- Location
- Bedford
- Recorded age range
- 7–19
- Education
- British
About Bedford School
Renowned for English learning programs in historic Bedford. Building language skills and international friendships.
School background from the saved source · 2026-05-30
Bedford School is one of the oldest boys' schools in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1552 when King Edward VI issued letters patent in Ely allowing the "Mayors, Bailiffs, Burgesses and Commonality of Bedford" to establish a grammar school in the town, with masters appointed by New College, Oxford. The school is the oldest of four independent schools in Bedford run by the Harpur Trust, a charitable foundation formally created by Act of Parliament in 1764 to administer William Harpur's 1566 endowment. Income from Harpur's London land holdings — much of which was rebuilt after the Great Fire — provided the resources that allowed Bedford School to expand significantly in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The school is boys-only, ages 7-18, divided into a Preparatory School (ages 7-13) and an Upper School (ages 13-18), with approximately 1,100 pupils total. Roughly half are boarders, making Bedford one of the larger full-boarding HMC schools in the home counties; the school operates flexible, weekly and full boarding. The 50-acre campus sits in the centre of Bedford and centres on the Grade II listed Main School Building (a Gothic Revival design of 1891 by Alfred Waterhouse, gutted by arson in 1979 but rebuilt) and the Grade II* listed Chapel (1908, by George Frederick Bodley). The Headmaster since 2014 is James Hodgson, who succeeded John Moule (now Warden of Radley College).
Bedford School won the Independent Boys School of the Year Award at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards in 2021. The school's sporting reputation is built on its rowing programme: the Bedford School Boat Club has produced national and international rowers regularly across the past century, and the school's Henley Royal Regatta record is among the strongest of any English school.
The alumni list — "Old Bedfordians" — runs through public life, the military and the arts. Among the most prominent recent figures: the late Lord Ashdown (Paddy Ashdown), former leader of the Liberal Democrats and British High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Sir John Whittingdale, the former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The school's rugby tradition has produced multiple England and British Lions internationals. The Harpur Trust continues to fund a substantial bursary programme across all four of its Bedford schools.
School life and areas of focus
- English
- Language
- Boarding experience
- Founded 1552 by King Edward VI letters patent — 474-year history
- Run by the Harpur Trust (established 1764 by Act of Parliament) alongside three sister schools in Bedford
- Independent Boys School of the Year 2021 (Independent Schools of the Year Awards)
- Boys-only ages 7-18 across the Preparatory School and Upper School
- ~1,100 pupils, approximately half boarders — strong full and weekly boarding programme
- 50-acre semi-rural campus in the centre of Bedford
- Bedford School Boat Club is among the most decorated school rowing clubs in the UK
- HMC, BSA and IAPS member
- Founded 1552 — 474 year tradition
- 1,070-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 45% achieve AAB+
- IAPS prep school accreditation
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
Explore the curriculum and subjects below. Our team can help you find out about subject choices, year groups and programme availability.
- Programme type
- Boarding school
- Curriculum
- British
- Teaching language
- English
- Campus setting
- urban
Subject areas
- English Learning
- Language
- Rowing (one of the strongest school programmes in the UK)
- Rugby & cricket
- Music (Bedford Music Festival)
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Study and progression pathways
- Languages
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham)
- US Ivy League
- Sandhurst (RMA) & RAF Cranwell — strong military pipeline
- Russell Group
Academic profile in the catalogue
No review date is recorded for these catalogue figures.
The legacy catalogue contains estimated academic figures without a measurement source. Ask our team about current class sizes and progression results.
Campus, boarding and student community
Catalogue profile
- Campus setting
- urban
- Boarding
- Listed in the catalogue
- Co-education
- Not recorded as co-educational; confirm intake
School-wide directory record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-17
- School stages
- Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Directory age range
- 7-19
- Student intake
- Boys
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Headteacher in source record
- Mr James Hodgson
- Inspectorate
- ISI
- Total pupils
- 1070
- Boys · number / share
- 1070 · 100%
- Pupils receiving SEN support · number / share
- 240 · 22.43%
- Pupils with an EHC plan · number / share
- 0 · 0%
Directory and catalogue figures are shown separately because their age groups or record dates may differ.
Recorded examination results
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-17
- Qualification
- A-level
- Results year
- 2025
- Average grade
- B+
- Progress score
- 0.32 (Above Average)
- AAB or higher
- 44.80%
Results are for the year shown, separately from the estimated catalogue indicators.
Tuition and costs
Recorded GBP school fees
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-17
| Attendance | Recorded range |
|---|---|
| Day fees | £6,490.80 – £10,016.40 |
| Boarding fees | £8,175.60 – £17,244.00 |
These historical directory amounts are not a confirmed school quotation. The billing period, VAT, academic year and included costs need confirmation from the school.
Catalogue USD figures
Estimated catalogue fees · USD
Catalogue figures are shown in US dollars (USD). The fee period and academic year are not specified in this record. UK institutions generally publish their own fees in pounds sterling (GBP); check the current fee schedule rather than treating this range as a GBP price.
Ask the UniCampus team about the fee period, entry year, boarding and additional costs.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Entry requirements depend on the school, age group and programme. Talk to the UniCampus team about school reports, language requirements, assessments and your application timeline.
- Catalogue application window
- Rolling
- Listed intake
- September 2026
These catalogue notes do not confirm an available place or a current deadline. MEC guidance can help you organise a shortlist and prepare questions for the school.
Support recorded in the catalogue
- Scholarships or bursaries
- Not specified in this record; ask the institution
- Visa application support
- Listed; confirm what assistance is provided
Source notes and alternative records
Dated background research is retained below; source descriptions may differ and have not been newly verified by UniCampus.
School background research · 2026-05-30
School background notes
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
Read this source's description in the school overview.
- Founded · source note
- 1552
- Campus setting · source note
- urban
- Religious ethos · source note
- Church of England
- School leadership · source note
- James Hodgson
- Scholarships · source note
- Mentioned in saved research; confirm current terms
Additional subject and programme notes
- Rowing (one of the strongest school programmes in the UK)
- Rugby & cricket
- Music (Bedford Music Festival)
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham)
- US Ivy League
- Sandhurst (RMA) & RAF Cranwell — strong military pipeline
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
School-life notes
- Founded 1552 by King Edward VI letters patent — 474-year history
- Run by the Harpur Trust (established 1764 by Act of Parliament) alongside three sister schools in Bedford
- Independent Boys School of the Year 2021 (Independent Schools of the Year Awards)
- Boys-only ages 7-18 across the Preparatory School and Upper School
- ~1,100 pupils, approximately half boarders — strong full and weekly boarding programme
- 50-acre semi-rural campus in the centre of Bedford
- Bedford School Boat Club is among the most decorated school rowing clubs in the UK
- HMC, BSA and IAPS member
Notable alumni listed in the source
- Sir John Whittingdale (former Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
- Sir Paddy Ashdown (former Liberal Democrat leader; British High Representative for Bosnia)
- Numerous England and British Lions rugby internationals
- Major Bedford Old Bedfordians active across UK financial services, military and academia
Additional school record · 2026-05-30
Additional saved school information
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
James Hodgson will be leaving Bedford School at the end of the academic year, after 12 years’ outstanding service to the school. His successor, Michael Sloan, will be the next Head Master.
“I am thrilled to be appointed as the next Head Master of Bedford School. It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of such a nationally respected and brilliantly distinctive school. My family and I are very much looking forward to joining the Bedford School community, which is clearly defined by its warmth, ambition and sense of purpose.
Following his military service, Michael trained as a teacher and began his career in education teaching history at Emanuel School, a co-educational senior school in London. He later joined Brighton College, where he rose to the role of Deputy Headmaster, before accepting the Headship at King’s College, Taunton, a school which shares many characteristics with Bedford (including both Prep and Upper Schools, boarding and day, and an international footprint).
- Founded · source note
- 1552
- Scholarships · source note
- Mentioned in saved research; confirm current terms
Additional subject and programme notes
- Sport
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)
School-life notes
- Founded 1552 — 474 year tradition
- 1,070-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 45% achieve AAB+
- IAPS prep school accreditation
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Schoolscout introduction
Bedford School stands as a beacon of academic excellence and personal development, offering a rich blend of tradition and innovation. With a strong emphasi...
School location
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-17
- Recorded address
- De Parys Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, East of England, MK40 2TU
- Postcode
- MK40 2TU
Questions in the source record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-17 · Original English answers
What type of school is Bedford School?
Bedford School is a boys' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 7 to 19, located near Bedford in Bedfordshire. The school offers education from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Bedford School?
The admissions process usually starts well in advance of entry and may involve assessments and interviews. The school admissions timeline guide outlines key stages and deadlines.
What are the fees at Bedford School?
Fees for Bedford School vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £6,490–£17,244.
Is Bedford School a day or boarding school?
Pupils at Bedford School can attend as day and boarding.
Is Bedford School a single-sex or co-educational school?
The school provides single-sex education for its pupils.
Contact our team for current dates, entry criteria and fees.
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