27SOUTH EASTPUBLICtatler.com Tatler Schools Guide 2020the best skills-based programmes
for leavers that I have seen for
quite some time’ – as an innovative
way of ensuring his pupils are
prepped and primed for today’s
competitive post-school market.
Even better, they have just
launched a university preparation
initiative: a week-long programme
including mock lectures, mental
health support and practical skills
such as cooking. Pupils adore the
Head, and say the school has a
knack for ‘finding the thing that a
pupil loves and then nurturing
that passion’. A parent tells us that
Figgis has that ‘rare combination
of great EQ and indisputable IQ’
and he caters to all abilities, believ-
ing that a mix of talent makes for
the ideal 21st-century learning
environment. Ardingly’s drama
department might be small, but
standards are high: whole-school
productions are the norm, and the
governors have just signed off
plans to build a theatre. Around
half of the pupils board, taking
advantage of the school’s super
flexible approach, and parents
report that there is a good balance
of local families and international
pupils. Ardingly successfully turns
out ‘able, gentle, thoughtful indi-
viduals with ambition’, and 99 per
cent gain a place at their first- or
second-choice university.work the land and care for the
animals from farm to plate; sheep-
skins are sold as rugs; they bake
their own bread; and the fresh fruit
and veg grown in the grounds are
either used in the kitchens or sold.
An insider reports that these stu-
dents are ‘happy, talented, genu-
inely interested and focused’. They
are actively encouraged to be and
do whatever they wish: singing,
fashion, blacksmithing and book-
binding are all interests that pupils
are currently able to pursue, always
with enormous smiles on their
faces. Bedales’ fresh, dynamic
approach to education definitely
bears fruit: in 2018, 62 per cent
achieved A*–A equivalent grades
at GCSE and 69 per cent were
awarded A*–B at A-level.BEDFORD SCHOOL
De Parys Avenue, Bedford
MK40 2TU
Website bedfordschool.org.uk Head
James Hodgson, PGCE, since 2015;
previously Usher of Magdalen College
School Pupils 706 boys: 473 day,
233 boarding Faith C of E Ages
13–18 Term Fees Day: £6,614;
boarding: £11,186 Oxbridge 3%
Registration By December of year
before entry; £100 fee
Admission ISEB pre-test, CE or
school’s own exam, interview and
previous school’s report
Alumni Lord Ashdown, Alastair
Cook, Al Murray
PREP Head Ian Silk Pupils 401
day and boarding boys Ages 7–13
Term Fees Day: £5,616;
boarding: £9,058
‘It feels like a really well-run ship,’
notes one visitor, who was most
impressed by the immaculately
kept grounds and buildings of this
city-centre school. Bedford presents
all sorts of attractions: a straight-
through education (two thirds ar-
rive from the prep); an off-site
nature reserve; and an aviation so-
ciety complete with high-tech flight
simulator. When asked about single
sex education in the 21st century,
the school felt no need to defend
the model as it is ‘clearly working’,
and female interaction is provided
by joint drama productions, D of EBEDALES SCHOOL
Petersfield, Hampshire
GU32 2DG
Website bedales.org.uk
Head Magnus Bashaarat, MA,
since 2018; previously Head of
Milton Abbey Pupils 464. Day: 77
boys, 81 girls; boarding: 133 boys,
173 girls Ages 13–18 Term Fees
Day: £9,745; boarding: £12,400
Oxbridge 5% Registration Ideally
two and a half years before entry;
£200 fee Admission Assessment
day, school’s own exam and interview
Alumni Daniel Day-Lewis, The
Earl of Snowdon, Minnie Driver
PREP Head Colin Baty Pupils
304 day and boarding: 159 boys,
145 girls Ages 2–13 Term Fees
Day: £6,415; boarding: £8,520
Parents choose Bedales for its well-
rounded, open-minded approach
to education. Established over 125
years ago as a unique school with
an innovative curriculum, it edu-
cates students to grow in confi-
dence and enables them to develop
without ‘tight boxes around them’.
It’s prestigious but progressive –
pupils call teachers by their first
names and almost anything goes
in terms of uniform, but when it
comes to more serious issues such
as smoking and drugs, the rules are
just as strict as any other school.
Bedales is also ahead of the curve in
terms of sustainability: pupils helpand CCF with Bedford Girls.
After careful consideration of the
benefits of increased technology, a
Director of Digital Learning has
been appointed and GCSE com-
puter science has been introduced.
Under the guidance of Head James
Hodgson, Bedford exudes a steady
and reassuring confidence in all
that it does. One parent warns not
to be deceived by Hodgson’s affa-
ble and genial manner, as it belies a
‘steely determination’. This deter-
mination is getting definitive results:
applications are increasing every
year and, in 2018, they celebrated
their strongest GCSE results since- Two-thirds of boys went on
to Russell Group universities last
year, and there has been a strong
upwards swing on applications to
US universities.
BENENDEN
SCHOOL
Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AA
Website benenden.school
Head Samantha Price, MA, since
2014; previously Head at Godolphin
Pupils 550 boarding girls
Faith C of E Ages 11–18 Te r m
Fees £13,124 Oxbridge 9%
Registration Ideally three to four
years before entry; £200 fee
Admission ISEB pre-test, CE or
school’s own exam, interview and
previous school’s report
Alumnae The Princess Royal,
Baroness Shackleton, Baroness
Manningham-Buller
Samantha Price must surely be the
most trusting Head in the country.
When a group of girls decided to
build a two-person Microlight, she
was only too happy to be one of
the first passengers. She’d better
get her racing goggles ready next,
as her girls are now busy building a
Caterham 7 racing car. Academics
are consistently impressive, with
63 per cent achieving A*–A at
A-level, but the focus is on balance
and ‘girls are stretched without
being stressed’. Co-curricular is big
news too as prospective parents are
urged not to confuse ‘a syllabus with
an education’ and pupils have 150
activities to choose from. The girls
learn valuable skills for their ]
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