Bradfield College

[Riverhills]

Am looking for any current experiences of Bradfield College - DC has an offer for 2026 entry and we liked so many things about it on our visits but have subsequently found it difficult to get any real information about the different boarding houses, what life in the Yr 9 Boarding house is like (Faulkners), about the pastoral care and SEN support and the general academics given where they tend to sit in rankings (which is only one small part of what matters, we are very aware!).

It has always seemed to have a contented vibe and, relative to other schools, a somewhat less OTT carpark(!)/parent/kid population and we are intrigued by the option of IB which isn't on offer at the other school we've got in play.

DC is a happy, lively, initially shy but very social kid, fairly brainy but not always motivated to extra effort if 'good enough' will do, pretty ok but not A-team in sports and generally has a lot of potential but won't reach for it unless pushed.

Anybody out there with any info about Bradfield?? 🙏🏻

My experience of Bradfield is as a parent at another school with my son playing them. I think you can tell a lot about a school by the behaviour of their pupils on the sports pitch i.e. when emotions run high, character shows. Bradfield usually are a pretty ill mannered, boorish lot. They have a bad reputation on the circuit in terms of sportsmanship. One has the sense that there are a lot of entitled, spoilt boys there without the intellectual clout to back it up. I'd avoid.

@Merlin66 Thank you for taking the time to reply and for sharing your experience. A shame to hear a negative experience like that, tbh, but you're right that it all counts towards the whole.

I’m sorry to hear of the experience of Merlin66, though it has not been the experience I have had.

I am a parent of children currently at Bradfield and they are very happy there. The Faulkner’s year was a great introduction to the whole experience (if not extremely tiring), offering them a chance to get to know their whole year group in a dedicated boarding house before going up to their Senior houses in yr10 (Shell). The first year (Yr9)is busy … full of opportunities to try pretty much all clubs and sports on offer for instance shooting, sailing, fencing, rock climbing, photography, different dance genres, drama etc. if I recall correctly.

Pastoral care has been extremely good. The house masters and house mistresses that we have experienced are lovely, responsive and communicative. There are always some bumps in the road during teenage years and it is when these bumps occur that we have seen the kindness within the boarding house teams of tutors, matrons etc.

For us SEN at Bradfield has been a bit of a revelation as they have picked up on things that were not picked up during the prep school years. Strategies have been put in place and they have worked with one of my DC to make sure all is being done to reach their academic potential. As a result DC is doing extremely well.

One DC is doing A levels, so I cannot really comment on the IB and other DC haven’t decided yet! I think the academic standard is very much on the rise at Bradfield.

I hope that helps a bit…

@Lilyrose0926 Thank you so much - extremely helpful to know more about current parent experiences! I am very grateful...

I have heard very good things about Bradfield from my DC's current "future schools advisor." A warm, supportive school with strong sports (but boys football, not rugby, which is uncommon in private schools) and above-average pastoral care. Good-enough academics, as in, if you have a very bright child she will be challenged and find intellectual peers, but the school is a "broad church" intellectually.

My son is currently at Bradfield and has loved every minute. He started in Falkners, not having boarded before and never looked back. He's now in the sixth form. He still comes home every weekends after his sports match Sat afternoon.

He was keen to attend Bradfield (it was really his selection with our support) due to the focus on sports in particular cricket, but also football. He's a very keen sportsman and wanted a very competitive school where it's not just a few teams playing and he gets to improve and develop as a player.

They're strong on academics and entrance isn't a given, (eg: six GCSE';s at A level a minimum), with high demand for places, but the focus is on the whole person, which we really like.

IB is a good (and nice to have) option for those who are strong academically, but gives limited free time compared to A'levels, so the child needs to be very focused and self-motivated to succeed with IB.

Hope that's useful to someone!

@Suziequick super helpful, thank you!

We've had notice the current head is leaving after only ten years. I say 'only' reservedly, but given those tenures are often long is there any reason being given as to why he is moving on?

https://www.bradfieldparents4justice.org/

Might be worth a read

I am a current parent of a daughter at Bradfield College. She is very happy here, loves it, always happy to return after weekends and holidays, which is saying something! We were 50/50 between here and Wellington when choosing in 2022, but she liked the country, comfort feel here on the visits. She was a top performer in her prep school. However, we didn't want a hot house school, we like the rounded approach to school. Sports, arts, music, get involved ethos - she is busy with activities all day! We expect great academic results and see the teachers are pushing her. Her sister, will follow, who again gets top results in her prep school, and we happy to make the same choice for her. Hope this is of use.

Friends with children there have been very pleased, good pastoral care and excellent provision for dyslexia. As a parent on the circuit I don’t recognise @Merlin66 experience, but often these issues can be year specific.

There have been previous rumours within the community that Prince George may attend at 13 - which may make it less attractive.

So my child entered Faulkner’s this year, matured academically becoming ambitious in wanting to get the best grades and learnt to be very au fait with the nuances involved in the managing the tricky world of boarding school life. Can’t fault it so far and it’s the first term.School reports are succinct with actionable advice for the children no parental Involvement needed so far. Onus is on the child to dig deep and come out with a solution to improve themselves via deep discussions with tutor. Good comms between tutor and teachers and boarding staff. Works for a child who is striving to become an independent person but needs that experienced guiding hand. Good sports ethos and quite rightly so. Consistently top in cricket and football. Wouldn’t work for child who has a spoilt attitude and unable to dig deep or doesn’t want to take any of the opportunities available to them. So far so good. Honest opinion.

Apparently average time for a head now is 5 years so 10 years would not be considered unusual...

Another very happy parent here, of a girl this time so pm if you want more details. I can also provide details of the girls houses.

Regarding the Head, i understand he is leaving to challenge himself with one last role before retirement. I understand his youngest daughter will remain at the school after his departure, showing his continued commitment to the school.

!

Can I ask how did DC do on the ISEB?

@ThatKookyNavyGoose Hiya - not sure as we don't find out but DC was offered interviews at Charterhouse, Marlborough, Cranleigh, Radley, Teddies so I imagine he must've done ok? We weren't keen on and didn't apply to the likes of Harrow/Eton/Tonbridge/WinColl even tho his prep wanted us to.

Bradfield was an odd one as they offered an interview before ISEB and then were the last to send out offers from the above cohort. We've withdrawn in any case....

My son has just left Bradfield after 5 extremely happy years. I could not fault the school at all, it went above and beyond our expectations. Strong pastoral care and lovely children. He has made friends for life, achieved amazing GCSE and A level results and then won a place at the Royal Academy of Music to study jazz. All his teachers were excellent, as is the headmaster. Could not recommend it more!

I went, all my sisters went, one who left a few years ago. Alot of my family has been and loved it. Having taught at a feeder prep school I know the kind of kids that go are there, the kind that I would want mine to be friends with.
Everyone goes in to faulkners. This is sort of a soft landing for the year 9s means they dont have to eat in the main dinning hall and really gel as a year group. Then there is a number of houses and honestly it will all make sense once you are there. The houses have their distinct personalities but everyone will label them with bias depending on the house they were in. Familys all tend to go to the same houses.
Sen wise Im dyslexic and with adhd and did well there. Its a good all rounder. I would say if there is a high need or ur child is exeptional in one area the school can fall short.
I dont know many old bradfieldians who didnt enjoy their time there but I do know it isnt for everyone. Though they have more non boarding options it really is a boarding experience I had a few day friends who missed out on alot.
Happy to give more info if you want feel like I ranted enough on here hope it helped.

My son is currently at Bradfield (upper 6th) and we're considering for my daughter too. My son joined in year 9 and has loved the experience, was happy to board but would have probably preferred a more flexi board option, but logisitics don't really allow or that.

The depth of their sports teams is impressive, everyone gets in a team and has the opportunity to improve and move up, I like the competitive nature of the sports.

My son is dyslexic and has received great support in 6th form but before that it was poor, I'm aware they're putting a lot more focus on the sen provision hence considering it for my daughter too (as she's also dyslexic)

My son is in D house, he's very protective of his fellow house mates and they definitely develop a family environment which is lovely, I'm sure this is ecowed in the other houses too. D house is renoewned for being very sporty, but this changes year to year. We personally chose the house for the Housemaster but there's always the chance they won't stay, I wouldn't worry too much about which house they will have a great time whichever they go into.

They have a lot of inter house competitions, singing, dance, sport, debating etc.. always lots going on.

Saturday match teas are always nice, one of the best having toured most of the other schools on a Satruday afternoon.

Happy to answer any other questions if you have specific ones