At both our Prep and Senior Schools the aim of our admissions process is to genuinely get to know each child as well as for families to gain a real insight into Bede’s.
Many families may join us for an open day, but we also encourage families to return to experience the School on a normal working day.
From there, we invite children to join us to experience the School for themselves, whether that be for a taster day at the Prep School or a Bede’s Experience Day or Sixth Form Information Day at the Senior School; our sports enthusiasts are invited in for personal training sessions with our expert coaches and dancers to join in with Legat classes. Whatever age or interest a child has, our aim is that they get to know us and we them.
For more information about visiting or applying to Bede’s please contact our Admissions Department at admissions@bedes.org or call 01323 356609.
In the first instance, parents who are considering Bede’s Prep School for their child can arrange to visit the School on an open day or on a private visit to the School.
Following this visit, you will be asked to complete a registration form, supply your child’s last set of school reports and you will then be invited for a taster day or overnight stay if you are considering applying for a boarding place.
During their taster experience, your child will spend time with others in their year group including a buddy who will look after them during their stay. This taster day is designed to allow children to experience a normal school day at Bede’s but if your child has a real interest in or passion for something such as sport or music, we will endeavour to arrange it on a day when those activities are timetabled.
During the day, your child will undertake an informal assessment which includes reading, writing, arithmetic and non-verbal reasoning which will allow us to ensure that we are able to meet their pastoral and educational needs. Places are offered on the basis of the taster day, assessment and a recent school report. Once a completed Acceptance Form has been received and deposit paid, your child’s place will be guaranteed.
Although most children will start at Bede’s at the beginning of the academic year, we do accept applications for in-year starts and are accustomed to supporting children who join at later points.
Deciding on the right school for your child is very important, and many families find that in addition to attending an open day a personal visit is also invaluable.
We are always delighted to welcome prospective parents and their children, and we very much hope you will visit us to meet the Headmaster and take a tour of the School.
As pupils join Bede’s Prep School in every year group, all our Form Tutors are accustomed and experienced at supporting new pupils during the important transition period.
The “Buddy System” by which every pupil who joins is allocated a “buddy” who knows the School well, to show them the ropes is a vital part in the settling-in process.
Buddies are given guidance by staff as to the areas of school life that new pupils are likely to find challenging or which might need a bit of explanation. Our pupil buddies treat this role not only as a great responsibility but also as a real privilege and something which they derive huge satisfaction from and in time many of our new pupils go on to become wonderful buddies themselves!
During the transition stage, the Year Head will stay in close contact with the pupil’s Form Tutor, the buddy and of course the pupil themselves to ensure that they are growing in confidence over time and are settling in and building friendships.
Bede's Prep offers a nurturing environment to live and work for all our international pupils and children join us as boarders from Year 5. The boarding community at Bede's Prep is small and therefore offers the perfect introduction to boarding for children who are likely to be living away from home for the first time.
Many of our international boarders join Bede's Prep before heading off to our Senior School but a small number of our international boarders join us for shorter periods such as a year or a couple of terms.
Wherever possible we encourage parents to visit the School before applying as it helps the child get to know us and we them. However, we understand that for families living overseas this is not always practical and therefore we can make arrangements remotely if necessary. Usually this will involve a Skype meeting with parents and a chat with the child themselves. This may involve our English as an Additional Language Co-ordinator and Boarding Parent to help assess language ability and suitability for boarding. We may also ask your child to sit a Ukiset test to further help us assess their English as well as general cognitive abilities.
Should your child require a visa to study in the UK we are happy to advise on this as well.
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