Academic excellence at Bedales Schools confirmed by inspection

PETERSFIELD, U.K. - June 17, 2014 - PRLog -- Bedales has been rated “Excellent” in all areas of teaching and learning across the Senior, Prep and Pre-prep Schools when assessed rigorously and independently by two teams from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) who visited for week-long inspections at the end of the Spring term 2014. The quality of students’ achievements and learning, the contribution of curricular and extra-curricular provision, and the contribution of teaching were all graded as “Excellent” by the inspectors in addition to the schools’ pastoral care and quality of boarding.

“At all stages, students are well educated, and the quality of their achievement and learning is excellent…. All students enjoy learning and exhibit a well-developed intellectual curiosity and independence in pursuing their studies. They benefit from high quality teaching and the excellent, innovative curriculum.” (Bedales Senior School report)

“Pupils in both schools, including children in EYFS, have highly positive attitudes to work… The quality of academic and other achievements is excellent.” (Bedales Prep and Pre-prep Schools’ report)

Keith Budge, Headmaster Bedales Schools, commented:

“These reports provide further endorsement of our desire to maintain Bedales’ distinctiveness and to develop the continuity from Dunannie Nursery, through Dunhurst to Bedales Senior School and Sixth Form, building on the founding vision to educate ‘head, hand, heart’ and innovations like mixed age boarding and our unique Bedales Assessed Courses.  Our academic conviction and the strong structures that we have in place underpin an informal and consultative approach. I congratulate my colleagues and thank them for their devoted energies and talents.”

These inspection reports build on previous external validation by Harvard Graduate School of Education research at Bedales in 2013 which concluded that providing academic choice in an informal environment results in highly motivated students and stronger academic outcomes.

Extracts from the reports:

“Students enjoy learning, relishing the challenges set by their teachers.  They are highly motivated with a disciplined approach to their work, exhibiting a well-developed intellectual curiosity… Students work collaboratively with ease, and as independent research and learning is embedded into the ethos of the school, students largely take responsibility for their own learning… The style of teaching throughout the school fully supports the school’s aim to develop inquisitive thinkers with a love of learning who cherish independent thought. The quality of teaching has improved since the previous inspection. At all levels it is frequently excellent and at times inspirational.” (Bedales Senior School report)

“From the EYFS, where provision is excellent, pupils are increasingly involved in their learning and make excellent progress… At Dunhurst, the curriculum is planned so that it covers more than the usual subjects taught in schools…  Assessment records, lesson observation, interviews with pupils and the scrutiny of their work show that pupils of all ages, including those in the EYFS, make excellent progress in relation to their starting points… Throughout the two schools, pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills in both curricular and extra-curricular activities are extremely successfully developed.” (Bedales Prep and Pre-prep Schools’ report)