►►►其它中学

Bedales School 比得莱斯中学, Petersfield, Hampshire
GU32 2DG
Tel: 01730 300100 Fax: 01730 300500
Website: www.bedales.org.uk
• CO-ED, 13–18, Day & Boarding
• Pupils 412, Upper sixth 75
• Termly fees £5698 (Day), £7454 (Boarding)
• HMC, SHMIS, BSA
• Enquiries/application to the Assistant Registrar

What it’s like
One of the first co-ed schools in Britain, it opened in 1893. It has a splendid site of 120 acres in East Hampshire, 16 miles from the sea, on a hill overlooking the Rother valley. Civilised and comfortable buildings in beautiful grounds. The Memorial Library is one of the best school libraries in Britain. It was founded as a pioneer school by J H Badley who developed it as a reformed version of the contemporary public schools. His reforms involved a serious commitment to the arts and crafts, rural skills and outdoor work as well as to academic study. Always progressive in the best sense, it is a product of its dissenting origins and idealistic drives; a school within a supporting community, believing strongly in itself and what it has to offer and resistant to orthodoxies and bureaucracies. Examination results are very good. It is particularly strong on art, crafts, drama, dance and music, which have a central position in the life of the school. A feature is the outdoor work department where pupils maintain a large tree nursery, grow fruit, keep livestock, and have rebuilt two barns. It is run as a self-financing concern. Sport is taken seriously and sometimes played at county level. IT provision is extensive and continually updated. Very much a family atmosphere, relaxed and friendly; informal personal relationships between pupils and staff and first name terms throughout the school.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 13–18; 412 pupils, 127 day (72 boys, 55 girls), 285 boarding (132 boys, 153 girls).
Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs passes (usually grade A in AS-level subjects). School looks for pupils with a broad base including academic, art, music, design, drama etc, with potential for 9+ GCSEs, 4 AS and 3 A- levels. 20% of new entrants to sixth form from state schools. 50% of intake from own junior (enquiries to Dunhurst School, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DP; tel 01730 300200).

Scholarships, bursaries & extras 8+ pa means-tested scholarships, value 8%–50% fees: 4–5 academic, 1 art, 1 drama and 1 design (2–4 in junior department, 2–4 at 13 and 4–5 at 16); plus variable music awards at other ages. Some means-tested bursaries available. Parents expected to buy a few textbooks.

Parents Up to 10% live within 30 miles; 15% live overseas; 50% in London and south.

Head & staff
Head: Keith Budge, appointed 2001. Educated at Rossall and Oxford University (English). Previously Headmaster of Loretto and Housemaster at Marlborough.
Teaching staff: 51 full time, 16 part time plus 30+ visiting music teachers.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 85 pupils in fifth year; 97% gained at least grade C in 9+ subjects. Average GCSE score 65 (62 over 5 years).
A-levels: 75 in upper sixth; 12% passed in 4+ subjects, 83% in 3, 4% in 2 subject. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 342.

University & college entrance 95% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (57% after a gap year), 9% to Oxbridge. Typically 7% take courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 13% in science & engineering, 3% in law, 50% in humanities & social sciences, 20% in art & design, 3% in drama. Some 10 art foundation places annually, others typically go on to drama and music colleges; 20% to combined and vocational subjects.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 23+ AS/A-level subjects.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 10% take science A-levels; 40% arts/humanities/social sciences; 50% both.
Vocational: Comprehensive careers advice.
Special provision: All pupils’ work monitored to identify any special needs. Individual support lessons on a private basis.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level; Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese by private arrangement. European Committee to promote international exchange.
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject (1 lesson/week in Years 7–9) and across the curriculum, eg much coursework in key subjects, spreadsheet work. 45 computers in main school for pupil use (12 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access. Also, laptop hire scheme; 36% of pupils have their own. Many (40%) take GCSE IT.

The arts
Music: Over 60% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 16 musical groups including chamber and symphony orchestras, choirs, instrumental ensembles. Pupils are members of National Youth Wind Orchestra, County Youth Orchestra and junior chamber ensembles.
Drama & dance: Drama and dance offered. GCSE drama and A-level theatre studies, LAMDA exams may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions. Dance troupe to international festival in Dubai.
Art & design: On average, 37 take GCSE, 16+ A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, photography, printmaking, etching, screenprinting also offered.

Sport & activities
Sport: Large choice including gymnastics, dance, swimming, life saving, water polo, canoeing, volleyball, basketball, athletics, badminton, tennis, judo, karate, squash, fencing, hockey, all forms of outdoor pursuits available, plus football and cricket (boys) and netball (girls) and ODW (outdoor work). RLSS exams may be taken. County level netball, cricket, hockey, football, tennis.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Importance of community service emphasised. Up to 50 clubs, eg cinema, drama, chess, photography.

School life
Uniform: School uniform not worn.
Houses & prefects: No competitive houses. Head boy/girl but no prefects. Sixth-form committee; boarding house committees and central committee; School Council elected by pupils. Advisory and management skills learnt through committee system.
Religion: No compulsory worship but pupils made welcome at adjacent parish church where a number are confirmed each year. Extensive PSE programme in small groups in the curriculum.
Social: Organised trips abroad include visits to Italy, ski trips etc. Meals self-service. School shop; café.

Discipline Detention for academic defaulters. Anyone caught buying, bringing in or consuming drugs must expect to be expelled. Pupils punished for smoking and drinking.

Boarding Small, mixed-age dormitories in single-sex houses. Upper sixth (in rooms for 1–3) in co-ed house as preparation for student life. Resident medical staff. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook own snacks. Exeats allowed on all but 1–2 weekends per year.