Bryanston Prep A GSG School
- Bryanston Prep
Durweston
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 0PY - Head: Mr Simon Ridley
- T 01258 452065
- E admissions-prep@bryanston.co.uk
- W www.bryanston.….uk/prep-school
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 3 to 13.
- Read about the best schools in Dorset
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Dorset
- Pupils: 120
- Religion: Anglican
- Fees: Day £9,285 - £17,013; Boarding £19,968 - £28,746 pa
- Open days: See website
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Bryanston School
What The Good Schools Guide says..
'The school hasn’t lost any of its charm but the children really benefit from being able to use the facilities at the senior school,’ a parent told us. The only gripe was that the girls’ distinctive and much-loved red dungarees of old have gone by the board and have been replaced by a smart new navy uniform. ‘It was really sad,’ said one girl about the disappearance of the dungarees, although another piped up: ‘They were fine when I was in year 5 but I mentally grew out of them...’
What the school says...
I joined Bryanston Prep in the spring of 2022, and in that short time I am so delighted to see the continued growth and development of the school. Our school is not just growing; we are evolving, whilst being a valued part of the Bryanston family. There is a positive energy at the Prep. It is palpable. And all made possible because of the shared Bryanston vision: to be a school where each child learns to love their mind.
Our lively Prep School is testament to our ethos: understanding the uniqueness of each child's learning process. We offer not just time, but build confidence and give inspiration, nurturing each child to find their passion and love of learning. We believe that every child has the ability to be brilliant, and we are committed to helping them develop and celebrate their talents.
At Bryanston Prep, we are a community which cherishes childhood while equipping our children with the tools to navigate an ever-changing world. We champion experiential learning and believe the best way to teach is to inspire. Here, every child is an individual, is seen, recognised, never just a number.
Our curriculum is a wonderful blend of lessons, activities and endless opportunities. Outdoor adventure and embracing the wonders of our beautiful Dorset countryside setting is woven into the fabric of our curriculum alongside a commitment to teach empathy, whilst modelling kindness and compassion. We are fortunate to access the Big School's state-of-art facilities, which enhances our excellent teaching and enables us to offer unparalleled educational experiences for our children at the beginning of their school lives.
Learning is a lifelong journey for us all. There is a culture at Bryanston Prep that celebrates the individual spirit within each child, whilst we highlight the importance of being a 'team player'. Our job as educators, tutors and parents is to nurture, encourage and guide every pupil to realise their own abilities and passions: to ensure we are facilitating the children to find their inner brilliance and confidence, and equipping them with the life skills to thrive as good citizens as they enter the wider world.
I have taken great pride in seeing the passion and excitement that surrounds the Bryanston Prep community; pupils, staff and parents alike, and I am truly excited for what the future holds.
The door is open, the kettle is on, and one thing is for sure: a warm welcome awaits you.
Simon Ridley
Head at Bryanston Prep ...Read more
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Other features
Music and dance scheme - government funding and grants available to help with fees at selected independent music and dance schools.
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since November 2023, Simon Ridley, previously deputy head. He began his career in education as a gap student at an independent school before becoming a year 2 teacher at Merley First School in Wimborne. He then moved to Ballard School in New Milton, progressing from key stage 2 teacher to subject coordinator to head of the lower prep. Prior to his teaching career he was a professional cricket player at Cork County in Ireland.
Entrance
Non-selective, although the school seeks a reference from a child’s previous school and asks applicants to take part in an age-appropriate assessment before they start so they can identify strengths and weaknesses. Children can join at any time as long as there’s room but the main entry points are nursery, reception, year 3 and year 7 (a few arrive in year...
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Special Education Needs
Bryanston Prep has high expectations for all pupils and aims to ensure the development of the whole child, helping each pupil fulfil their full potential through effective teaching and learning. The Learning Support department co-ordinates support programmes for pupils beyond whole class teaching - this includes short term small group work to embed their learning, regular 1:1 work to overcome barriers to learning, EAL lessons and gifted and talented activities.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
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