Academic

Inspection Reports

Bedales Inspection Reports

In 2011, Ofsted inspectors assessed Bedales as 'outstanding' in a boarding inspection. The following extracts are taken from the report which is available to view in full below.

"Systems for students to achieve and enjoy are excellent...Opportunities for boarders to have a voice and input into their lives at the school are actively engaged in by students, whose opinions are listened to and acted on."

"Boarders' comments include: 'It’s the best years of my life, it is so good here, I couldn’t imagine better house staff, I really don’t want to leave.' The vast majority of parent responses were equally positive with comments such as: 'The pastoral care is truly superb, mixed-age boarding is a real positive for all the children."

"The school harbours an ethos in which boarders are encouraged to show responsibility, self-discipline and care for others. A number of very positive comments were received from parents about the support and care received from the boarding staff, resulting in confident self-assured students...Relationships between staff and the boarders are exceptional with very happy students who obviously enjoy their time at the school."

In 2010, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) visited Dunhurst and concluded that the school provides a "stimulating and exciting environment where individual talents are discovered and encouraged" and where pupils "love coming to school".

The ISI published its report having visited Dunhurst in February and March 2010 to carry out a detailed inspection of the school which included lesson observations, interviews with pupils, staff and governors, and questionnaires for pupils and parents.

In 2008, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) carried out a full inspection of Bedales and Dunannie.

The report concludes: "Bedales and Dunannie are both very special places. They fulfil very well Badley’s intent to educate the whole person. Dunannie does this exceptionally well; in particular, the opportunities it gives for pupils to think for themselves and to experiment and find things out. Bedales does the same through the richness of experience it offers. Bedales is no longer “a preposterous experiment” but both Bedales and Dunannie remain innovatory and not quite like anything else."