We were delighted to welcome The Good Schools Guide to Bedford Prep School as we celebrated World Book Day at the start of March this year. Their independent and impartial review was hugely positive, and we are thrilled to share it with you.
The Good Schools Guide describes its guide as: ‘the UK’s number one school guide, helping parents in every aspect of choosing the best education for their children. Trusted by parents for over 30 years, the guide includes unbiased and candid school reviews.’ Its reports are based upon a rigorous independent appraisal, including inspection and interviews with a range of current parents and pupils.
The Good Schools Guide independent reviewer described Bedford Prep School as offering:
‘A happy thriving start on this journey where, as one parent put it, ‘they find whatever is your thing and then fly with it.”
Highlights from the Review
The Prep School
‘All feels surprisingly cosy compared to the enormity of the wider surroundings.’
‘All in all, simultaneously feels separate from and integral to the upper school and offers everything young boys could hope for, whatever their interests.’
Facilities
‘. . . one of the biggest plusses of this prep is that it enjoys unfettered access to the wealth of facilities of its big brother school.’
‘The prep’s own amenities are noteworthy too, including a mix of traditional and modern purpose-built classrooms centred around an Astro play area where boys let off steam at break times.’
‘Boys rave about the ‘rec’ (huge sports hall and swimming pool with additional squash courts, gym, table tennis area, etc.)’
‘. . . the theatre is among the most stunning we’ve ever seen.’
Learning
‘Parents report that boys are ‘pushed’ academically, ‘but never at the cost of a more all-rounded education’ and that ‘learning is brought alive’ at every opportunity.’
‘Particularly towards the upper end of the school, they bring out the intellectual curiosity – you can really see them getting ready for what’s coming in the upper school,’ reported a parent.’
The Arts
‘Tons of music, all hugely popular, includes the (crucially, non-selective) junior choir, plus chapel choir for years 5 and up, and there are instrumental lessons on the curriculum for years 3 and 4 with around half going on to learn an instrument after that (everything from bagpipes to sax).’
‘Positive, energetic and fun’
‘Great excitement on the dramatic front too (especially for the forthcoming Wind in the Willows performance when we visited – the whole choir was to be included).’
‘Fabulous art space, where we watched youngsters finalising landscapes to show contract, although head of art keen ‘not to get boys to see art as just the ability to draw,’ telling us about the one boy ‘who would have struggled on paper but made the most wonderful sculpture.”
Sport
‘. . . rugby, hockey and cricket (‘huge’ according to head) top the sporting agenda, with one parent telling us, ‘everyone gets to regularly go out and get covered in mud and they absolutely love it.”
‘An inclusive approach means school puts out as many as 18 competitive teams for fixtures, so everyone gets a ride on the bus and a post-match tea at least once a term, whatever their ability.’
‘Breadth is huge as we learned when we asked a large group of boys to shout out the favourite sport they do at school and practically every one was different.’
Trips and tours
‘Lots of trips- some of the boys had just been to South Africa – and there are bi-annual trips to Ickwell, a nature reserve owned by the school.’
Boarding
‘Boarders inhabit the purpose-built Eagle House, a quick skip (and many of them do) across the playground.’
‘All very homely with nicely furnished, comfy spaces including separate areas for chilling, games, prep and kitchen with lots of personal touches for boys to hang out after school hours.’
‘. . . there are plenty around at weekends once Saturday school (compulsory for all from year 6) and Sunday Chapel are out of the way, to enjoy outings such as go-karting, escape rooms, high ropes and bowling, often followed by a takeaway or one of the housemaster’s legendary barbecues.’
Moving Up to the Upper School
‘Parents here are signing up for the long-haul, happily waving goodbye to the weighty stress of the 11+ or CE in favour of a seamless transition into the reputable senior school.’
‘Close communication with upper school a great strength and leads to nobody slipping through the gaps in the transition.’
Read the full review of the Prep School below.
The Upper School was also reviewed by Good Schools Review the same day. You can read their review by following the link below.