Brentwood School was founded in 1557 and received its charter as the Grammar School of Antony Browne, Serjeant at Law, on 5 July 1558. The Founder became Chief Justice of Common Pleas shortly before the death of Queen Mary, and was knighted a few months before his death in 1567. The Foundation Stone over the door of Old Big School was laid on 10 April 1568 by Edmund Huddleston and his wife Dorothy, who was the stepdaughter of the Founder. The Elizabethan silver seal of the School Corporation is still in the possession of the Governors. In 1622, Statutes were drawn up for the School by Sir Antony Browne, kinsman of the Founder George Monteigne, Bishop of London, and John Donne, Dean of St Paul’s.
Brentwood School is a co-educational school with a total of 1,853 pupils including 535 in the Preparatory School. The Preparatory School is fully co-educational as is the Sixth Form (of 373 pupils), but boys and girls are taught separately between the ages of 11 and 16. Boarding (full and flexi) is available for boys and girls from age 11.
Buildings and grounds. The School occupies a 75-acre site on high ground at the northern end of the town, some 20 miles north-east of London. Old Big School, the original School room, is still in regular use, thus maintaining a direct link with the School’s founder. Over recent years, a major building programme has seen extensions to the Philosophy and Mathematics buildings, Dining Halls, Library and Reception. In November 2011, HRH Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex formally opened the School’s Sixth Form Centre and Wessex Auditorium. The Sixth Form Centre, the intellectual powerhouse of the School, provides an exemplary educational environment for the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme. Facilities include common rooms and private study areas, 16 additional classrooms, a dedicated computer suite and multipurpose 400-seat auditorium. The award-winning Bean Academic Centre was opened to pupils at the end of March 2016. With large classroom spaces, a lecture theatre and café, it provides a state-of-the-art environment within which pupils can develop independent learning. A multi-million pound development, revealing an Aladdin’s cave of the latest educational facilities and resources, was completed at the Preparatory School and formally opened in November 2021. Facilities include a new reception area; a new Foundation Year facility with outside play space; a Futures Room and eight specialist classrooms; a new Hall and performance space, which can seat an audience of over 500 and provides space for assembly, PE and clubs; and a new dining facility and kitchen. In Michaelmas Term, the doors opened on a state-of-the-art sector-leading boarding house. The fully accessible house, which has been years in the planning, is subdivided into three main sections: a girls’ and boys’ boarding house and a central shared facility, including new dining and communal areas and an outdoor courtyard and dedicated landscaped social space. Single bedrooms on the upper floor offer a home-from-home for boarding students featuring cutting-edge university-style accommodation with light and airy private ensuite rooms.
Organisation. The School is one community within which, for good educational reasons, girls and boys are taught separately from age 11 to 16. They are encouraged to participate together in all co-curricular activities. The Senior School is divided into Year Groups. Each Year Group has a Head of Year and Deputy who oversees it. The vast majority of pupils join the School at 11 after successfully completing the Entrance Examination. A broad curriculum is followed through the first three years and this continues through careful choice of GCSE and IGCSE subjects to the end of Year 11. Entry to the Sixth Form is conditional upon success in the GCSE examinations. There is a wide choice of subjects, whether students want to follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), BTEC Extended Diploma (Sport and Business) or A levels. Most go on to University gaining places at Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities each year.
Religion. Although Brentwood is a Christian School, pupils and staff from all faiths, or none, are welcome. There is a resident Chaplain and pupils attend the Chapel weekly. Regular Communion Services are held.
Boarding. The boarders reside in the newly opened state-of-the-art Boarding House, which can house up to 122 children in single, en-suite bedrooms. The common areas are spacious and both the girls’ and boys’ sides are generously staffed. Full, weekly and flexi boarding options are available. A qualified Matron runs an efficient Sanatorium.
Pastoral care. Brentwood School has an outstanding level of pastoral care which is provided by Heads of Year, Tutors, our Pastoral Team, Head of Transition, Director and Assistant Director of Wellbeing, ably supported by the Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mrs Jenkin, and by all colleagues. Together they support the wellbeing of all pupils, enabling each pupil to thrive in a kind, caring and inclusive community. Their encouragement to their pupils to participate in a wide range of activities successfully engenders greater self-confidence and self-awareness. In addition to Mrs Jenkin, Heads of Year and Tutors, there are three pastoral managers in the Senior School and a Director of Pastoral Care, Miss Bishop.
Performing Arts. We are proud to be a Steinway School, enabling our pupils to learn on the very best-made pianos in the world, as well as some rare instruments otherwise unavailable to them. Brentwood is also a partnership school with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of the finest musical institutions in the world. Music plays an important part in the life of the School, as do Drama and Dance. There are four orchestras and several ensembles and jazz groups. The Big Band is internationally acclaimed. There are at least three dramatic productions each year, together with regular Dance shows. In September 2024, we launched a Specialist Music Programme, providing rigorous training and assessment for aspiring musicians within the school curriculum. In May 2025 we held the inaugural Brentwood International Music Competition which received over 40 applicants from across the globe. Since the competition, three of it's entrants have joined the School on full boarding bursaries, awarded due to their exceptional musical talent and strong academic prowess.
Careers. There is an excellent University Entrance and Careers Department where students receive advice and can obtain information about courses and/or careers. Aptitude Tests, Work Experience, visits to colleges, universities and places of work, and visiting speakers are all part of the provision. A careers convention is held each year.
CCF, VSA & DofE. All pupils either join the Combined Cadet Force or, through the Voluntary Service Activity, engage in a wide-ranging series of activities, which bring them into contact with the Community. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme runs alongside these activities.
School societies. There are many flourishing societies covering a wide range of interests, catering for all ages. The ACES programme in the Prep School encompasses the areas of Arts, Community, Enrichment and Sports, and the Sir Antony Browne Society (SABS) is a society for Sixth Form students, which provides them with an opportunity for intellectual discussion and cultural interest.
Sports facilities. Brentwood School was one of the official training venues for the London 2012 Games. The playing fields are part of the School complex and provide ample space for football, cricket, hockey, rugby and tennis. There is a world-class all-weather athletics track. The Brentwood School Sports Centre includes an indoor football/hockey pitch, six badminton courts, indoor cricket nets, basketball courts and a fencing salle, as well as squash courts and a fitness suite. There is an Olympic-sized heated indoor swimming pool and an all-weather pitch. Provision is made for golf, horse riding, skiing and table tennis. The two Astroturfs and netball courts are floodlit for use in winter.
Entry. Entrance Examinations for both boys and girls aged 11 are held at the School in December each year. Entries are also accepted at 13 plus, following the ISEB Common Pre-Tests, vacancies permitting. Transfers at other ages are also possible. Sixth Form entry is through GCSE success, a consultation interview and a Headteacher's confidential reference.
Scholarships and bursaries. Brentwood offers a range of means-tested Bursaries which allow talented young people the opportunity of an outstanding Brentwood education, whose circumstances mean it would not be possible on financial grounds. Bursaries are available up to and including 100% of tuition fees, with additional support for extras available too. In addition to Academic scholarships, Scholarships recognise academic potential as well as specialist talents in the areas of Art, Chess, Dance, Drama, Music and Sport.
Fees Michaelmas term (2025-2026). Day: £9,704; Boarding: £18,786.
Charitable status. Brentwood School (part of Sir Antony Browne’s School Trust, Brentwood) is a Registered Charity, number 1153605. It is a Charitable Trust for the purpose of educating children.
Governors & Staff:
Governors:
Lord Black of Brentwood, MA, Hon FCIPR, FRSA [OB] (Chairman)
Mr S Norris, BSc Hons [OB] (Vice Chairman)
Mr P C Beresford, FNAEA, MARLA
Mrs J Bryan, LLB, CTA
The Venerable C Burke, LLB Hons, MA
Mr D J Elms, MA, FCA, FCSI
Professor B J W Evans, BSc Hons, PhD [OB]
Dr M Fenton, MA, MSc, MA, PhD, DipEdLaw, FRSA [OB]
Mr J Fergus, FCIMSPA
Mr J Griffith-Jones, MA, ACA, TD
Mr M Hampson, BEng Hons, FBCS
Mrs A Hardy QC, LLB Hons, LLM, AKC
Mrs J Jones, BA Hons, ARCM, NPQH
Mr P Machray, BA Hons, ACA, BFP
Mr R I McLintock, MSc, DMS, Dip Ed
Professor C A Tout, MA, PhD [OB]
Cllr J R Tumbridge, CC, MCIArb, LLB Hons
Mr J Wadge, BA Hons, PGCE, NPQH
[OB] Old Brentwood
Senior Leadership Team (Central):
Headmaster: Mr M Bond, BA
Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mrs N Jenkin, BA, MA
Deputy Head (Academic): Mr J Barfield Moore, MA
Deputy Head (Staffing, Co-Curricular & Operations): Mr G Justham, BSc
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors: Mr J Blunden, CBE, LVO, BSc Hons
Finance Director & Deputy Bursar: Mrs S Carswell, BA Hons, ACA
Prep Head: Mrs A Goodfellow, BA, MA, MA
Director of Development: Mr S Mason, BA Hons
Head of Brentwood School of Music: Mr F Cooper [OB], BA Hons
Heads of Department:
Art: Mrs A Roberts, BA
Biology: Mrs P Ebden, BSc, MSc
Business Studies: Mrs K Giles, BA (Head of Equestrian)
Chemistry: Dr N Law, MA, PhD
Classics: Mr S Hitchings, BA, MA
Computing & ICT: Mr G Kiff, BSc
Co-Curricular Activities: Mrs S Davis, BSc [OB]
Dance: Mrs M Carabache, BA, MA, AMTLA
Design & Technology: Miss L Hall, BA, MA
Drama: Mrs S Hermosa, BA
EAL: Mr B Clements, BA, MPhil, DipRSA
Economics: Mrs C Micallef, B Com, BAcc, MSc
English: Miss A Cooper, BA, MA
Food & Nutrition: Miss M O’Rourke, BA
Geography: Miss C Fox, BSc
History & Politics: Ms B Fuller, BA, MA
Learning Support: Miss R Coates, BA
Mathematics: Miss E Warnes, BSc, MEd
Modern Languages: Mrs M Morris, BA, MA Maîtrise (Head of Languages and German)
Music: Mr C O’Leary, BA
Outdoor Education: Mr L Schramm, MChem
Physics: Mr C Beadling, BSc
Psychology: Miss J Atkinson, BSc, MSc
Theology & Philosophy: Ms S Hume, BA
Sports & Games: Mr N Gamester, BSc (Director of Sport)
Head of Admissions: Mrs D Cook
Headmaster’s PA: Mrs J Beazley