Bedstone College, founded in 1948, is a fully co-educational, independent, boarding and day school catering for children between the ages of 4 and 18 years. The school enjoys a beautiful 40-acre campus within an idyllic setting amongst the south Shropshire hills, close to the ancient and beautiful market town of Ludlow, and within a 30 minute drive of both Shrewsbury and Hereford.
The school comprises the Junior School (for children aged 4 to 11 years), Senior School (for ages 11 to 16 years) and Sixth Form (for ages 16 to 18 years), all integrated within one campus. Students from the age of 9 are welcome to board at Bedstone.
Bedstone offers a broad and balanced curriculum with a wide range of subjects available at GCSE, BTEC, AS and A Levels. Bedstone is proudly non-selective and offers the opportunity for students of all ability levels to achieve beyond their expectations, including securing places at the University of their choice.
The College aims to fulfil the potential of every child wherever that potential may lie and, with an average teacher to pupil ratio of 1:8, the smaller class sizes allow individual needs to be catered for. The well-qualified and highly-motivated staff believe that each child has a unique talent which it is their job to find and to nurture.
Bedstone is very aware of the problems that learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, can cause and the nationally recognised Learning Support Department, led by its full-time director with the aid of fully-qualified staff, is central to the help provided. Bedstone is one of a small number of schools in the UK to be accredited by CReSTeD as a Specialist Dyslexia Unit.
Character of the College. Many children who join Bedstone have done so because their parents feel that the individual strengths of their child will thrive best at Bedstone, that the challenges and opportunities for fulfilling their child’s unique talents do not exist at their current school, or that they wish for greater pastoral support and guidance for their child. Every parent knows that what they want is the education of the whole child – mind, body and spirit – and Bedstone provides that with its academic and extracurricular programme coupled with its outstanding pastoral care and boarding ethos. Bedstone prides itself on its supportive environment that students are proud to be a part of.
Accommodation. The main house, Bedstone Court, is a listed building of fine architectural merit and accommodates the Junior and Senior boys’ houses. In addition, it houses the administration offices, library, dining hall and sixth form area. The two girls’ boarding houses are on the opposite side of the campus with the senior girls accommodated within a purpose-built boarding house and the junior girls within the homely surroundings of a 19th century manor house. All boarding houses have resident staff and their families as houseparents. There is seating for 300 people in the Rees Hall Theatre with full AV facilities. There is a modern well-equipped Sports Hall, Design Technology and Art Centre, Music School, a Medical Centre staffed by RGNs, Fitness Suite, Performing Arts Studio, Learning Support and Counselling facility, and a wide range of additional facilities. The College has a campus-wide wireless LAN.
Religious Education. The formal classroom teaching of Religious Studies follows the National Curriculum which covers all the major world religions. More broadly, the college follows the teachings of the Church of England though other denominations, and children without any religious affiliation, are most warmly welcomed. Children, whose parents wish it, are also prepared for Confirmation by the Chaplain. The College enjoys a strong choral tradition and the Choir enjoys an excellent reputation.
Senior College Curriculum. From the First Form (Y7) to the Third Form (Y9) (when a number join from other Preparatory and Primary Schools) the subjects taught are: Religious Education, English Language and Literature, History, Geography, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Design Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education and ICT.
In the Fourth and Fifth Forms, in addition to the Core Curriculum of English, English Literature, Mathematics, one modern foreign language (French or Spanish), the three Sciences, Religious Studies, (and non-examination Physical Education), options are: History, Geography, Art, Business Studies, Music, French, Spanish, Design Technology and Sports Studies.
Throughout the College, in all classes, we help students achieve the very best that they are capable of and surpass their own expectations. With the aid of close tutorial support, industry mentor scheme, career pathways, a well-qualified staff, an excellent staff/pupil ratio, plus, of course, determined effort on the part of the students, good progress and examination success are assured. A Level courses are offered in English, History, Geography, French, Spanish, Business Studies, Art, Design Technology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology and Sports Studies. BTECs in Agriculture and Physical Education are also available as options.
The College has its own Learning Support Department. Excellent EAL provision is available for those who require it in addition to pre-sessional intensive English courses, a three-year A Level programme, IELTS, IGCSE and subject-specific language support.
Careers. There are specific careers staff and a well-resourced Careers Room. Bedstone makes full use of Inspiring Futures’ careers services and all members of the Fifth Form take the Inspiring Futures Psychometric tests and have the opportunity to undertake work experience. Our individual guidance means that, typically, 90% or more of Sixth Former leavers gain entrance to their university of first choice.
Games and Physical Education. There are 15 acres of playing fields, with an excellent Sports Hall, fitness suite, performing arts studio and netball & tennis courts plus an astroturf. The success of the boys and girls in physical activity at school, county and district level has been nothing short of remarkable. The school has held several ISA National Championships in various disciplines including Rugby 7s, Cross Country, Tennis and Hockey.
Rugby, Football, Athletics, Cross-Country and Cricket are the main sports for the boys and Hockey, Cricket, Netball, Rounders, Cross-Country and Athletics for the girls but they can join in many more. A rotation system ensures that all students, to a greater or lesser degree, have their share of such activities as Basketball, Badminton and Tennis. Nor are the individualists forgotten. Horse riding is popular, and there are facilities for Table Tennis and Mountain Biking, whilst the South Shropshire and Powys hills provide excellent opportunities for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities.
Clubs and Activities. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme flourishes and there is a wide range of out-of-class activity, including splendid dramatic and musical productions, debating, individual music tuition. There are twice weekly ‘activities’ sessions which offer some 40–50 different clubs over the course of any one year. Pupils are expected to know and observe all College rules and parents to cooperate in seeing that this is done. Prefects play an important part in the pastoral system of the College. There are also a number of trips and visits that take place throughout the year, including visits to some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Every two years there are major international sports tours for both the boys and the girls.
Bedstone Junior School is for boys and girls aged 4 to 11 years. The school is housed in its own separate accommodation and yet shares all the facilities of the senior school. Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Sport, Art and Music are all taught by senior school subject specialists within specialist areas. There is a specialist gifted and talented mathematics programme for the most able junior school students and talented sports players are developed through specialist coaching from the teachers in the senior college and entry into regional and national competitions.
The Junior School is an integral part of the College and children find the transition to the Senior College seamless. Any child accepted within the Junior School is automatically accepted into the Senior College.
Scholarships. For the academically talented, there is an opportunity to attend a Scholarship Assessment with awards available to successful students for entry into the School.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Junior School: Day: Reception to Year 2 (age 4–7) £1,872, Years 3–6 (age 7–11) £3,942; Boarding (Years 5–6, age 9–11) contact Admissions for details. Senior School: Day: Year 7 £4,680; Years 8–13 £5,440; Boarding £10,400; International Boarding (age 9–18) £13,000.
Governors & Staff:
Head: Mr T Mullins, BA, MBA
Deputy Headteacher: Mr C Braden, BEd, PG Dip
Houseparents:
Boys Boarding:
Pearson House: Mr and Mrs J Gray
Girls Boarding:
Bedstone House: Mr and Mrs P Singh
Wilson House: Mr and Mrs A Whitlam
Members of Common Room:
Ms C Beddow, BSc, PGCE (Sport/PE, Science)
Mr O Bennett, BA, PGCE (Religious Education)
Mr C Braden, BEd, QTS (Head of DT)
Mrs S Crabtree, BA, QTS (English, Drama, Junior School teacher)
Mrs J Crouch, BA, PGCE (DT, Maths, i/c Art)
Mr O Downing, BA, PGCE (Head of English, Exams Officer)
Ms C Evans, BMus, PGCE (Head of Music)
Mr H Fletcher, BA, PGCE (Music)
Dr D Foreman, PhD, PGCE (Psychology)
Mr J Gray, BA, PGCE (Mathematics)
Miss C Higgins, BA, PGCE (Junior School teacher)
Mr J Jones, BSc, PGCE (PE)
Mr L Kouniakis, BA, TESOL, QTS (Head of EAL)
Mr J Lowe MA, DipRSA Dyslexia, PGD SEN + Inclusion, PGCE, CPT3A, SpLD APC Patoss (Head of Learning Support)
Mr D P Marsh, BSc, PGCE (Head of Geography)
Mrs C Newnham, BSc, PGCE (Biology, Computer Studies)
Mr E Olive, BSc, PGCE (Head of Science, Physics)
Mrs C Pennels, BA, PGCE (i/c French, Spanish)
Mr J Percival, MA, PGCE (Head of Sixth Form, Head of History)
Mr S Pope, BSc, PGCE (Biology)
Mrs J Richards, MA Ed, PGCE (Junior School teacher)
Miss S Ross, BA, QTS (i/c PE & Games)
Mrs T Ruiz Blanco, MA, PGCE (Spanish)
Ms C Simmons, MA Oxon, PGCE (Head of Mathematics)
Mrs H Swift, BSc, PGCE (i/c Chemistry)
Mr A Whittall, BA, PGCE (Mathematics)
Mrs J Williams, BEd (Junior School teacher)
Mrs N Williams, BSc Econ, PGCE (Head of Business Studies)
Teaching Assistants:
Mrs L Meredith, NNEB
Mrs K Singh, BA
Ms A Bolis PhD
Learning Support:
Mr J Lowe, PGD Inclusion & SEN, PGCE
EAL:
Mr L Kouniakis, BA, TESOL, QTS
School Medical Team:
Mrs N Stead, RGN; Mrs J Jackson, RGN
Visiting Music Staff:
Mr B Welthy (Drums)
Mr D Luke (Guitar)
Mr C Lacey (Woodwind)
Mrs J Hargreaves (Violin)
Mrs J Parsons (Piano)
Mrs B Melling (Vocal)
Competitive Houses:
Hopton: Miss C Beddow
Stokesay: Miss S Ross
Wigmore: Mr J Lowe
Headmaster’s PA: Mrs C Preston
Accounts Administrator: Mr P Downes
Admissions & Marketing Officer: Mrs Julia Mukho
Marketing & Communications Officer: Mr Tim Cozze-Young
Admissions, Librarian: Mrs A Whittall
Receptionists: Mrs W McKee-Wills; Miss J Goode-Naprous; Mrs H Adams-Evans
Catering/Head Chef: Mrs M Hart
Domestic Supervisor: Mrs D Gough
Transport Manager: Mr P Singh