14 Sep 2023

Bedales sets out vision for next decade

Informed by educationalists in the UK and abroad, and following in-depth consultation across the school community, Bedales has set out its vision for the next decade. Founded in 1893 to be a humane alternative to the authoritarian model typical of late-Victorian public schools, this announcement is the latest example of the school’s pioneering approach.

Included in the announcement is the plan to reduce the number of GCSEs taken by students from five to two, retaining Maths and English Language. Students will follow more of the school’s own curriculum, designed to develop intellectual ambition, creative thinking and independent learning. This will prepare them better for A Levels, giving them more learning time and developing the dispositions and capabilities to help succeed in life beyond Bedales.

The school will create its own new Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs) in the sciences, languages and a new sustainability curriculum. Already offered by the school as better alternatives to GCSE in many subjects across the arts and humanities, BACs offer more choice in content, research and project work, as well as more varied assessment methods such as coursework, presentations and vivas. This approach provides greater stretch for ambitious students. The school considers the current model to be outdated; GCSEs, with their more centralised, knowledge-heavy content and over-reliance on rote-learning and narrow terminal assessments are not fit for purpose. The reduction in the number of GCSEs is also considered by the school to have positive mental health and wellbeing benefits, as well as freeing up the summer term of Block 5 (Year 11) for more meaningful teaching and learning to replace the 32 hours of examinations and study leave that most students endure.

The broader set of initiatives in the Bedales announcement include:

• A digital portfolio for all (an ‘education LinkedIn’)
• Establishing a Centre for Progressive Education to inform global education thinking and practice
• Doubling the number of fully funded bursaries
• All students to undertake weekly ‘Bedales Service’ to support the operational running of the school (akin to the Japanese soji approach)
• A move to mixed boarding houses for all years (rather than separate single sex houses)
• Hands-on experience for students growing their own food and building sustainable structures
• Initiatives to live more sustainably and move to carbon net zero

The school is introducing these changes to ‘inspire a new generation of critical-thinkers, creators and leaders by cultivating a community of life-long learners through its innovative, intellectually challenging curriculum’. Centred on authentic working relationships, the school references its founding principle ‘work of each for weal of all’ in ‘developing excellence in the individual whilst appreciating their central role in shaping society on every level’.

Will Goldsmith, Head of Bedales commented:

“We are excited by the future and welcome this opportunity to renew our core purpose and philosophies, reaffirm our commitment to excellence in teaching and build upon our distinctiveness. This will help our students stand out in a rapidly changing world, prepare them better for the challenges ahead and maintain Bedales’ leadership within the wider educational sector.”

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01 Feb 2023

A Portrait of Petersfield

Portraits of Petersfield’s shopkeepers, traders and workers painted by pupils at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst went on display last week at Campachoochoo coffee shop at Petersfield Railway Station.

To celebrate the exhibition - which was organised by South Western Rail Art Coordinator Lucy Lomax and local art teacher Helen Sill - some pupils presented their portraits to their sitters, and Petersfield Shine Radio were on hand to interview the pupils about their work.

The portraits – which include Anthony from Campachoochoo, Emily from One Tree Books and Huong from VIP Nails – are the culmination of Block 1 (Year 7) pupils’ portrait project.

Pupils first practised their portrait skills by drawing themselves from observation, thinking about the proportions of the human face, and considering light and shade to give a sense of form, before painting the portraits after visiting Petersfield to photograph their sitters. As well as taking a photo to help them produce a likeness, they also interviewed their sitters so they could convey something of their personality in their work.

Dunhurst’s Head of Art and Design Susan McFarlane commented: “I think it’s important for us to support our wonderful community in Petersfield, and especially our independent shops. Growing up I loved books like Busy Town and What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scary, where all the characters had a purposeful life, going about their daily business. It’s a bit nostalgic, but I love the idea of pupils getting to know everyone in their community and what they do – and what better way to do that than visit the town and paint the people?”

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01 Feb 2023

Bedales Prep host IAPS Small School Football Championships

Footballers from six schools took to the pitches at Bedales Prep, Dunhurst on 18 January for the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Boys’ Small School Football Championships.

Pupils from The Royal, The Manor Prep, Sandroyd, Notting Hill Prep, Warminster and Marlborough House competed in the tournament, which is organised annually by IAPS. Unfortunately, icy weather forced another school to withdraw from the U13 competition at the last minute, but eager Dunhurst pupils in Blocks 1 and 2 (Years 7 and 8) stepped in to form an extra team.

With pitches thawing enough to allow the tournament to go ahead, Dunhurst’s U11 and U13 footballers were looking forward to an afternoon of football. The tournament saw some fine performances from Dunhurst pupils, including a 2-1 win against The Manor and a very narrow, last-minute 1-0 defeat against Sandroyd, who would go on to win the tournament.

Just as taking part in weekly fixtures is beneficial for pupils, hosting the tournament was a valuable experience for Dunhurst, as pupils experienced being part of a team, developed resilience, challenged themselves and worked towards achieving their goals.

Will Bray, Head of PE and Sport at Dunhurst, said: “Despite the cold weather, we enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of football for the IAPS Small Schools Football Championships. Thank you to all the schools who joined us and well done to all the Dunhurst pupils who took part. Although Dunhurst came up against some very strong teams, they competed well and should be proud of their performance.”

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