Bede’s Announces Eastbourne Expansion: New Upper School to Open Autumn 2027

Bede’s has today announced a significant evolution in its educational offering with the extension of its Eastbourne provision to Year 11.


From September 2027, the seafront site in Dukes Drive, Eastbourne which is currently home to Bede’s Prep School and Nursery, will now extend its provision to welcome pupils from Year 9 to Year 11 in its new Upper School.

This strategic expansion is designed to offer families greater flexibility, providing a streamlined, day-school alternative with lower fees, alongside Bede’s flagship Senior School in Upper Dicker. The move comes as a direct response to the changing needs of modern families and the evolving economic landscape of independent education.

Two Distinct Pathways for Senior Education:

From Year 7 onwards, Bede’s will now offer two complementary senior models:

Bede’s Upper School, Years 7-11 (Eastbourne): A streamlined, high-impact day school focused on specialist, personalised teaching and bespoke pastoral care within a familiar setting with lower termly fees.
Bede’s Senior School, Years 7-13 (Upper Dicker): Day and boarding school, renowned for its global reputation in holistic breadth, strong academic results, world-class sports coaching, and expansive rural campus.

The Academic Vision: Innovation and Rigour:

The Upper School curriculum is designed for the modern world. We are pioneering a hybrid model that integrates core academic GCSEs with specialised BTEC and vocational pathways. A central pillar of this experience will be our STEM Excellence initiative, featuring dedicated modules in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Financial Literacy.

Our vibrant co-curricular programme focuses on a "healthy breadth" of experience, prioritising character, teamwork, and the joy of new hobbies. Pupils can explore everything from debating and coding to outdoor education and horse riding. In addition, for our older pupils, prestigious accredited Leadership Foundation courses, including the Environment Leaders Programme, STEM Leadership, and the Foreign Language Leader Award will be on offer. Instead of the expansive and elite sports coaching and facilities on offer at Upper Dicker, our Eastbourne programme emphasises personal growth and well-rounded skills in an energetic, inclusive environment.

Campus Investment:

To ensure the seafront campus reflects the maturity of older pupils, Bede’s is undertaking a significant programme of infrastructural investment.

A premium common room will be opened for older pupils and there will be a significant programme of classroom investment including state-of-the-art IT and interactive whiteboards for GCSE-level study. The campus will be re-configured with Years 4–11 based in the Main Prep School building featuring age-specific form areas and dedicated specialist suites for creative and technical subjects. The Nursery and Pre-Prep will be based in the Holywell building next door.

Commenting on the announcement, Head of Prep and Upper School Leigh-Anne Morris said 'At the heart of this evolution is a commitment to choice and community. We recognise that while many pupils thrive in the expansive, holistic environment of our Senior School at Upper Dicker, others flourish in a more intimate, town setting. By extending our current Prep School provision through to Year 11, we are providing an academically and community-focussed pathway which allows pupils to remain within Eastbourne throughout their critical GCSE years.'

For press enquiries please contact:welcome@bedes.org

For enquiries about visiting Bede’s or to find out more about how to apply to Bede’s Prep or Upper School please contact: upper.school@bedes.org or call 01323 356939.

March 2026