Talk me through Bedales

[Colleger]

I know, I know...

Pros, cons, academic standards, SLD, music, manners etc.

I am going to look at St Eds but I do need a school where my son won't get a shock coming from the non-uniformed, relaxed, liberal (one girl has dyed green hair).i think Dulwich would be too conventional and the academic pace quite fast.

It's not that I want an alternative school per se, he's already got that, it's just it can't be such a dramatic shock. In saying that, if he can immerse himself in the musical and dramatic life of a school then he may fit into a school like Harrow.

But back to Bedales - what are the pupils manners like?

I thought about Bedales too(lovely library!); but my son does need a bit of a kick to get going sometimes and I don't think Bedales does any kicking. Bryanston is also on the arty/liberal end of the spectrum but with a little more structure.

Congratulations to your son on B list place. Admissions tutor told us last week that boys on the B list were virtually indistinguishable from bottom half of A list and have done really well. Such uncertainty though!

Harrow is pretty conventional; but no more so than Eton. Radley does sound a bit stiff/hearty for your son (mine refers to it as "RarRarRadley").

There seem to be a lot of us slightly panicked 2014 mothers around!

I think they gave him a B place out of kindness because his brother is there! :(

I have also been of the belief that DS needs kicking but since being at his new school he has been bored academically and has started to amuse himself by reading and writing the odd story - the first time ever - so maybe he would push himself. Who knows?!

As to 2014, I just wish all the pre-test results were at the same time, especially for those that get rejections. I also wish that once a place had been accepted, there was a rule with other schools that if a second place was accepted then they would have to relinquish the other place. I've known of parents getting a place at Eton the day before term starts and pulling their kid out of the other school. It's so unfair to be holding onto multiple places. When DS1 got offers to Westminster, Winchester and Eton we turned down two schools within one month of the offers.

I could not agree more! The story about a mother pulling a boy out of Harrow to send him to Eton is true and appalling.

All the girls I met at Bedales were delightful (was there to do HPV vaccination).

Organisation of that left a lot to be desired, medical care seemed shambolic.

The school is very relaxed, I think to succeed a child would need to be quite self-motivated.

I wouldnt go near Bedales but if you think that sort of school would be right but find Bedales a bit full on,what about Frensham Heights,a Bedales lite if you like.

Hello - I work at Bedales and would be absolutely delighted if you would visit us - it is only by visiting, talking to the students and staff that you will gain first-hand knowledge of what a fantastic school we have here. Do go on the website initially and then, if you like what you see, please do ring - it would be great to show you the school.

An invite from the Registrar,what more can you ask for....

Bedales is a great school from what I've seen. I have to admit I was a bit suspicious about it previously. I imagined it was full of the children of wealthy pop stars etc who wouldn't be accepted elsewhere etc.

I know a Mum well who has 3 children at the school. One left with incredible academic results, the other (not so academic) got around five A stars at GCSE & the rest were As. The third child is also set to do extremely well.

That's just the academic side. The children I met there were delightful and the pastoral care side again really impressed me. I wasn't so sure about the ethos & calling teachers by their first name (I think) & not wearing uniform etc. I've come to realise it can work and the children internalise & come to live by the motto 'head, hand and heart' in a way that makes their families proud. I understood my friend didn't want a 'sausage factory' for her children & I worried the school would mean they didn't live up to their academic potential. I was wrong. The teachers are generally very good and will certainly manage the work shy well!

Do you know how selective it is?

Great post Cortina, thank you!

Does it have to be a boarding school?

My friends DS whose at Bedales and really really bright but does not always do well in exams sat a entrance test in Feb/March for entry in Sept but still sat CE he had a place guaranteed from the entrance exam.

Have you thought about Brighton College? Academic school but with lots of additional extras, good pastoral care, weekly boarding. I know people with dc there who are very happy.

If I remember your other threads, your main worry was your son being self motivated? If that's still a worry then I would maybe look at a less conventional academic school rather than somewhere like Bedales. However, I would still look around with your DS. Facilities (especially music) should be a priority so have a good look at those, too.

I visited Bedales to do a science careers fair and was really impressed with how engaging the pupils were. Having done careers fairs in many schools it was the first place I have been where pupils really chatted with me about what my job was really like.
I had been sceptical having been at sixth form college with several popstars children who were retaking A levels after being at Bedales. However, it would seem that a lot has changed in the last 22 years. I would seriously consider it if I had that type of child , however , mine is a rule loving conformist so not her cup of tea.

Have you had a look at this thread?

I think we get so bogged down trying to decide what school to choose. It's easy to forget that many don't have the choices we have. You only have to look at many of the other postings on MN. A few years we had to choose between Win Coll and St Paul's having been offered places at both we spent nearly a year agonising over tryin to decide which one was right as my son said life would have been easier if we'd not been offered one. Many would love to be have been in a position of being offered one let alone deciding between them. colleger go with your gut instinct is there a school that he has a place at or is virtually guaranteed to get a

I think we get so bogged down trying to decide what school to choose. It's easy to forget that many don't have the choices we have. You only have to look at many of the other postings on MN. A few years we had to choose between Win Coll and St Paul's having been offered places at both we spent nearly a year agonising over trying to decide which one was right as my son said life would have been easier if we'd not been offered one. Many would love to be have been in a position of being offered one let alone deciding between them. St Paul's was so us modern 21st century school in London art galleries which he loves no meaningless ritual simple uniform a university style campus. We loved it.
colleger stop asking us about X or Y is there a school that he has a place at or is virtually guaranteed to get a place at that you like. Ring the school be honest explain you have doubts go and meet the head talk to him ask questions listen carefully to the answers don't be swayed by positive or negative stories about the school look listen and listen and trust your gut feeling. Thats what we did we had to meet the head at Win Coll once we'd been offered the place off we went not really sure why we were going. On that day the sun was shinning the atmosphere was peaceful and tranquil such a contrast to London hammersmith broadway and Lonsdale rd. We found a gentle man who said that Win Co was not for tramplers unlike other schools. No names mentioned he didn't know we had a place at St Paul's that we even had the letter accepting the place in the car. I looked at my son he is not a trampler he needs and likes peace and quiet for the first time I could really see beyond the websites porspectus open days good schools reviews tatler reviews and God knows what else. I saw the real Win Coll and suddenly I knew what to do why did we ever doubt it this is what we'd sent him to prep school for this is what we'd sacrifced everything for. We put the St Paul's acceptance letter in the bin and wrote another thanks but no thanks we have never regretted it.
Sometimes we just need to listen listen to those in charge of a school do you like what they are saying listen to him talk is his ethos like your dont ask too many questions let him talk and then hopefully the answer will stare you in the face and you will be put out of your agony. Then you to can write that letter to the others thanks but no thanks.

I am a nanny so I have seen a lot of private schools. Never agreed with them untill now no idea what the exam results are like but can honestly say everyone seems so happy and well adjusted. Everyone seems to get on and help each other, it just has a great atmosphere that you do not usually see .

When I see them out on a Wednesday afternoon always seem polite lovely kids.

How about leighton park school in Reading? Ds's prep sends quite a few of their square pegs there and they do very well. Don't know what the music is like though.

Just looked at Bedales website 43% got A's and A*'s 10 into Oxbridge not bad for a school that not very selective.

If these things matter more than Leighton Park.

happy You are a wise woman! We're all really lucky to be having this discussion.

Are you being sarcastic? I'm not sure I've posted anything very wise.