Bedford School
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Type of school: Boys boarding and day
Age Range: 7–18
Number of Pupils: 1,090
Number of Boarders: 270
Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:24 (1:12 for Years 11 and 12) -
Fees Per Term: Full boarding £6,148–£9,017; Weekly boarding £5,861–£8,719;
Day £3,506–£5,409
Bedford School is an independent boarding and day school for boys aged 7 to 18 years, where fundamental traditions combine with innovative educational thinking. In addition to an established reputation for academic excellence, we are renowned for our strengths in music, the arts and sport.
At Bedford we believe that a complete and balanced education produces fully rounded boys. From age 7 to 18, it’s a continuity of education that enriches, and prepares them for a full and rewarding adult life.
Life at Bedford School is very full and, from their earliest years, boys are encouraged to take full advantage of the endless opportunities open to them. There is an easy mix of day boys, weekly and full boarders, all of whom enjoy outstanding facilities and a full social life.
Location
The School is set in a beautiful and extensive estate in the heart of Bedford, a market town just 50 miles north of London. With easy access to Luton, Stansted and Heathrow Airports, as well as Cambridge and Oxford, Bedford is ideally located for British and international students alike.
Academic life
Our highly qualified teaching staff are selected on their ability to communicate and inspire. The result is a vibrant, stimulating environment, where boys can be happy, grow in self-confidence, thrive academically and make the most of the wide range of opportunities on offer.
Our curriculum is structured to provide breadth, balance and extend learning well beyond national requirements, and offers boys a varied choice of subjects. Our academic success is demonstrated by a long history of impressive examination results at GCSE, A-level and in the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Sporting tradition
In line with our enviable sporting tradition, we aim to inspire a lifelong interest in sport, promoting teamwork, wellbeing, fitness and, most of all, enjoyment.
The School’s sporting resources are outstanding – a floodlit twin Astroturf complex, indoor swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, a climbing wall, playing fields, and recreation centre combine to provide first-class facilities from which many international players have emerged.
Music and creative arts
Bedford School has a long-established reputation for excellence in music, drama and the arts. With its state-of-the-art music school, Bedford has one of the largest music departments in the country and a high proportion of students learn to play one or more instruments. In fact many parents choose Bedford School in preference to a specialist music school to provide excellent teaching within a strong academic environment. Drama and theatre studies have become increasingly popular, and our 250-seat theatre has consistently seen School productions staged to a professional standard. The first-rate art studios are available to everyone to explore sculpture, photography, fine art and design.
Strong community
When boys first arrive at Bedford, they are welcomed into a genuinely caring community, where individuals and individuality are valued. At the centre of this community are the boarding houses, which become a ‘home away from home’ for boys during their time at the School. Boys enjoy regular house trips and events throughout the year.
The Preparatory School and Upper School operate independently on the same campus but join together to provide continuity of education from 7 to 18 years of age.
Beyond the classroom
A diverse programme of extracurricular activities is available to all boys, including the CCF (Combined Cadet Force), Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Community Service, fundraising groups, and more than 50 other clubs and societies, from astronomy to Young Enterprise. Whilst committed to the benefits of single-sex teaching, the School works closely with its sister school Bedford Girls’ School to provide a wide-ranging programme of co-educational extracurricular and social activities.
Scholarships
We offer a generous Access Award and Scholarship Scheme for talented boys, irrespective of background.
Visit Bedford School
We warmly invite you to join us at one of our Open Mornings or for a private visit to see the School in action, meet the boys and staff, and get a flavour of life at Bedford School.
Please contact Vanessa Hicks, Director of Admissions, for further information
on +44 (0)1234 362216 or e-mail admissions@bedfordschool.org.uk.
"An unpretentious school which has everything a guide could need"
The Good Schools Guide
- Bedford School Swimming Success
- The senior swimming team of Will Jackson, Thitikorn Ngampakdeepanich, Nick Stalley and Tony Cheung travelled to the prestigious Stowe relays on Thursday 9th May.
- Bedford School Physics pupils train to be an Astronaut
- At the beginning of the Easter holidays a lucky handful of Y9 and Y10 boys got the chance to live out their dream and train to be an astronaut as part of a physics department trip to the Euro Space Centre in Belgium.
- Bedford School Charity Cycle Ride by Matthew Burlison
- In August 2013 I am participating in a charity cycle ride in support of The Matt Hampson Foundation. It is a 4 day event cycling London-Amsterdam-Brussels and covering 360 miles.
- Bedford School Middlesex Cricket Award
- We are delighted to announce that Bedford School Cricketer Charlie Thurston has been presented with the Richard Davies Award by Middlesex County Cricket in recognition of his performance against Essex last summer, when he recorded Middlesex's highest youth score of 165 and highlighted the huge potential that he has with the bat.
- Bedford School Sabre Success
- Bedford School Fencers, Greg Wallace and George Burton, both competed in the Public Schools' Fencing Championships at Crystal Palace, London on the Thursday 21st March 2013.
- Bedford School - SoundSYNK
- Former Bedford School pupil Edward Noel and three teammates from Exeter University are set to compete against teams from around the world with their new mobile entertainment app.
Access Awards & Scholarships
Bedford School’s Access Awards and Scholarships have been designed to make education more accessible. We offer generous funding of up to approximately £1 million per year in recognition of academic, creative or sporting potential to provide a wealth of opportunities for boys, irrespective of their background.
Applying for Access Awards & Scholarships
An application for the Access Awards and Scholarships must be completed and returned to the School at the same time as the Registration Form. Candidates will be expected to attend additional specific assessments to test their potential in this area. These will take place after the entrance assessment day. We ask for all applications for Access Awards and Scholarships to be received into the Admissions Department by 31st December 2012 at the latest.
It is possible for boys to apply for more than one Scholarship.
Please note that we are unable to consider any boy for a scholarship or award outside of the allocated timescale. All decisions on these awards and scholarships are made in early February each year with the award commencing in the following September.
All boys applying for a Scholarship and Access Award must be registered with the School and have submitted a Scholarship and Award form. Full details of the assessment programme will be forwarded to you well in advance of the assessment day(s).
Access Awards
This award is given on academic ability. All boys at 11+ and 13+ sit the ‘Bedford Test’, a Curriculum Content Test, and undergo an interview. We will also apply for their most recent school report.
Boys at 16+ will be assessed by interview, written examinations at A level or IB and by their predicted GCSE results.
Scholarships
Academic, Music, Sport (including Golf) are available to boys at 11+, 13+ and 16+. All candidates must fufil our academic requirements and have the ability to cope with the School curriculum.
Successful scholarship candidates will receive a minimum of 10% of the School fees. Any amount awarded beyond this will be allocated on a means tested basis.
Academic Scholarships
Not only do we expect Scholars to achieve good results for themselves but to contribute to the School community as a whole. Scholars are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular academic societies and we expect them to set an example to others in terms of work ethic. We ask them, where appropriate, to share their abilities in programme of peer-group teaching (shown by educational research to be a key extra factor in bringing out the best in students). Ultimately, we expect Scholars at Bedford to be proud of what they are and to take pride in what they can offer.
Music Scholarships
Bedford School has a long established reputation for excellence in music. Our stunning Music School is home to one of the largest Music Departments in the country. A high proportion of our students learn to play several instruments.
The immense variety of musical activity at Bedford School could not happen without our Music Scholars. Not only do they provide the backbone for our many ensembles, they set the tone for music within the School. Music Scholars set high standards of dedicated practice and personal achievement and act as ambassadors for music in the School.
Sports Scholarships
Bedford School has an enviable sporting tradition stretching back over two centuries. Today, our ethos is very much forward looking and we are thoroughly committed to providing the very best for our students, aiming to promote excellence in all that they do.
For many years, we have offered sport scholarships to students demonstrating the ability to success at the highest level in Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Rowing.
In addition to the Sports Scholarships, we are also able to offer Golf Scholarships. Bedford School is very proud of its link with Woburn Golf Club, home to three outstanding championship courses. In partnership with the Woburn, we proved our Golf Scholars with regular professional coaching, full Junior Membership of Woburn Gold Club and the opportunity to participate in Inter School fixtures and the School Championship.
Bedford School Open Day - Sat 5th October
We warmly invite you to join us at our next Opening Morning:
Our Open Morning is an ideal opportunity to see the School in action, meet the boys and staff, and get a flavour of what life is like at Bedford School.
Book Your Place
Please contact Vanessa Hicks, our Director of Admissions, to find out more and book your family's place on our Open Morning.
T: +44 (0)1234 362216
E: admissions@bedfordschool.org.uk
We look forward to meeting you!
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| Prep School | Upper School | |
| 10.00am | Registration in the Erskine May Hall, followed by a tour of the School. |
Registration in the Bell Room Reception, followed by a tour of the School. |
| 11.15am |
Presentation by the Prep School Headmaster in the Erskine May Hall. |
Presentation by the Head Master in the Music School Recital Hall. |
| 11.45am |
Refreshments and meet the staff in the Great Hall
Here you will have an opportunity to meet and talk to members of staff including the Director of Admissions, Housemasters and current parents. |
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If you are unable to attend our Open Morning, please do get in touch as we are very happy to arrange private tours and visits at a date convenient for you.
Contact information
De Parys Avenue
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK40 2TU
tel: +44 (0)1234 362200
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