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Badley Day, our annual day of service, took place on Tuesday, and once again showed why it is one of the most loved and meaningful moments in the Bedales year. Rooted in John Badley’s vision that purposeful work and community spirit are central to education, the day is a chance for students of all ages and staff to step away from the ordinary timetable and work together, making a visible and lasting contribution to the school and beyond.
As Deputy Head (Co-curricular & Operations) and event organiser Alex Kerr explained, this year’s theme was pathways: pathways for learning, pathways into Bedales for students from all backgrounds, and, quite literally, the pathways that wind through our grounds. The central project saw students from Block 1 upwards resurfacing a woodland trail. The work was practical and creative: felling invasive sycamores from the Sand Quarry, chipping them for path surfacing, and using the cut wood in a new dead-hedging project. As Theo in Block 2 reflected, “Knowing you’ve done something helpful is really satisfying.” The path they created will help support wildlife, and keep our youngest students safe, while strengthening their Forest School experience.
That sense of doing something meaningful together could be felt everywhere. From Nursery children chalking rainbow pathways across the garden, to sixth formers harvesting apples with Pre-prep students for Christmas chutney, the school hummed with cross-generational collaboration. Students who might rarely meet on a regular school day discovered themselves working side by side. “I’m loving collaborating with students I don’t usually see…I’m really impressed with the Block 3s in particular,” noted Head of Art, Michael Bruzon.
There were flashes of Bedalian creativity throughout. A William Morris-inspired playground takeover saw Prep students cover the space with interconnected words and images, capturing the idea of community pathways in a way only Bedalians could. A dance flash mob, performed by older students with their younger peers, opened the afternoon fete in support of the John Badley Foundation. Meanwhile, other groups laid the foundations for a new beehive observatory, planted bulbs for the grounds, crafted wooden pegs for future timber framing projects, or resurfaced the village footpath. Each task was grounded in service, craft, and connection.
For staff, the value of the day is deeply felt. As Jess Janda, Head of Learning Support and mother of two Bedalians, put it: “Part of the reason why we chose the school for our sons was the community and service. Badley Day goes back to the school’s roots, bringing the whole school together in meaningful work that students can see the impact of. It sets the tone for the rest of the year and helps all the new students feel part of things.”
By the end of the day, what was most striking was not only the tangible improvements to the school and local environment, but the way students and teachers came away with a stronger sense of belonging, proud of their contribution and of the community they are part of. As Alex concluded: “The students’ positive, enthusiastic response made the day a genuine pleasure for all involved.”
Badley Day is not just about paths on the ground, but about the pathways our young people walk together, learning to serve, to lead, to collaborate, and to care. The entire day was a moving reminder that while community and face-to-face interaction may be fading elsewhere, they are continuing to flourish at Bedales.
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