‘West Rise Juniors: An incomparable Room 13, Bronze Age, water buffalo-herding school in Eastbourne.’
Read Dr. Liam Maloy’s (University of Nottingham), 2022 report about the school here.
Statement of our ethos and values
At West Rise Junior School, we inspire and empower independent and creative learners. We support a culture of high achievement and mutual respect. Our students will enrich their lives and those of others.
We are a Rights Respecting School. The articles of the Unicef Children’s Rights Charter are at the heart of all school policy. We recognise that all children have a right to:
- learn
- be listened to
- join in cultural and artistic experiences
- be safe
- fair treatment
- a healthy lifestyle
- extra support if needed.
At West Rise, we offer our pupils a dynamic, creative learning environment.
Our students experience and benefit from a unique school experience. This includes:
- artists in residence
- Shine Radio Station
- a Bronze Age village
- Forest School
- water buffalo
- a school farm with chickens, sheep and ducks and 120 acres of marshland
There is an extraordinary community feel throughout the school as confirmed by many of our visitors. We would love to show you our amazing learning environment, innovative projects, fantastic staff and brilliant pupils.
- Mike Fairclough, Headteacher
(Helen Pentecost, Current Acting Headteacher)
Our full Ofsted inspection in 2013 graded us as GOOD and recognised our children achieve highly in sport, music and the arts both in and outside school. This grade was confirmed in our short Ofsted inspection in 2018.
Here are some quotes from that report.
“[The school] have developed an exceptionally diverse curriculum with rich opportunities for learning out of the classroom.”
“Teachers use the outdoor field and adjacent marsh, complete with livestock, to inspire pupils.”
“The outdoor education programme, experienced by all pupils, enables them to learn about resilience and cooperation.”
Ofsted 2018.
The school has featured in the national media. This has a very positive impact on the school community. It also inspires other schools to embrace a similar educational ethos.
“West Rise Junior School is an amazing school with amazing pupils and staff”
- John Craven, March 2016, Presenter on BBC’s Countryfile.
“A beautiful school community”
- Sir Ken Robinson, June 2016, Internationally acclaimed author and speaker.