ST JOHN'S MEADS CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL in East Sussex, Eastbourne

Education Centre Information: St John's Meads Church of England Primary School:

Establishment Type:Voluntary Aided School
Phase of Education: Primary
Status: Open
Local Authority: East Sussex
Boarders: No Boarders
Sixth Form: Does not have a sixth form
Urban/Rural Description: Urban > 10k - less sparse
Special Classes: No Special Classes
Religious Character: Church of England
Diocese: Diocese of Chichester
Nursery Provider: No Nursery Classes
Total Pupils: 217
Number of boys: 96
Number of girls: 121
Age Range: 4-11
Gender: Mixed
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Background:

This over-subscribed church school, which opened in 1898, is connected with the Church of St John the Evangelist which is one mile away. The Governors provided new facilities and an extension during the early 1990s, and this relatively modern building provides a counterpoint to the Victorian character of the original premises. A walled field, music room, activities areas and an 'excellent' library are additional features of the school. It is located in the 'very pleasant' locality of Meads, from which the centre of Eastbourne, the beach and South Downs are all within children's walking distance. The school's curricular strengths are 'many', but include 'high attainment' in the core subjects. Extra-curricular opportunities include the school allotment, residential visits to the Isle of Wight and France, and an outdoor educational camp at East Grinstead. The school has notched up successes in netball and football tournaments and also provides more unusual activities such as lacrosse. The school's has many links with the local community and its choirs sing at local residential homes and hospital religious services. It also has 'strong' links with local businesses such as Pizza Express and Fort Fun theme park with which it organises joint projects. The school has won mathematics, technology, environmental and public speaking competitions at national level. It is 'always very generous', with fund raising activities for the homeless, refugees, the local hospital, NSPCC amongst others. It has established special links with Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo and these are particularly evident at Christmas when all the children take part in the Mustard Seed Relief Mission's 'Love in a Box' shoebox appeal for Christmas presents.