About the school
Bedford School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 7 to 18 years. Originally
established by Royal Charter in 1552, the school moved to its current site in a residential area of Bedford in 1891. lt is divided into two sections: the Prep School for boys aged 7 to 13 and the UpperSchool which educates boys from 13 to 18. Overall responsibility for the school rests with the trusteesof the Harpur Trust charity, whilst day to day governance is delegated to the Bedford School Committee. Since the previous inspection a new chair of governors has been appointed.
The school offers a range of boarding provision including full time, weekly and occasional options. Boarders are accommodated according to age in one of seven boarding houses.
What the school seeks to do
The school seeks to provide its pupils with a well-grounded, ambitious education which will instil four
principal qualities: integrity, responsibility, curiosity and endeavour. lt strives to encourage an atmosphere of kindness, friendship, collegiality and mutual respect and it is hoped that every boy will gain a genuine sense of self belief which will provide the strongest possible foundations for a happy and successful future.
About the pupils
Pupils come mostly from professional families living in Bedford, the wider UK and overseas. The school
maintains a Christian ethos, but admits boys of all faiths and none. Data provided by the school indicate the ability profile of both prep and the upper school pupils is above average for pupils taking the same tests nationally. The school has identified 128 pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities, which include dyslexia and dyscalculia, 86 of whom receive additional specialisthelp. No pupils in the school have an education, health and care plan. Englishis an additional languagefor 119 pupils, 92 of whom receive extra support for their English.
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