Plans to turn former Pestalozzi site near Hastings into residential school

The Darvell Bruderhof, a Christian community group who lives in Robertsbridge, has confirmed that it has managed to acquire the site of the old Pestalozzi Village in Sedlescombe, near Hastings.

The well-known site was used for educational and residential purposes for more than 60 years, which the Darvell community has said wants to restore at the location.

It said it plans to develop the site into a senior school with boarding for children aged 14 to 18, both from the community and from the wider area.

The former Pestalozzi International Village in Sedlescombe, which covers 138 acres, was sold off by PGL Travel Ltd in February this year.

PGL bought the site in 2019 and had hoped to turn it into an activity centre.

But in 2021 proposals by PGL to create a children’s activity centre at the site were unanimously refused by Rother planners. The committee raised concerns around the impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Hardy Boller, headteacher of the Darvell school in Robertsbridge said: “The site is ideal for our purposes of creating a senior school connected with our school here. There are lots of great buildings and a really beautiful property.

“It will be fantastic to carry on the educational legacy of Pestalozzi there. We have a lot of interest from parents in the locality wanting to send their children to our school right now, so this expansion is important for the future.”

The site will be developed slowly and sensitively using the planning permission that already exists on the site.

Jonathan Vine-Hall, who chairs the Sedlescombe Parish Council, said: “We look forward very much to welcoming the Darvell School and community to the village and to the site. A lot of residents have been concerned about the future of the site so this is great news.”

The Darvell community has been based in Robertsbridge since 1971. To find out more about the community visit www.bruderhof.com and www.darvellschool.co.uk.