We have a number of children at Bedales, having moved our entire lives to the area purely to be close to it over 10 years ago. I have been active on Parent Committees in at least one, more often two, of the three Schools, ever since.
Our youngest began in the Nursery and our eldest is currently in her final year now, so we have experience of every year in the system, some years many times over!
Bedales itself? Like any other school with teenagers of course there are occasional problems but it is generally and genuinely a happy cosy accepting place with a very strong bond between children across all of the years which, I would suggest, is unusual for a secondary school.
This bond is actively encouraged and creates a culture where they all tend to look out for, rather than victimise, each other and it comes from a wonderful thread of "awareness" of others fostered across all three schools.
There is no formal hierarchy (no Monitors, Prefects etc) and children of all ages mix well and confidently with each other as a result.
Dunhurst, the middle school, actually trains a handful of its older children each year as "Peer Listeners". Their sole job being to make sure all of the others (across the years) are happy and settled, they are there to counsel them if they have problems!
Bedales has just started a Mentoring program with some Final Year students mentoring the first year students, sitting in on their Tutor groups etc. Compare that to the power of the Prefects and privileged "senior" positions of authority in most other schools - I remember them all too well!
The informality whereby everyone from the Headmaster to the youngest child in Nursery is known only by their first names, often just their nickname, coupled with the lack of any hierarchy, means respect for each other isn't imposed - it is part of the fabric of the School.
On the wealth front, I wouldn't say we were desperately wealthy; yes there are some very wealthy families at Bedales, as in most Public Schools, but there are probably more who are making enormous sacrifices to enable their children to be there!
To sum up: Nowhere is perfect, but our children have never had bullying issues. We know a fair portion of the other children at the School(s) and I can say there is no big issue on that front. Of course, I'm not going to tell you it never happens, no one could at any school, but a "problem" - absolutely not.
Moving our lot to Bedales was the best thing we ever did.
If you're still concerned, pop up and visit. When you wander around - the one thing you can guarantee about Bedalians is that they'll freely talk to anyone about anything, often animatedly and for hours! Getting them to stop is the problem!