Eastbourne College facts for kids

Eastbourne College is a school in England for students aged 13 to 18. It is located on the south coast of the United Kingdom. Students can attend classes during the day or live at the school as boarders.

The current headmaster is Simon Davies. The school was started in 1867 by the Duke of Devonshire and other local people. Eastbourne College is a charity.

School Motto

The school's motto is Ex Oriente Salus. This Latin phrase means "Out of the East comes Hope/Health/Safety." It's a play on words related to Eastbourne's location.

The Chapel

The school has a Chapel that follows the Church of England religion. The College has a very good choir that performs often.

A full-time Chaplain lives on the school grounds. Students can visit the Chaplain if they need to talk about anything. Sometimes, students just go for a chat and a cup of tea.

Every Thursday evening, there is a special service called communion. After the service, students are welcome to have pizza at the Chaplain's home. There is also a weekly Bible study group led by staff members. At the start and end of each term, the whole school attends a service at All Saints' Church.

Sports at Eastbourne College

Sports are very important at Eastbourne College. The school has had many successful sports teams over the years. Some former students, like Will Green and Mark Lock, even won a championship in rugby.

The school focuses on one main sport each term.

Besides these main sports, students can also play many other sports. These include football, cross country, swimming, golf, tennis, squash, rowing, sailing, and rugby fives.

Combined Cadet Force

The school has a CCF, which stands for Combined Cadet Force. All students in Year 10 must join the CCF. Some students choose to continue with it in their older years.

The CCF has different sections for students to choose from. These include the Royal Navy section, the Army section, and the Royal Air Force section. In the CCF, students learn about military skills and teamwork.

Eastbourne College Houses

Students at Eastbourne College belong to different "houses." These houses are like teams or groups within the school.

Day Houses (for students who go home each day)

• Craig (Boys)
• Powell (Boys)
• Reeves (Boys)
• Blackwater (Girls)
• Watt (Girls)

Boarding Houses (for students who live at the school)

• Gonville (Boys)
• Pennell (Boys)
• Wargrave (Boys)
• Nugent (Girls)
• School (Girls)

Famous Former Students

Many people who went to Eastbourne College have become well-known. Here are a few:

• Eddie Izzard, a famous comedian.
• Mark Lock, a professional rugby player.
• Adam Mynott, a journalist for the BBC.
• Frederick Soddy, a chemist who won the Nobel Prize.
• Hugo Southwell, another professional rugby player.
• Edward Speleers, an actor who played Eragon in the film Eragon. He also starred in the TV show Echo Beach.
• Sir Christopher Leaver, who was once the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Military Heroes

Some former students have also achieved high ranks in the military.

• Major-General Hugh Prince
• General Sir David Richards, who was the head of the British Army.

Victoria Cross Winners

Two former Eastbourne College students have won the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the British military.

• Captain Henry Singleton Pennell VC. He won this award during the Tirah Campaign in India.
• Group Captain Lionel Wilmot Brabazon Rees VC. He won his award during the First World War.

School Recognition

In the past, a railway company called the Southern Railway used to name some of its trains after famous English public schools. This was a way to advertise, and carrying students to boarding schools was a big part of their business.

One of these trains, named Eastbourne, was built in 1932. It was named after Eastbourne College. This train, number 914, was used until 1961.

Images for kids

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  The new uniform reflects the school's 'blue health' ethos and its unique seaside town location.

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  Front view of the Wargrave House

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  Eastbourne College in 2008