Boarding UK

[BubblesT]

Does anyone have insight into Bryanston School? My boy would be going into year 9 in Sept. We live abroad, so need a school that has many boarders staying for weekends.
Discipline? Uniform? Sports? Drama? life in general for kids?
Any thoughts welcomed. Thank you

There is no school uniform. It is highly creative, yet still outstanding in sport. Pupils experience more freedom than at many schools, but it’s reputation of relaxed pupils in a slightly too relaxed environment, thriving in the creative arts but less so academically, is outdated. Independent learning is the name of the game andprep is set a week in advance, with pupils encouraged to manage their own time.
Most pupils come from up to an hour away but there are plenty from London, andthe school is growingin popularityacross the rest of the UK, plus there is astrong international contingent. Year 9 boys go into two junior houses of about 40 each, before being divided up into five boys’ houses for the remaining four years. I think this is so they get to know pupils across their year, not just those in their house or sports teams.

My DD and DS are current students. The school is very well run and we are happy with it. The new headmaster is 1 or 2 years in. He replaced Sarah Thomas who had been head for 14 or so years. We were sorry to see her go but the new head is fab. He is very smiley, energetic and efficient.

Discipline: my children’s houses are run by quite strict housemaster/housemistress. Firm but fair. Alcohol, drugs and smoking are not tolerated, in my sons original year group I think 5 boys have been asked to leave (he is in sixth form now). There is a system in place called an E chart which lists each weekly prep set by subject and gives a grade/effort. Parents can check daily/monthly as they wish and see how their child is working. There is a brief monthly report.

I remember reading in the Tatler schools guide the students call the teachers by their first name. This is not correct. It’s very much Sir and Mrs Smith etc, the school isn’t stuffy but it isn’t informal.

Uniform: dress code, trousers/skirt polo shirt. No hair dye, no tattoos. Sixth form dress code is more relaxed but still no crop tops or jeans etc. It’s pretty sensible.

Sports & drama: top notch facilities, equestrian centre, squash courts, climbing wall, new pool, dozens of tennis courts, rowing on the Stour, theatre is professional level, music and art are outstanding.

My kids are science and sporty types and not at all musical or artistic but I think they enjoy the arty ambience.

Boarding at weekends: not sure, mine come home most Saturday evening for 24 hours, I know there are children who board every weekend but you should ask Bry for figures on this.

All students have a tutor they see weekly (three times a week in the first term). Both my children have great relationships with their tutor. They trust them and get great support and advice from them.

I hope this is helpful.

Generally, if DC are allowed home every weekend they will go home. So you need to ask who stays in. Is it just overseas pupils? This is often the case. Full boarding with exeats is different. So ask the school regarding weekend numbers. Lots of London families have country homes not too far away so going “home” is easy.