Bede’s Senior School is an independent, co-educational school for pupils from the age of 13 to 18, offering both day and boarding places. Bede’s is located in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside, in the rural village of Upper Dicker in East Sussex, just over an hour from London.
At Bede’s, we believe that every child is unique, each possessing individual and sometimes hidden talents. Bede's fosters a community of curiosity which encourages every individual to find and develop their passions, seek new horizons, develop lasting friendships and achieve their potential.
The school champions choice at every turn. Each Bedian is nurtured to find joy in their pursuit of brilliance, to develop a genuine love of learning. This culture of compassion and conscientiousness enables Bede’s to nurture inquisitive minds and, in combination with the opportunities its campus provides, create unforgettable memories.
The Senior School owes its existence in part to the success and vitality of Bede’s Preparatory School in Eastbourne, one of the first boys’ Preparatory Schools to become fully co-educational and now one of the largest co-educational Preparatory Schools in the country. The Senior School has 811 students. Of these, 320 are boarders (full and weekly), 491 are day students, 289 are Sixth Formers, and there are pupils of 46 different nationalities.
The School takes great pride in the variety of its students and the outstanding range of opportunities available to them. Bede’s is a place where every pupil is truly treated as an individual and where they are enriched in a holistic way – enabling them to flourish in all aspects of life.
Facilities. Bede’s Senior School has five stunning boarding houses, the latest of which was built in 2022 and includes modern facilities, accommodates 70 beds as well as a stunning atrium, and additional breakout and learning spaces. Two of the boarding houses were recognised by the Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 2013 for their outstanding design and innovation. The multipurpose Hall is used for School Assemblies, examinations and many sports, including basketball, badminton, cricket, football, netball and tennis. The Performing Arts Centre, in a beautiful setting next to the lake, provides studio space for both drama and dance. A new multipurpose games area, water-based astro and cricket pavilion were all opened in 2015. Bede's has its very own zoo – which originally opened in 2011 – and currently hosts over 70 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish and invertebrates. In 2018, it was extended with six brand-new enclosures, housing African birds, Madagascan lemurs, and South American squirrel monkeys.
Academic. As no two pupils are the same, Bede’s is geared towards enabling everyone to identify their personal passions and then acquire expertise in their specific areas of interest. Bede’s offers a considered and diverse array of high-quality courses, both within the academic timetable and as part of a unique co-curricular programme.
In Year 10, all pupils study English and Maths GCSE along with a Science GCSE/BTEC, and most pupils study at least one language. Bede’s offers a carefully curated range of GCSE and BTEC options in a wide variety of subjects, including Business, Ceramics, Computer Science, Performing Arts and many more. The Fifth Form years are full of personal growth and development as pupils seek real areas of specialisation. They will emerge, at the end of two years’ study, ready to face the challenges of the Sixth Form and life beyond.
Bede’s offers an exciting curriculum of 39 subjects at A Level/BTEC, designed to educate, engage and enthuse. There is a supportive Sixth Form, Universities and Careers team to help pupils in their transition to higher education and the world beyond studying. The Sixth Form provides an exciting time for pupils, who can flourish in subjects that they have chosen. Sixth Form subjects include BTEC Dance, Economics, BTEC Animal Management and BTEC Production Arts.
Vocational provision: BTEC National Certificate in Sport, Music Performance, Animal Management and Business Management.
Bede’s also runs the Legat Dance Academy which is fully integrated with the academic programme.
Current class sizes average 16 up to GCSE level and 12 at A Level.
Co-curricular. Bede’s provides a holistic approach to education. It is our strong belief that learning takes place beyond the confines of the classroom. With this in mind, Bede’s places creativity, service and action at the heart of the pupil experience.
Bede’s pupils pick from a wide array of over 100 clubs and activities that include climbing, e-sports, downland walking, mixed martial arts, debating and music. Activities slots occur three times a week and allow pupils to explore a range of interests. Every pupil is able to pursue their talents via our specialist staff, unbeatable facilities and an innovative timetable.
The Emerging Talent Programme brings together pupils across different sports who have potential to become professional sports people and provides training in areas such as nutrition, sports psychology and media handling.
Pastoral care. Our exceptional pastoral care is evidenced as happy pupils who are engaged in their learning and actively involved in the wider life of the school, embracing every opportunity provided to them. Pupils who are kind to themselves and each other and are gracious about success and failure.
At the Senior School, the House system, which sees pupils from all year groups integrated into a family unit, ensures that each pupil feels familiar and grounded from day one. The Housemaster or Housemistress is supported by their team of House Tutors as well as House Prefects.
Tutors typically oversee 10–12 tutees and meet with them daily, either in their tutor groups or one to one. This regular contact time ensures that tutors get to know their tutees quickly, supporting them in all aspects of their life at Bede’s Senior School.
Religion. The School maintains the Village Church for the local community. Confirmation classes are available, if requested. All students attend weekly meetings in the church which are appropriate to boys and girls of all religions and are of outstanding variety. Bede’s does not impose any singular religious observance on its students but would rather either that their existing faith is further strengthened by their being full members of the congregation of local churches or that they grow to appreciate and value the importance of a strong spiritual life through the thoughtful and varied programme of ‘School Meetings’.
Admission. The usual points of entry are at Year 9 and Year 12, although a small number of places are usually available for entry into Year 10. Pupils entering Year 9 will be invited to attend a Bede's Experience Day in Year 7 when pupils will take part in group activities, take a cognitive test, be interviewed and participate in an activity of choice. School reports and references are also taken into account. Entry into the Sixth Form will be conditional on GCSE results, reports and references.
Scholarships and bursaries. Bede’s invests in excess of ten per cent of its annual income in means-tested fee remission and academic, art, dance, drama, music and sports scholarships. Prospective students who wish to join outside of the scholarship process are able to apply for means-tested fee remission.
Further details regarding scholarships and bursaries are available from the Admissions Office, email: admissions@bedes.org. Fees per term (2024-2025). Termly Tuition Fees (Day Fees): £9,310. In addition to the Tuition Fees (Day Fees), the following Termly supplements also apply: Day Boarding Supplement £260, Sixth Form Supplement £95, Legat £320, Weekly Boarding Supplement £4,410, Full Boarding Supplement £5,270.
Charitable status. St Bede’s School Trust Sussex is a Registered Charity, number 278950. It exists to provide quality education.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Mr Nicholas Mercer, BA Hons (Chair)
Mr John Burbidge, BA Hons, ACA
Mr Charles Haywood
Mrs Sarah Jelly
Mr Guatam Kakar
Mr Dermot Keegan
Dr Charlotte Lemaigre, MA Hons, DClinPsychol
Mrs Katherine Nash, BEd
Mrs Victoria Parker, BSc, MRICS
Mr Marios Pattihis
Mr Giles Perrin
Mr Kyle Siwek
Revd Jeremy Sykes, MA Hons
Headmaster: Mr P Goodyer, BSc, MBA, FRSA
Senior Management:
Deputy Head: Mr J Tuson, MA, GTP (English)
Deputy Head, Operations: Mr P Wise, BSc Hons, MA, PGCE
Assistant Head (Academic): Mr N Abrams, BSc Hons, PGCE
Assistant Head (Innovation & Development): Mr S Choithramani, BA Hons, Msc, PGCE
Assistant Head (Pupil Development, Values & Skills): Mrs A Dove, BA Hons
Director of Summer School: Mr R Edwards, BSc, Msc
Assistant Head (Day): Mr N Driver, BCom, PGCE
Assistant Head (Boarding): Mr P Juniper, BSc Hons, PGCE, CBiol, MRSB
Director of Communications: Mrs R Nairne, BA Hons
Director of Safeguarding, Clinical Services Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs A Hodge, RMA, CYP
Director of People: Emma Maynard, MCIPD
Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations: Mrs C Sutton, BA Hons, MSc, PGCE
Bursar: Dr J Northway, MB, FRCS
Housemasters and Housemistresses:
Bloomsbury: Mrs M-J Newbery, BA Hons
Camberlot: Mr S Brown, BSc Hons, PGCE
Crossways: Mrs L MacKenzie, BA, PGCE
Charleston: Mr T Mpandawana, BSc, DipEd
Deis: Mr L Pianet, BA Hons
Dicker: Mr C Abraham, BSc Hons, Dip Law, PGCE
Dorms: Mr R Hickman BA Hons, GTP
Dorter: Mrs R Weston-Betts, MA, PGCE
Knights: Mr A Waterhouse, HDE Secondary
Stud: Mr P Jones, BSc Hons, MSc, PGCE
Heads of Departments/Subjects:
Mr J Turner, BA Hons, PGCE (Creative Arts Faculty)
Mrs E Excell, BA Hons, GTP (Photography)
Mr N Potter, BSc Hons, PGCE (Design & Technology)
Mr R Williams, BA Hons, GTP, Dip Media Ed (Media)
Mr J Whittaker, BA Hons, PGCE (Humanities Faculty, History & Politics)
Mr B Jackson, BSc, PGCE (Business & Economics)
Mr R Martin-Jenkins, BA Hons (Geography)
Mr S McIntosh, BA Hons, BPhil, PGCE (Religion & Philosophy)
Ms G Wainwright, MAES, BA Hons, PGCE (Inquiry Learning)
Mr P Juniper, BSc Hons, PGCE, CBiol, MSB (Assistant Head (Boarding), Animal Management)
Miss A Rowsell, BA Hons, MA Ed (Physical Education)
Mrs P Nikiteas, BA Hons, TEFL, Cert in SEN, CICTL (PSHE)
Mr M Oliver, BA Hons, PGCE (Languages Faculty)
Miss P Saoulidou, BA, MSc (Classics)
Mr J Cook, RSA, TEFLA (EAL)
Ms V Ganivet (MFL)
Mrs K Lewis, BA, PGCE (Director of Performing Arts)
Mr W Rennison, BA Hons, PGCE (Academic Drama)
Miss S Pennington, AISTD (Legat Dance Academy)
Mr R Scamardella, MMus, MMP, FRSM, FRCO (Director of Music)
Ms J French, BSc, PGCE (STEM Faculty)
Mr C Betts, BSc Hons (Computing and Information Technology)
Mr S Manos, BSc Hons, PGCE (Maths)
Mrs Y Stainsby, MSc, PGCE (Psychology)
Ms L Finat-Duclos (Chemistry)
Mr O Froom, MPhys Hons, PGCE (Physics)
Mrs N Morton-Freeman, BSc Hons, PGCE (Biology)
Mr O Young, BSc Hons, PGCE, PG Cert Autism (Director of Learning Enhancement)
Mr D Byrne, BA Hons (Director of Sport)
Mr C Borsoi, BA Sports Coaching & Development (Director of Hockey)
Ms F Byrne, LTA Level 4 performance coach, MSc (Senior School Tennis)
Mr D Caryer, BA Hons, UEFA B Licence (Director of Football)
Ms J Kavanagh, Level 2 Netball Coach (Head of Netball)
Mr P Osborn, ASA Level 3 Swim Coaching (Performance Swimming)
Mr A Wells, ECB Level 4 & PGDip (Director of Cricket)
Mrs D Franks, BSc Hons (Head of Careers and Employability)
Year Heads:
Mr L Backler, BA Hons, PGCE, MA Ed (First Year)
Mr D Cheshire, BA Hons, MA, GTP (Deputy Head of Sixth Form)
Mr J Henham, BSc Hons, PGCE (Sixth Form (Academic Progress))
Dr E Onofeghara, LLB, LLM, PGCE (Assistant Director of Studies (GCSE))
Mr J Sealey, MA, BA Hons, PGCE (Sixth Form (Engagement))
Mrs M Waterhouse, H Dip, FDE (Director of Studies (GCSE))