Ages 
Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the one and only Bedales. A unique place where interesting people do interesting things and creativity and academia exist in perfect harmony. In the words of one pupil, ‘At Bedales, you can do it all.’
Why read our school review?
Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
Unlock to accessSpark your child’s love of reading with FREE gifts
Get three months of First News digital for free and £5 off Scholastic books when you read our school reviews.
Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 455 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 208 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £42,657; Boarding £55,071 pa
- Local authority
- Hampshire County Council
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Head of Bedales School
Will Goldsmith
Since 2022, Will Goldsmith MA, formerly acting head since 2021. Educated at Tonbridge and Edinburgh (English literature). Child of expats, spent his early years between Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, boarding at Yardley Court in Kent from
Entrance
From January 2025, pupils will be selected in year 6 (rather than year 7) to join in year 9. All applicants come to the school for two days and a night to show their skills in art, sport, drama and other activities as well as the usual maths and
- Open days
- September
Exit
Around 12 per cent leave after GCSEs, usually to study subjects not offered at Bedales at one of the excellent further education colleges in Hampshire. A quarter take a creative pathway (loads to art foundation and degree courses, plus drama, music
Latest results
In 2025, 61 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 32 per cent A*/A at A level (64 per cent A*-B).
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Buckle up – this is where it gets really interesting. True to its heritage of offering a progressive education (head points out this should not be mistaken for ‘permissive’), pupils currently work towards five GCSEs in core subjects, plus up to five
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
About 30 per cent of pupils on register, mainly with dyslexia (or dyslexic traits), ADHD or mild autism. Department is small but includes two maths learning support experts plus those covering literacy skills. Parents said all teaching staff are
Arts & extracurricular
Bedales’ raison d’etre. ‘Creativity permeates everything,’ parents told us, with pupils adding that ‘the creative vibe is the main draw’. And therein lies the perfect virtuous circle: teachers are positively challenged by the creative young minds in
Sport
School works hard to overcome the perception that Bedales pupils aren’t a sporty bunch, but at the same time acknowledges that ‘we’re not trying to be something we’re not’. There are three double periods of games per week – all taught by specialists
Boarders
Fewer boarders than yesteryear – year 9 in 2024 will have approximately 50/50 day/boarding split although many of these are likely to migrate to boarding later; currently around 75 per cent board in lower sixth and 90 per cent in upper sixth.
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1893 in Sussex by John Badley as a humane alternative to the authoritarian regimes typical of late Victorian public schools and, ironically, still performing the same function today. ‘What really defines Bedales is that the rest of the
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Pastoral care was arguably invented here. John Badley’s vision was to shape the school around what was best for the individual’s educational welfare and happiness, and this holds true today. On an admissions level, school looks for pupils who will
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review We are mindful of the negative impact of excessive screen time and social media access on us all, but particularly on young people. At Bedales we want to equip our students to use their devices in a positive way: to be in control of their technology, not to be controlled by it. We want to ensure that our young people leave Bedales equipped and ready to use technology with confidence, control, and creativity.
Pupils & parents
Mainly populated by local families, many having relocated from London within 40 minutes of school. Not flash. Lots in the arts and creative industries, many of them OBs although all walks of life – even the relatively mundane – represented. Parents
Money matters
School committed to broadening access, with over five per cent of fee income allocated to this. Means tested bursaries of up to 50 per cent. John Badley Foundation bursaries of up to 100 per cent for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds (school took
- Fee information
- Day £42,657; Boarding £55,071 pa
The last word
Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the one and only Bedales. A unique place where interesting people do interesting things and creativity and academia exist in perfect harmony. In the words of one pupil, ‘At Bedales, you can do it all.’
