pupils for championing the values of curiosity, confidence and kindness through the arts every day.”

The nomination affirms St Andrew’s Prep’s position as a leading school for creative opportunity, and underlines the vital role of the arts in shaping confident, expressive, and well-rounded young people.

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06 Feb 2025

St Andrew's Prep Awarded Elite English as an Additional Language Gold Award

St Andrew's Prep is delighted to announce that it has become the first boarding prep school to receive the prestigious English as an Additional Language (EAL) Gold Award.

06 Feb 2025

St Andrew's Prep Awarded Elite English as an Additional Language Gold Award

St Andrew's Prep is delighted to announce that it has become the first boarding prep school to receive the prestigious English as an Additional Language (EAL) Gold Award. This significant achievement highlights the school's unwavering commitment to nurturing an inclusive and supportive environment for pupils from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Following his visit to the school, Graham Smith, Director of the EAL Academy, praised the exceptional standard of its EAL provision. He said, “Teaching at St Andrew’s Prep is highly inclusive and the pupils I spoke to were full of praise for both the buddy and language ambassador systems. However, the most striking thing about St Andrew’s Prep’s EAL provision is the consistency. Senior leaders, middle leaders, classroom teachers, a governor, a parent and pupils all tell and live the same story about how multilingualism is valued and encouraged. It's no surprise that at the core of this kind of consistency is a highly influential and effective EAL Leader.”

Headmaster Tom Gregory expressed his pride in the school's achievement, stating: "We are all delighted by this award. It reflects our deep commitment to ensuring every child feels included, supported and valued as an individual. It is also a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of our staff, who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of pupils for whom English is an additional language. Special recognition goes to our Head of EAL, Miss Lozano-Arcas, whose vision, passion and leadership have been instrumental in guiding us to this accomplishment."

St Andrew's Prep continues to lead the way in providing exceptional education and support to its diverse pupil body, preparing them to thrive in an interconnected world. The school’s EAL Department offers a comprehensive and individually tailored programme designed to meet the cognitive, emotional and social needs of each international pupil, ensuring a holistic approach to their development. The school's inclusive ethos, small class sizes and dedicated support for special educational needs (SEN) further exemplify its commitment to outstanding pastoral care and academic success.

For more information about St Andrew's Prep and its EAL programme, please visit www.standrewsprep.co.uk.

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30 Jan 2025

St Andrew’s Prep makes regional finals of Schools Team Table Tennis competition

St Andrew’s Prep through to regional finals of Schools Team Table Tennis competition.

30 Jan 2025

St Andrew’s Prep makes regional finals of Schools Team Table Tennis competition

St Andrew’s Prep has achieved outstanding table tennis success with three teams showcasing their talent and sportsmanship in the second round of the Schools Team Table Tennis competition in Southampton.

Following their impressive wins at the Sussex Team Table Tennis Finals a few weeks ago, the U11 boys, U11 girls, and U13 boys teams progressed to compete against top schools from eight counties. Matches were fiercely contested, but the U11 boys and U11 girls triumphed, winning all their matches convincingly and securing their place in the regional finals. These teams will now travel to Grantham at the end of February to represent St Andrew’s Prep and Sussex on a larger stage. The U13 boys team also performed well, finishing as runners-up in their section.

This is the first time two St Andrew’s Prep teams have qualified for the regional finals—a significant achievement that highlights the school’s growing strength in table tennis.

Neil Reed, the team coach, praised the players, saying, “The competition was tough, but the players worked hard, supported each other and most importantly, had fun. Their team spirit and determination were truly commendable.”

Headmaster, Tom Gregory also expressed his pride, commenting, “We are incredibly proud of our pupils’ achievements. They played with determination, grace and team spirit and were wonderful ambassadors for St Andrew’s Prep throughout the day. St Andrew’s Prep has an extremely strong sports programme from grass roots to elite, with table tennis emerging as a growing strength in recent years.”

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