For over half a century Bedstone College has prepared young people to enter the outside world with well-developed personal skills, self- confidence and the finest academic qualifications within their scope. Bedstone was one of the first independent schools to become fully co-educational and the friendly family atmosphere that successful co-education creates within a smaller school is immediately obvious to any visitor.

Set in the beautiful uplands of South Shropshire, bordering Herefordshire and Powys, the college is far from the distracting influences of urban life and yet it is within easy reach of all major cities and airpor ts.

The college enjoys not only a stunning setting but also a beautiful main building, Bedstone Court. Built at the end of the nineteenth century it is one of the very few calendar houses in Britain. The majority of the campus facilities, however, have been purpose-built within the last twenty years and the mixture of old and new provides a rich and stimulating environment.

Today the college caters for young people between the ages of three and eighteen years in the pre-preparatory, preparatory, and senior schools.

At Bedstone there is a firm belief that each child has the ability to excel in at least one sphere of college life and that it is the responsibility of the college to find and nurture that area of excellence. Bedstone is consistently rated as one of the leading schools in the UK by both
The Financial Times and The Sunday Times.

A well-qualified and highly motivated staff, a hard working student body, and a friendly family atmosphere make Bedstone College a happy, dynamic and successful school.

Life in the Nursery and Pre-preparatory Department

The nursery and pre-preparatory department was established over ten years ago and welcomes day scholars from the ages of three to seven years. They are both housed within the modern surroundings of Chacksfield House, slightly away from the main college buildings, yet enjoying all the facilities of the senior college campus. Unlike many nurseries, this is an integral part of Bedstone College and is not out-sourced to another provider.

The department has already enjoyed six glowing inspection reports - four from OFSTED and two from the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The pre-preparatory department is registered for full day-care of children aged under eight and is a registered provider within the Early Years Partnership in Shropshire.

On entering the nursery and pre- preparatory department visitors are always impressed by the happy, confident and articulate children who greet them. Our scholars are taught to explore their own ideas and are guided towards independent and challenging learning in an inspiring and safe environment.

The nursery curriculum is based heavily on Montessori methods and the multi-sensory approach. If the class needed a motto it would be ‘Teach me to do it for myself!’ There are large and small group activities with literacy and numeracy being key ingredients at this stage

The pre-preparatory scholars are offered a broad and varied curriculum with a two- year rolling programme of topics using the local area and community as a resource. A role-play area and themed games add an element of play to the daily lessons. Shared activities and group work reinforce social skills and an understanding of the needs of others.

Differentiation takes place in all lessons for both year groups. Small class numbers allow for extra individual support and the opportunity to customise and maximise the development of each child.

Specialist teachers provide classes in music, drama and physical education. There are opportunities to learn to play an instrument and our children can be prepared for examination in ballet.

Parents play an important part in the life of the department and they often visit to attend special events. It is not surprising that the department regularly has a waiting list, nor that the college is considering expanding its provision in this area.

Life in the Preparatory School

The preparator y school aims to instill a lifelong love of learning whilst providing scholars with the best possible foundation for their secondary schooling. We offer all the benefits of the college’s beautiful and extensive facilities within a safe, rural campus together with the specialist teaching of a first-class preparatory school. Care is taken to ensure a seamless continuity for both day scholars and boarders in their transition from the preparatory school to the senior college.

New entrants receive a friendly and effective induction to the school at whatever stage they join, encouraging them to have a strong sense of their own identity and of their progress. Small class sizes ensure that the children receive specific attention when needed and develop their confidence both academically and socially.

The broad and challenging academic curriculum is designed to blend seamlessly with that of the senior college. The work of our staff is complemented by specialist teachers of French, science, design technology, music and physical education. Some preparatory school staff also teach children in the first form of the senior college, thus ensuring continuity and making a smooth transition between the two sections of the school.

All children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities both within and beyond the classrooms, providing a further opportunity to discover and develop their individual talents in areas such as music (in which individual tuition is available for all orchestral instruments), singing, ballet and horse-riding. We also enter many
candidates for the Guildhall examinations in speech and drama.

All scholars take part in a comprehensive programme of sport with competitive fixtures in football, netball, cross-country running, swimming, rounders and athletics. Each child has the opportunity to represent the college at school, regional, and even national level. After all home matches there is an opportunity to socialise over afternoon tea in the Old Hall.

Beyond the classroom there is an extensive programme of educational visits to theatres, museums, galleries and exhibitions. The many visitors to the school include artists, writers, and representatives of national and local charities.

Each year a dramatic production involving all members of the preparatory school is staged in the college theatre. Our children gain enormous self-confidence through performing on stage with lights, costumes, make-up and the professional sound system. The head of the preparatory school is a member of the college’s senior management team.

Life in the Senior School

Academic life

Once in the senior college scholars are offered a broad pattern of academic work that goes beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum. Physics, chemistry and biology are studied as separate sciences, and there is the option to study two modern foreign languages, French and
German. Music, art, design technology, ICT, divinity and sport all form part of the core curriculum in forms 1 to 3 (National Curriculum Years 7-9), alongside history, geography, English and mathematics. All courses are designed to cater not only for those who have entered the senior college from our own preparatory school but also for the large number of scholars who join at other stages from other primary, preparatory or secondary schools.

The selection of subjects to be pursued at GCSE is made at the end of the third year (National Curriculum Year 9). The more able scholars are expected to follow a course leading to examination in ten GCSE subjects, whilst those who are less able will follow a course leading to examinations in six, seven, or eight subjects.

The curriculum is kept under constant review by the Director of Studies and the Faculty Committee, providing flexibility and the possibility for innovation that is necessary to both maintain the highest standards and to benefit each scholar to the full. A balance is maintained between the needs of the individual and the demands of society, universities, industry, business and the professions.

Academic progress is closely monitored and each scholar’s efforts and achievements are graded and discussed on a four-weekly basis by the staff. There is a firm belief within the college that ‘expectation is everything’ and the best is expected from every scholar. Wherever possible subjects are setted, allowing scholars of similar ability to
proceed at their optimal pace.

Careers

The college attaches great importance to preparing scholars for future careers and further education. All scholars are introduced to the Careers Department in the third year.

Included within the college fee is membership of the Independent Schools Careers Organisation (ISCO) for all fifth- form parents and scholars. Accordingly all fifth-form scholars take the ISCO Morrisby psychometric tests which provide a profile of individual strengths and weaknesses. Based upon that, together with our knowledge of the scholar and in-depth inter views with his or her tutor, the careers staff and the regional director of ISCO, possible career options are discussed prior to recommending an appropriate course of study.

Humanities and Languages

Language and humanities subjects are taught in Hopewell House, a purpose-built and well-equipped classroom block.

English is a part of the core curriculum and is taught to all scholars with the majority expected to take both English language and English literature at GCSE level. The department lays much stress on the importance of reading as well as creative writing and oral work. Theatre visits are considered a vital part of the learning experience and every year group has the opportunity to visit the theatre not less than once each year, with A level groups also experiencing Shakespeare in the best possible environment at Stratford-upon- Avon. English remains a popular subject at both AS and A level.

French is taught from the earliest preparatory school years and is seen as an exciting and popular subject. Careful provision is also made for those who join the school at 11 or 13 with little previous experience of French. Every opportunity is taken to enjoy both the language and the culture, including an annual trip to France. Not surprisingly many scholars choose to study French at A level and an increasing number have begun to combine it with business studies thus providing themselves with the opportunity to read international business at university. All scholars have the opportunity to study German before it becomes one of the subject options for GCSE, AS or A level.

Business studies is among the most popular subjects chosen at both GCSE and A level, and this thriving department offers scholars the chance to participate in the Young Enterprise Scheme in which Bedstone has achieved both county and regional success

History and geography are taught throughout the junior years and become part of the option groups for the fourth
and fifth years. Field trips form an important part of the geography GCSE, AS and A2 courses and the location of Bedstone makes it an ideal centre for such activities.

History is on the doorstep too, and the mediaeval castles of the Welsh Marches, the museums of the Ironbridge Gorge and the cathedrals of Hereford and Worcester are the focus of regular visits. Further afield there is a biennial trip to the twentieth- century battlefields of France for GCSE and A level candidates.

Learning Support

The college is very aware of the problems that learning difficulties such as dyslexia can cause. The highly regarded Learning Support unit, led by its full-time director with the aid of fully qualified staff is central to the help provided. In addition, all members of staff understand and implement many of the strategies that need to be employed in overcoming such difficulties. The unit also caters for the small number of scholars from abroad who receive intensive tuition in English as a Second Language (ESL).

Science, Technology and Mathematics

The college boasts three modern, well- equipped laboratories, a lecture theatre and ICT facilities that place it at the cutting edge of technological development.

Computer skills are taught throughout the lower college and all scholars become proficient in the use of industry-standard word-processor, spreadsheet, database, and DTP (desk top publishing) packages and, of course, keyboard skills. At the end of the third year (National Curriculum year 9) all scholars take the CLAIT (Computer
Literacy and Information Technology) examination which provides them with a well-recognised employment qualification.

There is a campus-wide wireless network (LAN) so that all scholars with wireless-enabled laptops will automatically be on the school network and, through that, have access to the internet from wherever they are. Internet use is actively monitored using sophisticated software. All scholars have their own e-mail account and can keep in regular contact with friends and family. For those without laptops, the ICT centre, the library ICT resource area and the many departmental computer facilities are available.

Classrooms have interactive whiteboards and many of the lesson notes, Powerpoint® presentations and video clips used in lessons are available for scholars to download from the college’s server. This is of enormous value for revision and of par ticular benefit to children with dyslexic difficulties.

The newly opened art, design and technology centre is among the best- equipped in the country with state of the ar t CAD (computer aided design) and CAM (computer aided manufacture) equipment, enabling scholars from eight to eighteen to produce professional products in a wide range of materials, limited only by their imagination. Design Technology is taught throughout the college and is an increasingly popular option choice at GCSE, AS and A2 level.

Physics, chemistry and biology are taught as three separate sciences to GCSE by subject specialists. The more able scientists will take three separate GCSE examinations whilst less able scientists will be entered for the science and additional science examinations. The majority of sixth-form scholars continue to study one or more science subjects to AS or A2 level and each year many leavers go on to read science- related courses at university.

Mathematics is a core curriculum subject taught to every scholar up to GCSE. The popularity of the subject is such that the majority of scholars choose mathematics as one of their A level options. It is not surprising that Bedstone regularly achieves outstanding results in the UK Mathematics Challenge.

Life in the Sixth Form.

The majority of fifth-formers at Bedstone continue into the sixth form where they are joined by many new entrants from other schools. These new scholars are assimilated quickly into the school and help to bring new ideas and perspectives to the sixth form.

The ambitions of Bedstone sixth-formers are met in many ways: with an average class size of eight scholars, personal attention is assured and sixth-formers study through a mixture of formal classes, practicals and
study periods. With the help of their personal tutor, scholars are taught how to plan the effective use of their time. Great care is given to managing the transition from the GCSE to the demands of advanced level work.

There are almost twenty subjects available at AS and A2 level and, with few exceptions, scholars may study what they wish and what their abilities allow. The minimum number of courses that may be
studied equate to two A levels plus General Studies. The maximum encouraged for the most able candidates, is the equivalent of five A levels.

The sixth form is seen as a bridge between school and university, both academically and socially. Most sixth-formers choose to board so that they are prepared for life away from home. Sixth-formers have their own smart dress code and enjoy the use of their own common room and
sixth-form club.

All members of the sixth form are expected to play a responsible role in the life of the college and play their part in ensuring the pastoral well-being of the younger members of the community.

Each academic year ends with the black-tie Sixth-Form Ball to which the sixth form, their parents, staff and governors are invited. It is the last opportunity to say farewell to the Upper Sixth.

Throughout the sixth-form years the careers staff provide guidance, arrange practice inter views and help with the selection of university and career options. The success of our scholars in gaining entry to their first-choice university reflects the wisdom of the advice given