Being Bedalian

At Bedales, our ethos is rooted in the belief that education serves both personal growth and the greater good. Since 1893, John Badley’s founding vision has shaped our dynamic, communitarian culture. Guided by our motto, ‘work of each for weal of all’, students and staff contribute to our community, the environment and the wider world.

We nurture head, hand and heart – balancing academic rigour with creativity, emotional intelligence and purposeful action. Our 3–18 structure encourages cross-age collaborations, enriching the experience for all.

As pioneers in education innovation, Bedales has led the way with co-educational boarding, student voice, and a distinctive curriculum. Our Bedales Assessed Courses replace conventional GCSEs with more relevant, inspiring alternatives.

The informality of our setting – first-name terms and no uniform – fosters genuine partnership and shared intellectual curiosity. Our 10-year strategy keeps us at the forefront of educational change, true to our values while preparing for the future. Here, individuality is celebrated, creativity cultivated, and learning lived.

The school has published a 10-year strategy 2023-33, under four strands: Learning; Living; Community; and Environment. Bedales is aiming to create a fully realised community of learners, where:

• Students and staff are excited about the unique and precious experience of living and learning together, cultivating a lifelong love of intellectual endeavour, self-development and achievement.

• The young people in our care take advantage of developments
  in technology, neuroscience and psychology to develop positive physical and mental health skills that will stay with them for life.

• We understand the importance of identity and collective responsibility, and learn to contribute positively to our world in a variety of ways.

• We learn, often through lived experience, of our place in the natural world and the importance of human accountability for the environment in all aspects of how we live and learn.