includes Bohunt, The Petersfield School and Priory, Southsea. There have been excellent joint initiatives hosted at both Bohunt and Bedales which have included: membership from representatives from both schools in the Rethinking Assessment Group; Question Time with student and teacher panel, former Education Secretary and MP for East Hants Damian Hinds, and 140 pupils; game-changer workshops for 50 x disadvantaged pupils; Oxbridge coaching; joint INSET staff training (wellbeing and exam support); student council discussions (on mental health); new teacher training; music collaborations. Joint lockdown activities include participation of Bohunt and TPS students in an online poetry workshop and reading (part of Bedales Events)

“BET’s vision for education is about empowering our students to become ‘game-changers’.  It is also about giving every single child the same chances in life, no matter where they start from.  This is what today is all about – working in partnership with Bedales, friends with a similar vision for education, bringing students together from across our schools, taking them out of their comfort zones, creating new opportunities and building confidence and resilience to help them become the best versions of themselves. ”

— Head of BET’s Virtual School

Bedales Outdoor Work has been the site of weekly visits from groups of Key students (removed from mainstream schools), who have engaged in a suite of traditional rural and craft activities, blacksmithing, animal husbandry, pizza baking, and woodwork. Involvement with Bedales has increased the motivation and attendance by Key pupils.

“Pupils involved have exhibited improvement in confidence in social situations, built closer relationships with staff, and developed not only their skills but also their world view. We have also seen improvements beyond the visit days such as improved attendance, and some parents have said that has been brilliant in terms of getting them out of the house and doing something practical. ”

— The teacher responsible for outreach at The Key

Being on our doorstep, we have a close relationship. Students volunteer at Steep, helping with reading; we have also sent working parties for outdoor work projects; during lockdown we provided additional classroom space.

“For those who were desperately missing their friends and teachers, those who could not be effectively supported at home, those whose mental health was suffering and those who had simply lost their momentum, Bedales offer of two roomy classrooms, and cleaned and COVID secure was an absolute lifeline for those children and for their families. A total of 25 more children (25% of our school population), were able to come back to school, to see their friends, to be supported with their work and to feel well again and to get their enthusiasm for learning back on track. We are so incredibly grateful for the positive impact we were able to have on these children thanks to the support of Bedales and the efficiency with which they were able to provide space at such short notice. We are eternally grateful again for the continued support from our neighbouring school. ”

— Steep Head

Support in lockdown with Christmas present hampers for distribution to local children; prior to that, pupils attended the Rock Show; other planned activities (eg. gifted and talented art day; student classroom assistants) have been curtailed due to COVID.

Head of Bedales Prep Clare Kirkham is a member of a group of local primary schools who do joint initiatives/training, some of which are hosted at Bedales.