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First steps in the UK
Bedford School’s International Study Centre (BSSC) prepares international students for study in English. Boys and girls aged 10–17 come to us for one, two or three terms to develop the knowledge, skills and cultural awareness that they will need in a mainstream school. Here, in our fully  residential Centre, we give our students the intensive preparation that will give them the confidence to succeed.

We do not prepare students only for  Bedford School, but for a wide range of schools and colleges in the UK and around the world. Many leading  independent schools recommend a term  or two at the Study Centre for their new international students, because they know the value of a strong  foundation in specialised and supportive surroundings.

A convenient location
Bedford is a pleasant market town, 80 kilometres north of London and situated between Cambridge and Oxford. Heathrow Airport is 90 minutes away  and London can be reached by train in 40 minutes. The Study Centre is part of Bedford School, a leading independent school for boys with an excellent  academic and sporting record. We use the dining, sporting and library facilities of the main School.

A safe and friendly atmosphere
A maximum of 30 boys and girls live here, sharing social rooms and a students’ kitchen. Our matrons provide personal and medical care, and there is  a laundry on site. There is one dormitory for the youngest students. All the other rooms are double or single study-bedrooms, and there are showers  and toilets on every floor. There is close supervision and pastoral care, seven days a week. The houseparents and assistant houseparent live in the  Study Centre, and a teacher is here every weekday evening until bedtime. There are strict rules about going out and strongly enforced bedtimes.

Studying
English makes up half of the academic timetable, 18 lessons a week. We give our students an unparalleled opportunity to lay strong linguistic foundations for the demands of their future study. Our teaching groups are very small, with six or fewer in a class. In such small teaching groups, everyone has a chance to be heard.

There are eight lessons of science, six of maths and four of ICT each week. All the teachers of these subjects are  specialists in their areas, with  school experience, trained additionally in teaching English as a foreign language. They are able to meet the needs of children studying in an unfamiliar  language, and are sensitive to the cultural differences the students may find between their previous education and the British approach.

Students have access to the computers in homework time and in their free time. Bedford School’s own network provides unlimited but closely monitored internet access, so that students can visit appropriate websites and use e-mail. There is wi-fi in the bedrooms until bedtime.

Homework
There are 90 minutes of supervised homework time every evening, with a teacher on hand to answer questions and offer guidance.

Personal development
Every student has a tutorial lesson once a week, to reflect on his or her progress and to learn about good study habits. There is one lesson a week in  our learning centre, where the students themselves choose the activity that they feel is most valuable for their progress. At different stages of the year,  we run specialist pronunciation classes and sessions in personal, social and health education.

There is a programme of physical education,  including various sports and swimming. We arrange three trips every term, one to London and the theatre, the others to a variety of cultural, historical  and educational places, always fully supervised. We enrich our curriculum with Saturday morning activities, which extend the usual range of our  activities to include music, art and drama. 

Monitoring student progress
We write to the parents and guardians of all our students three weeks into the first term, suggesting, if appropriate, what steps need to be taken to find  a suitable school. We issue a brief report after five weeks and a full report at the end of each term.

Where next?
We advise on the onward placement of our students, and enable them to visit schools and make choices about their future from a position of  knowledge.

Keeping in touch
We try not to lose touch with our students after they move on, but encourage them to stay in contact. We know they look back on their time here with  affection. We are proud of their achievements and value their continued friendship. We know the importance of feeling secure here in the UK as they undertake the challenges of mainstream education, and are here to give them academic, emotional and personal support for as long as they need it.

Entry requirements
We need a completed registration form and a report from the previous school. There is no registration fee. We interview by phone or Skype, and ask applicants to complete a written task. We welcome callers and visitors at any time.

Many of our students started by coming on a three-week summer course, an ideal first taste of boarding school life for children whose parents may be considering British education for their son or daughter.

Even those who go back to school in their home country often return to us in subsequent years to improve their English, carry on learning, have fun with other boys and girls, and visit some of the interesting and famous places which are easy to reach from Bedford. Visit our website or, better still, the Study Centre itself to appreciate our special atmosphere.

This was the happiest time in all of my education.
Jess, postgraduate student