Bromsgrove School

Since 2022, Michael Punt MSc PGCE, previously head of Chigwell School and before that, academic deputy at The Perse. An Essex boy, he was educated at Brentwood School, did his physics degree at Oxford and has a master’s in semiconductor science from

At 13+, CAT 4 tests and an essay. Three-quarters come from the school's two preps – no automatic entry, but parents say they’re given ample warning and advice if a child is unlikely to be accepted. The remaining quarter – around 50 students – come

A mere two per cent, if that, leave after GCSEs – that’s far better retention than most local independents and, when you see the sixth form offering, it’s easy to see why. Over 95 per cent to university, the rest into employment, an apprenticeship

In 2025, 62 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 60 per cent A*/A at A level (83 per cent A*-B). IB average point score of 39.

Breadth, flexibility and support are the stars of the show. Impressively, A level, IB and BTEC all on offer in sixth form, and students rave about how they can choose any combination of subjects, swap subjects as late as the end of lower sixth or

Vast majority of the 100 or so on the SEN register are at the milder end and supported in the classroom ‘with extra help around the edges’, which can include one-to-ones (included in fees). A handful drop a GCSE to do extra learning support. The

Expect long days. ‘My child is worn out by Sunday,’ said one more than one parent (a good or bad thing, depending on your outlook). From 4-5.15pm daily, there are timetabled activities. For year 9s, these could be anything from writing CVs to

Huge, but not the be-all-and-end-all. ‘Sport is really not our son’s thing but there’s so much else going on for him that it hasn’t mattered at all,’ said a parent. Historically, a rugby school, with an elite rugby pathway that alone attracts some

Thirteen day and boarding houses are a mix of new and old, each with its own identity and reputation as the sporty one, arty one, etc (although this changes each year). So even if you don’t board (just over half don’t), your house is where you start

The health and wellbeing centre – complete with wellbeing nurse, residential nurse and visiting counsellors – is a key touchpoint for students in need of support. Students add that tutors are ‘very supportive’ and that, actually, ‘most staff really

Pleasingly, there’s no Bromsgrove type, although all the students we met were articulate and courteous – a real asset to the school. Hats off to the student who made a point of coming to say hello when he recognised us in a restaurant the following

Over five per cent of the school are on life-changing bursaries (worth 75 per cent plus of school fees). Scholarships in year 9 and 12 for art, music, drama, sport and academic.

If you want to spend your weekends and evenings on a couch, the Bromsgrove experience would be wasted on you. This is a full-on school best suited to naturally busy people, whose glittering prize is a vast and inspired array of extracurricular