Why choose us?

ASPIRE. Belong. Achieve.

Gildredge House is a values-driven school where strong teaching, exceptional opportunities and a deep sense of belonging help every child grow in confidence and achieve their best from Reception to Year 11.

Whether your child joins us in Reception or Year 7, they will be known, supported and encouraged to thrive as part of one welcoming school community.

 

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Gildredge House at a glance

Why Families Choose Gildredge House

  • One continuous journey from Reception to Year 11
  • A calm, caring community where children feel known
  • Strong teaching, high expectations and broad opportunities
  • Automatic progression into Year 7
  • Nurturing Reception with Forest School learning
  • Fair and inclusive admissions for local and wider communities

THREE REASONS FAMILIES CHOOSE GILDREDGE HOUSE

One Continuous Journey

A Reception to Year 11 education that provides stability, consistency and confidence.

A place to Belong

A welcoming, calm and caring community where children feel known, supported and valued.

Achievement and Opportunity

High-quality teaching, a strong curriculum and exceptional opportunities help every child grow in confidence, achieve their best and discover their strengths.

Gildredge House provides a coherent education from Reception to Year 11, giving children stability, consistency and confidence as they grow.

Students benefit from familiar values, clear expectations and long-term relationships with staff who get to know them well. For families, this brings reassurance. Children can move through school with established friendships, familiar routines and automatic progression into Year 7, reducing the uncertainty of secondary admissions.

Highlights
  • Reception to Year 11 continuity
  • Automatic progression into Year 7
  • Consistent values and expectations
  • Long-term relationships with staff
  • Earlier start and kiss-and-drop convenience

Children thrive when they feel known, supported and valued.

At Gildredge House, relationships are at the heart of school life. Our calm and caring community helps children build confidence, develop friendships and feel part of something bigger.

We combine high expectations with genuine care, so students are encouraged to achieve their best while feeling supported as individuals.

Highlights
  • Children are known as individuals
  • Calm and caring environment
  • Strong pastoral support
  • Positive relationships
  • Inclusive school community

High-quality teaching sits at the heart of the Gildredge House experience. Students benefit from a strong curriculum, high expectations and staff who help them feel encouraged, challenged and ready to learn.

Learning extends beyond the classroom through sport, music, drama, leadership, educational visits and enrichment. Our partnership with Knockhatch Adventure Park provides curriculum-linked learning across the school, bringing topics to life through hands-on experiences.

Highlights
  • High-quality teaching and strong curriculum
  • Sport, fixtures and leadership opportunities
  • Music, drama and creativity
  • Educational visits and themed learning
  • Knockhatch curriculum enrichment days
  • Knockhatch after-school club for secondary students

The ASPIRE Difference

At Gildredge House, our ASPIRE values guide how we teach, learn and treat one another every day. They help create a culture where children feel supported, challenged and inspired to achieve their best.

AMBITION High expectations and strong academic progress.
SUPPORT Pastoral care throughout the whole school journey.
PERSEVERANCE Resilience, confidence and a positive attitude to challenge.
INTEGRITY Respectful behaviour and positive relationships.
REFLECTION Learning how to improve, develop and achieve more.
EMPATHY An inclusive community where everyone belongs.
Read More About our Values ›

 

Choosing Reception

A nurturing start to school life

Reception at Gildredge House provides a calm, caring and positive introduction to education.

Warm relationships, strong routines and thoughtful transition support help children settle quickly, build confidence and feel safe from day one. Children learn through purposeful play, exploration, outdoor learning and Forest School, developing curiosity, independence and a love of discovery.

As part of a Reception to Year 11 school, children also become part of a wider community that can support them throughout their school journey.

Reception Highlights
  • Forest School
  • Outdoor learning
  • Purposeful play
  • Caring and experienced staff
  • Strong transition support
  • One continuous journey to Year 11
Reception Transition ›

 

 

JOINING uS IN YEAR 7

A smooth and supported progression

Year 7 brings exciting new opportunities while maintaining the values, relationships and support that help children succeed.

For students already at Gildredge House, moving into Year 7 is a natural progression within a familiar community, without lost learning. For students joining from other schools, strong transition arrangements, clear routines and dedicated pastoral support help them build friendships, settle confidently and quickly flourish.

All students benefit from high-quality subject teaching, academic challenge and a wide range of opportunities in sport, creativity, leadership and enrichment from Year 7 through to GCSE.

Year 7 Highlights
  • Supported transition
  • Strong pastoral care
  • New friendships and opportunities
  • Specialist subject teaching
  • Leadership opportunities
  • Clear pathways to GCSE success
Year 7 Transition ›

 

 

OPEN TO FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY

We are proud to be an inclusive school serving children and families from Eastbourne and the surrounding area.

Our admissions arrangements provide fair and open access to children from the local and wider community.

Admissions FAQs ›

READY TO DISCOVER GILDREDGE HOUSE?

The best way to understand our school is to visit us.

Come and see how our values, teaching, community and opportunities help children grow in confidence and achieve their best from Reception to Year 11.

Join Gilly's Club

Be first to hear about open events, admissions updates and life at Gildredge House.

Admissions FAQs ›
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