Education in Seaford
Education has played a significant part in the Town's history and economy and for a period of years had many private eduction establishments drawing in pupils from all over the world as well as state schools for the local populace.
State education began with the foundation of board schools in 1854 and has continued to this day with three country primary schools- Seaford CP School, Chyngton CP School and Ceadle Hill, and a the Annecy Catholic Primary School. Secondary education comenced on the Arundel Road site as Seaford Secondary Modern School, now Seaford Acdaemy now with a lower school and sixth from centre in Steyne Road. In addition Corsica Hall, housed the original Seaford College from 1885 (relocated to Petworth in West Sussex in 1945) taking on a role in further education as a training centre for home economics teachers from 1950 to 1967.
Seaford has had some 90 scholastic establishments since the first one (that we know of) was started by a Mr Robinson in 1803. Another early school at West House Seaford (which is still standing at the bottom of Pelham Road) opened in 1857, later moving to Broad Street after the 1875 flood. Some schools have occupied more than one site in Seaford, some have amalgamated with others, relocated, changed names or status, or ceased operating. Many have been demolished to make way for housing. Some live on in road or house names and on occasion the buildings remain having been repurposed. At least two headmasters are immortalised with roads named after them. Some of the buildings are still standing and can be seen from the outside at least. It has been estimated that perhaps around 100 scholastic institutions have come and gone, although one notable school - Seaford College, has continued albeit transporting itself from East Sussex to West Sussex as a result of WW2. It may be a tad difficult to walk round all the school sites as many have disappeared completely, although some are remembered in house and street names nearby. Seaford Museum has been building up an archive of material on various schools and the occasional ex scholar gets in touch with requests for information. The map below shows schools in Seaford in the early 1920s. However Seaford Museum has identified some 90 seperate schools existing throughout the history of Seaford, many of which have occupied the same site at different times.
Apart from Seaford College situated to the south of the town most of the "public" school sites were either to the north clustered around East Blatchington and along Firle Road, or the east around Alfriston Road, Eastbourne Road and Sutton Avenue. In additon we have our existing state and church aided schools: Seaford, Chyngton and Cradle Hill and Annecy Primary, and our main secondary school Seaford Head College, spread over three sites. Bowden House, now completely rebuilt, is a modern special residential school. Seaford Head's 6th Form actually occupies Seaford's first National School in Steyne Road, and Seaford Primary moved from its original site in Church Street part of which became a doctors' surgery.
We welcome contributions from alumni about their experiences at Seaford Schools, and will if permitted and appropraite create a space for them. email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2 Annecy Convent
4 Belvedere
5 Bishopstone
7 Blatchington College for Boys
8 Blatchington Place
9 Bowden House
10 Bramber Lodge
11 Bydown
12 Chalvington
13 Chapel Lane
14 Charity Free School
15 Charmandean
16 Chesterton Cottage
17 Chesterton
18 Church Street County Primary
19 Chyngton County Primary
20 Cliff Girls
21 Cliff View
22 Cloverdown
23 Cradle Hill County Primary
24 Cuckmere House
25 The Downs
26 Downshead
27 East Quinton
28 Flint House
29 Froebel House
30 The Gables
31 Galloways
32 Gentlemens' Academy
33 Gladleigh
34 Green Ladies
35 Hamiliton House
36 Hardwicke House
37 Hartfield House
38 Hilltop Court
39 Homeleigh
40 Jewish Free School
41 Kenwood
42 Kingsleigh
43 King's Mead
44 Ladycross
45 Lexden House
46 Manorfield
47 Marine Hospital School
48 Marlborough House
49 Merton House
50 Micklefied
51 Newlands
52 Normansal
53 Owletts Nursery
54 Parochial School
55 Pelham House
56 Pilgrims
57 Queens Park
58 Ravenscroft
59 Redcroft Ladies
60 St.David's
61 St. Faith's
62 St. John's
63 St. Margaret's Ladies
64 St. Mawes
65 St. Michael's
66 St. Michael's Ladies College
67 St. Peter's
68 St Peter's and St. David's
69 St. Wilfred's
70 St. Winifred's Ladies
72 Seaford County Primary
73 Seaford Head Community College
74 Seaford Ladies College
75 Seaford Playschool
76 Seton Lodge Domestic College
77 Seaford College of Housecraft
78 The Sheil
79 Southdown House
80 Southdown Ladies
81 South Lodge Ladies
82 Stoke House
83 Sunnybrae
84 Sussex House
85 Sutton House
86 Sutton Place
87 Tyttenhangar
88 Whitely House
89 Westcliffe
90 National School
91 Seaford Secondary Modern
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