The date of the School’s Foundation is unknown but it was reorganised by Edward VI in 1553 and was granted a Royal Charter 6 years later. It was refounded in 1693 by Sir Thomas Cookes, at the same time as Worcester College, Oxford (formerly Gloucester Hall). The link between School and College has been maintained ever since.
Location. This co-educational boarding and day school is situated some 13 miles north of the Cathedral City of Worcester and an equal distance south of Birmingham. Birmingham International Airport and Station are a 20-minute drive by motorway. The M5, M6, M42 and M40 motorways provide easy access to the School.
The School stands in 100 acres of grounds on the south side and within walking distance of the market town of Bromsgrove.
Facilities. The School has outstanding academic facilities including an award-winning Art, Design and Technology building, a twenty-classroom Humanities building and eighteen recently built or refurbished Science laboratories. Latest developments include a new Performing Arts complex, which was formally opened in November 2017. The complex includes two 300-seat venues: historic Routh Hall on the Senior campus and Cobham Theatre based within the Preparatory campus.
Sports facilities are extensive with a major sports complex which houses an arena large enough for eight badminton courts, and bleacher seating for 500. Dance studios, gym, teaching rooms and hospitality suite/sports viewing room enhances the existing all-weather, floodlit sports facilities which sit comfortably alongside the extensive grass pitches.
Boarding. The boarding environment at Bromsgrove is happy, stable, disciplined and nurturing. Bromsgrove Senior School’s boarding community is made up of boarders from over 55 nationalities accommodated between five Houses, one of which is Housman Hall a Sixth Form co-ed house, formerly home of OB and poet A E Housman, which has been sympathetically refurbished and is situated just off the School campus. All accommodation is finished to a very high standard. The stability and continuity that enable boarders to thrive are provided by resident houseparents (all academic members of staff) and their families, assistant houseparents, housemothers, and a team of house-based tutors. All meals are taken centrally in the School, with the exception of the evening meal at Housman Hall.
Day pupils also benefit from the House system and all belong to one of seven day-houses: there are four boys houses and three houses for girls including the newly opened Ottilie Hild House. Houseparents and tutors work in each House and give pupils the pastoral and academic support they need. Pupils are very loyal to their House and competitions between day and boarding Houses, including sport, music, drama and debating, are keenly contested.
Numbers. There are 1,060 pupils in the Senior School, of whom over 490 are boarders. The Preparatory, Pre-Preparatory and Pre-School have a further 720 pupils aged 7 to 13, including 100 boarders aged 7+. (See also Preparatory & Pre-Preparatory School entry in IAPS section.)
Curriculum. In the Preparatory School, a broadly based curriculum is followed. In addition to the usual academic subjects, time is given to Art, Music, ICT, Drama, Design Technology and to a full programme of Physical Education. Languages on offer include French, German, Spanish and Latin.
As pupils move up the School, GCSE choices are made for the start of Year 9. Eleven subjects is the norm at GCSE, with a broad core including the three separate sciences, a modern language and three further optional subjects. The minimum qualification for automatic entry into the Sixth Form is a six-point average at GCSE with areas of strength also evident. Pupils may study the IB Diploma or take the A Level route whilst BTECs are also available in Sports Science and Business Studies. Flexibility in timetabling aims to ensure that all pupils’ subject choices are catered for whatever the combination. Many A Level subjects are available including, Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama and Theatre Studies, Design, Economics, Engineering, English, French, Geography, German, Latin, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Religious Studies, Spanish and Textiles. Under the IB umbrella, Italian, Environmental Systems, Mandarin, Global Politics and Psychology are also on offer. With two-thirds of students achieving A*/A at both GCSE and A Level and an IB average of 38.0 points in 2023, virtually all pupils proceed to degree courses, many at Russell Group universities. The most popular university destinations in recent years have been University and King’s Colleges in London followed by Exeter, Bath and Bristol with an increasing number continuing to a QS World Top 100 university.
Performing Arts. The performing arts are well supported at Bromsgrove School and rightly thrive. The School boasts a fantastic Performing Arts Centre which includes a state-of-the-art concert hall, full-sized theatre, a large drama studio and a suite of music classrooms and practice areas. Historic Routh Hall has been transformed into a concert hall, tuned exclusively for musical performances and making use of its exceptional acoustic qualities. Adjacent, a new Music School houses a suite of specialist classrooms, recording studios and 12 instrumental practice rooms, as well as a reception foyer and box office. The Performing Arts Avenue leads to an equivalent home for Drama. Cobham Theatre has flexible seating (with a capacity of 300), the hydraulic thrust stage allows for a wide range of dramatic and dance performances. The facility also boasts a 90-seat performance studio, with large scenic workshops, props stores and modern dressing rooms available for both lessons and productions.
Music and Drama flourish both within and outside the formal curriculum. House Music Competitions, Jazz Gigs and a variety of informal concerts happen throughout the year. There is plenty of scope for involvement in the School Orchestra and String, Wind and Brass Ensembles, Chamber Groups, Jazz Bands, a 50-strong Chapel Choir and large Choral Society. The timetable is sufficiently flexible to allow special arrangements to be made for outstanding musicians. Each year, the Chamber Choir takes the opportunity to sing in some spectacular cathedrals and chapels, including singing Evensong at Worcester College Oxford, Hereford Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral. Major musical productions such as Grease and Hairspray are also highlights of the school year with extensive casts and backstage crew made up of pupils. School musicians take part in festivals, which have included the Upton Jazz Festival and Cheltenham Festival of Arts and there is a strong Choral Society which performs in venues including Birmingham Town Hall.
Discrete Drama forms part of the curriculum for every student from Year 5 to Year 8. The option is available for students to take the subject to GCSE level and at A Level the school offers Theatre Studies. Senior, Fourth Form and Prep School productions, alongside a number of House Drama Competitions at all levels, form the main spine of co-curricular Drama at Bromsgrove which has a reputation for very high production standards. A high level of training for aspiring theatre technicians and designers ensures a vibrant dramatic life within the School for both performers and those wishing to work backstage.
Drama Scholarships are awarded to students joining at 13+ and 16+ whilst Music Scholarships are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Careers. The School employs a full-time Careers Advisor and a comprehensive careers counselling programme, called Bromsgrove Futures is available to pupils of all ages. Many former pupils return to talk to and advise current pupils about university courses and careers possibilities.
Co-curricular activities. A wide range of sports and activities is offered, giving opportunities to participate at a competitive level in Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Climbing, Cricket, Cross Country, Debating, Fencing, Golf, Hockey, Horse Riding, Netball, Rugby, Rounders, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball and Young Enterprise.
The Saturday timetable, in conjunction with the weekday programme, allows the activities programme more flexibility to offer both recreational and academic choices. Pupils may select from a diverse range of recreational activities including Academic extension and support, Revision for GCSE, A Levels, IB, SATs and Oxbridge, Biology, Chemistry and Physics Olympiad, Aerobics, Art, Architectural Modelling, Astronomy, Badminton, Beekeeping, Board Game Design, Body Balance, Chess, Coding, Cookery, Corps of Drums, CREST Science, Design Technology, Drama, EPP (Economics, Politics and Philosophy), Engineering, Forest Schools, Flourishing Fiver, Golf driving range, Handicrafts, History Society, Horse Riding, ICT, Investment Club, Karate, Literary Society, MedVet Society, Military skills, Music, Outdoor pursuits (including climbing, high ropes, kayaking, orienteering, raft building, sailing), Mahjong, Park Run, Photography, Plaster Modelling, School Magazine, School Gardens, Trampolining, Ultimate Frisbee, Upcycling, Website design and Weight training. There are opportunities to gain qualifications in Life saving, First Aid, LAMDA, Sports/Dance Leader Awards and Martial Arts. In addition to the activities programme, Year 9 pupils participate in Bromsgrove Badge, comprising a selection of activities that help to prepare them for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and culminating in a four-day camp at the end of the year. There is a thriving Combined Cadet Force (Army and RAF), and many pupils are involved in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. The School’s Bromsgrove Service programme caters for large numbers of pupils and provides a wide range of activities; examples include working in local schools and charity shops, visiting residential homes, acting as Learning Mentors and Student Listeners, helping in animal sanctuaries, supporting conservation projects and fundraising for charities.
Admission. Entrance at 13 is by Bromsgrove School Entrance Examinations. Boys and Girls may be admitted to the Preparatory School at any age from 7 to 12 inclusive. 11+ and 13+ Entrance Tests take place in November and mid-January for entry into other years. Places are available in the Sixth Form for boys and girls who have had their GCSE education elsewhere.
Scholarships and Bursaries. Awards are made on the results of scholarship examinations held at the School in November. A significant number of scholarships, means-tested bursaries and Foundation bursaries for pupils of academic ability are awarded at 11+, 13+ and 16+. A number of Music scholarships and exhibitions are awarded each year at ages 11, 13 and 16, offering free tuition on up to two instruments. Scholarships for pupils talented in Arts/Textiles, Sport or Drama are awarded at 13+ and 16+. Means-tested bursaries may be used to supplement any scholarship. Full details are available from the Admissions Department.
Fees per term (2023–2024). Senior School (age 13+): £15,040 full boarding, £9,965 weekly boarding, £6,720 day inc. lunch. Preparatory School (age 7–13): £9,770–£12,055 full boarding, £7,125–£8,630 weekly boarding, £4,690–£6,080 day inc. lunch. Pre-Preparatory (age 4–7): £3,250–£3,580 day. Nursery (age 2–4): £68.20 per full day session.
Charitable status. Bromsgrove School is a Registered Charity, number 1098740. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Patron: A Denham-Cookes
President: S Towe
A Vice-President: V S Anthony
A Vice-President: N J Birch
A Vice-President: R D Brookes
A Vice-President: J A Hall
A Vice-President: T M Horton
A Vice-President: R Lane
Governing Body:
M Luckman (Chair)
Lt Col M Ballard
C Cameron
J P Campion
A Cleary
Dr D Cunningham
Dr C Lidbury
J Loynton
D Morton
J W Roden
I Stringer
C Thompson
D Walters
D Waltier
A Willcox
Company Secretary: J Sommerville
Headmaster: M Punt, BA, MA Oxon, MSc, PGCE
Bursar: Mrs L Brookes, ACMA
Assistant Head: Miss R M Scannell, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Academic): P S Ruben, BSc, MPhil, MBA
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular): P S T Mullan, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Pastoral): A McClure, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Teaching): Mrs J Holden, MA Oxon, PGCE
Director of Wellbeing: Miss Z Leech, BA
Senior Master: S Matthews, BA, PGCE
School Medical Officer: Dr D Law, MA, MBChB Oxon, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP
Staff:
* Head of Department
† Houseparent
S J Kingston, BEd
Mrs S Shinn, BSc, PGCE (Timetabler)
Ms S J Cronin, BA, DMS, PGCE
Mrs F K Bateman, BSc, PGCE
Mrs S E Ascough, BSc, PGCE (Director of Operations)
D G Wilkins, BA, SCITT
M A C Beet, MA Cantab, PGCE (*German)
Miss F E Diver, BA, PGCE
N C J Riley, BSc, PGCE (*Mathematics)
Mrs E L E Buckingham, BA (*Girls PE & Games)
Miss S A Franks, BSc, PGCE
Miss M M Smith, BA, PGCE (*Spanish)
Mrs T L Helmore, BA, PGCE
O A Matthews, BEng, PGCE (*Design and Technology)
Dr M Thompson, BSc, PhD, MInstP, PGCE (IB Coordinator)
Revd P Hedworth, BEd, BA (Chaplain)
Dr M K Ruben, BA, PhD, PGCE (*Gifted and Talented)
G N Delahunty, BA, PGCE (*Politics)
Ms E L Densem, BA, PGCE (*Sixth Form Enrichment)
H Bell, MA, PGCE
Miss J Zafar, BA, PGCE (*History)
S Broadbent, BA, QTS
D Tamplin, BSc, PGCE
Mrs K Hands, BA, PGCE (*Religious Studies)
Ms G Tyrrell, BA, PGCE (*French)
D Williams, BA, PGCE
A Carrington-Windo (Director of Rugby)
Miss L Davenport, BSc, PGCE
S Noble, BSc, PGCE
Miss A Baker, BSc, MMath, MEd
J Baldrey, BA, PGCE
Mrs L Newton, BEng, PGCE
Mrs E Gill, BA, PGCE
A Helmore, BA, MA, PGCE
J Holdsworth, BSC, PGCE
Mrs D Sutherland, BA, HDipMaths, QTS
Mrs J Holdsworth, BA, PGCE
J McKelvey, BA, PGCE (Director of Music)
Mrs K Hannah, BA, PGCE
T Clinton, BSc, PGCE
Mrs J Boonnak, BA, MA, PGCE (*International Education)
L Mullan, BSc, PGCE (*Boys PE & Games)
Miss L Hunter, BA, PGCE
M Giles, BSc, PGCE
Miss S Hankinson, BSc, PGCE
Miss R Green, BSc, PGCE (Director of GCSE)
S Higgins, BEd (*PE)
Miss N Langford, BA, GTTP
Miss F McCanlis, BMus, PGCE
H Pothecary, BSc, PGCE (*TOK)
Mrs G Wright, BSc, PGCE
Mrs V Adams, BA, MA, PGCE
D Atkinson, BSc, MSc, PGCE
Mrs A Eaton, MA, GTP
G Evans, BSc, PGCE
T Hinde, BA, MA
A Kelly, BSc, MDip Ed (Examinations Officer)
Ms A Linehan, BSC, MEd, PG Dip Ed
Mrs N Reid, BA, PGCE
Dr D Rimmer, PhD, MA (Master of Scholars)
Dr R Short, MChem, PhD, PGCE (i/c DofE Silver)
Mrs C Wadley, BA
Miss P Woolley, MChem, PGCE (i/c Bromsgrove Service)
Mrs J Bradford, BA (*Drama)
O Spencer-Burton, BA, PGCE
P Dinnen, MA (*English)
S Kettle, BSc, PGCE (*Science, *Physics)
Mrs J Talbot, MA, PGCE
T Norton, BA (Director of Performing Arts)
A Gooderham (Director of Hockey)
S Coleman, BSc, PGCE
Dr A Davies, PhD, PGCE
Miss E Hill, BSc, PGCE
A Summerfield, MSc, QTS, PGCE
G Tasker, BSc, PGCE
R Unterhalter, BA, PGCE (President of the Common Room)
B Vice, MChem (*Chemistry)
Mrs A Webb, BA, PGCE
Miss G Aust, BA, PGCE
Dr M Jewkes, BA, MA, PhD
I Jones, BSc, MSc, PGCE
Dr D West, BSc, PhD, MA, PGCE (*CAS)
Miss G Farrell, BA, MA, PGCE (*Life Skills)
Dr K Morris, BSc, PGCE, PhD (*Extended Essay)
G Patel MSc, BSc, PGCE
D Pover, BA, PGCE
G Young, BSc, PGCE
Mrs F Linfield, BA (*Economics)
Mrs J McCarthy (*Curriculum Support)
P Prouse, MSc, PGCE, DipNLP, FRAS, MIstP
J Snelling, BSc, PGCE, CGeog, FFCCT
Mrs J Tidmarsh, BA, PGCE
Dr E Jones, BA, PhD, PGCE
Mrs J Williams, BA, PGCE
Miss L Blakeley, BA, MA, PGCE (*Art)
W Colson, BSc, PGCE
Ms S Palitti, BA, PGCE
Ms R Williams, BA, PGCE
Miss F Bates, BSc
Miss R Elwood-Adams, BSc
T Milnes, MSc Director of Cricket
Mrs R Parveen, BA (*EAL)
A Phillips, BSc (*Biology)
Miss H Popescu, BSc
Mrs F Round, BSc, PGCE
Miss H Swift, BSc
Dr D Tchakhotine, BSc (Director of A Level)
A Arnold, BA, PGCE
L Bradbury, BA, PGCE
L Brown, BSc, PGCE
S El Hanibali, BA, PGCE
G Hatfield, BA
S Hopkins, BSc, PGCE
A Hutsby, BSc, PGCE
K Kinsella, BA, PGCE
A Osorio-Martinez, BA, PGCE
J Palmer, BSc, PGCE
W Pardoe, BSc, PGCE
H Pemberton, BA, PGCE
E Perez-Higueras Gomez-Escalonilla, BA
J Traynor, BA
A Wolverson, BA, PGCE
H Xu, BSc, PGCE
Houses and Houseparents:
Boarding:
Elmshurst (Boys): M Giles
Housman Hall (Sixth Form): G Tasker
Mary Windsor (Girls): Mrs C Matthews
Oakley (Girls): Mrs V Adams
Webber (Sixth Form): Mrs J Courtney
Wendron-Gordon (Boys): D Farnfield
Day:
Hazeldene (Girls): A Linehan
Lupton (Boys): G Evans
Lyttelton (Boys): J Holdsworth
Ottile HIld (Girls): Miss Ruth Powell
School (Boys): G Young
Thomas Cookes (Girls): Mrs K Hannah
Walters (Boys): H Bell
Music Staff:
J McKelvey, BA, PGCE (Director of Music)
Mrs M Corrie (*Music, Preparatory School)
Ms F McCanlis, BMus, PGCE
T Martin, BA, Dip ABRSM (Head of Jazz)
Mrs J Russell, BA, PGCE
Miss H Bool, GBSM, ABSM, BTech Nat (Head of Percussion)
J Dunlop, BA, GBSM, ABSM (Head off Wind and Brass)
Ms F Swadling, BA, ABSM, GBSM (Head of Strings)
Mrs J Parsons, BMus Hons, PGDip, ALCM (Head of Keyboard)
S Cowperthwaite (Organist)
Mrs M Cullen, BA (Music Administrator)
Mrs C Hinde, MA (Performing Arts Administrator)
Visiting Music Staff:
Mrs J Allin (Clarinet)
N Barry, GGSM, LTCL (Piano)
M Broadhead LTCL, DipTCL (Cello)
Mrs R Brown, BMus (Singing)
P Campbell-Kelly, GMus, RNCM, PG Dip RNCM, PPRNCM (Violin)
Ms J Chaddock (Double Bass)
Mrs S Chatt, GBSM (Percussion)
Miss P Cheng (Double Bass)
Miss S Clarke, GBSM (Violin)
Mrs K Fawcett, BA, MA, PG Dip (Viola, Violin)
A Gittens, BTec, HND (Electric Guitar)
Mrs J A Hattersley, CT ABRSM, LRSM (Brass)
Mrs J Hiles, GBSM, ABSM (Flute, Piano)
Mrs J Porter, BMus (Piano)
R Tattam (Bassoon)
W Theunissen (Singing)
J Topp, Bmus, LGSMD (French Horn)
Preparatory & Pre-Preparatory School
Headmaster: M Marie, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Academic): Mrs T Hill, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head (Operations): Mrs K Ison, BEd
Head of Junior Department: Mrs R Ivison, BA, PGCE (*Year 3)
Dr V Barron, BA, MA, PGCE, PhD (*Wellbeing)
Mrs A Davis, BA, PGCE, CCET (*Curriculum Support)
Mrs C S Abraham, BA, MA, QTS
J Amphlett, BA, PGCE (*Drama)
Miss J Balkham, BA, PGCE (*Year 7)
R Barnett, BSc, GTP
M Barratt, BA, MA, QTS
Mrs G Billig, BSc, PGCE
Mrs R Boardman, BA, PGCE (*Spanish/German)
Mrs L Campbell, BEd
G Clark, BEd
Mrs M Corrie, GTCL, LTCL (*Music)
Mrs S Dakin, BA (*Forest School)
Mrs J Danks, BMus, PGCE (*Girls PE)
Mrs J Drury, BSc, PCGE
Mrs T Faulkner-Petrova, BA, BSc, MSc, PGCE (*EAL)
Mrs K Finnegan, BA, PCGE (*French)
Mrs C Goodall, BA, PGCE
Mrs Y Griffiths, BSc, PGCE
Mrs S Grove, BEd
J P Grumball, BSc, PGCE (*IT)
Miss K Guest, BSc
Mrs C Hathaway, BA, PGCE
Mrs D Hepburn, BSc, MA, PGCE
Miss E Hubbard, BA, PGCE
Mrs S James, BSc, MA, QTS (*Geography)
Mrs S Jeffrey, BSc, PGCE (*Science)
G Jones, BA, PGCE
Mrs G Judson, BSc, PGCE (President of the Common Room)
C D Kippax, BA, PGCE (*MFL)
Mrs R Laurenson, BA, PGCE (*Year 4)
Mrs Z Lawton, BA, QTS
Mrs C Leather, BSc, PGCE (*PSHEE)
J Liqurish, BA, PGCE
Revd Dr S J P Loone, Mphi, MEd, BA, BTheol, PhD. PGCE, CTC, NPQH
Miss M Mimberg, BA, PGCE
Miss A Read, BTec, BA, PGCE (*Art)
Miss C Roskell, BEng, PGCE
Mrs J Russell, BA, PGCE
R Shone, BA, PGCE
Mrs L Singh, BDes, PGCE (*RE)
Mrs V Sitlu, BA, PGCE (*Year 5)
G Snelling, MA, PGCE
P Sutherland, HD Ed (*Design & Technology)
J Thornely, BSc, PGCE
Mr M Turner, BSc, PGCE (*Mathematics)
Miss S Watson, BA, PGCE (*English)
Mrs S Webley, BSc, PGCE, MEd (*Year 8)
M Wilkinson, BSc, PGCE
Mrs H Worton, BA, PGCE (*Year 6)
Boarding House and Houseparents:
Page: Mr & Mrs R Lawton
Conway Page: Mr S Jenkins & Ms T Salt
Pre-Preparatory Staff:
Deputy Head (Pastoral): B Etty-Leal, BSc, PGCE
Deputy Head (Academic): Mrs K Western, BEd
Mrs J Townsend, BA, PGCE (*Early Years)
Mrs C Cattell, BA, PGCE (*Key Stage 1)
Mrs J Kingston, BMus, PGCE
Miss E Lewis, BA Ed
Mrs J Lockhart, BEd
Mrs N Marie, BA, PGCE
Miss E Marrs, BA, PGCE
Mrs M Martin, BA, GTP
Mrs N St John, BA, PGCE