About Us

Our School

Bedales is a co-educational boarding and day school located in 120 acres of South Downs National Park in Petersfield, Hampshire:

• Bedales Pre-prep (3-8 years)
• Bedales Prep (8-13 years)
• Bedales Senior (13-18 years)

Purpose

Bedales is inspiring a new generation of critical-thinkers, creators and leaders by cultivating a community of lifelong learners through its innovative, intellectually challenging curriculum. The school's founding principle 'work of each for weal of all', centred on authentic working relationships, develops excellence in the individual whilst appreciating their central role in shaping society at every level.

Ethos

John Badley, one of the founding leaders of the school, wrote in his Memories and Reflections (1955): "education has a twofold purpose: it can be thought of as directed to the personal development of the individual, or to their contribution to the community of which they are a member." Badley's ideals are as important to us today as they were when the school was set up in 1893, reminding us that Bedales is a school built on profoundly communitarian principles. In keeping with the school motto, 'Work of Each for Weal of All', the individual work of students or staff must be taken in the context of their impact on 'all', whether that be fellow students, the local community, the environment or the world. We aim to be true to the school's traditions while ensuring they remain pertinent for the future.

Bedales is a school with a pioneering tradition. Our 10-year strategy aims to ensure that we continue to lead the way for other schools nationally and internationally. At the heart of our approach is the principal that an education must be holistic and creative: that we should ensure young people learn to develop their 'head', their 'hand' and their 'heart'. We believe that the development of self is as important as skills and knowledge. The freedoms we enjoy as an independent school, our charity's mission and the urgent and ongoing need for educational reform drive us to challenge norms and strive to provide an exceptional experience for all the young people in our care.   

Many of Badley’s early innovations are now mainstream: co-educational boarding (at Bedales since 1898); the emphasis put on the arts, sciences and voluntary service; the importance of pastoral care; and listening to students’ views (the Bedales School Council, established in 1916, was one of the first school councils). Even so, the contrast between Bedales and other schools remains strong. We believe that our informality engenders a genuine sense of partnership between teacher and student – a shared excitement about ideas and educational discovery. Educational innovation continues today, for example, with our Bedales Assessed Courses as an alternative to GCSE.