- Location
- Petersfield
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
About Bedales School
Schoolscout directory record ·
Bedales is a leading co-educational day and boarding school for ages 3–18, set in the heart of the South Downs National Park in the south of England. Since...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Bedales School was founded in 1893 by the educational reformer John Haden Badley as England's first major progressive co-educational independent boarding school — radically different from the conventional Victorian public schools of its day. Badley founded Bedales specifically as a reaction against the prevailing conventions of late-Victorian boys' boarding schools: he opposed the prefect system, corporal punishment, compulsory chapel, militarised hierarchies and conventional uniform, and he made the school co-educational from 1898 (admitting girls within five years of foundation, decades before any major HMC school). The school operates today on a 120-acre rural campus at Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire, with its principal buildings designed in the Arts and Crafts style by William Lethaby and Ernest Gimson. The Head is Will Goldsmith.
Bedales is a member of the HMC and the Boarding Schools Association and educates around 730 pupils with a substantial boarding population. The school's progressive educational ethos has persisted: pupils call teachers by their first names, there is no conventional school uniform, and the school continues to operate with substantially more democratic governance structures than conventional English boarding schools.
The school has produced an extraordinary list of distinguished alumni in the creative arts. The actor Daniel Day-Lewis — three-time Academy Award winner (My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln), the only male actor in cinema history with three Best Actor Oscars and widely regarded as the greatest method actor of his generation — was a Bedalian. Day-Lewis attended Bedales briefly before going to Sevenoaks School.
The model and actress Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad, Paper Towns) was at Bedales, as was the actress Sienna Miller (Layer Cake, Foxcatcher). The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was a Bedalian. The model and writer Sophie Dahl — granddaughter of Roald Dahl — was at Bedales. The actor Theo James (the Divergent film series) was at Bedales. The actor Robert Hardy CBE (Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter films, Siegfried Farnon in the BBC's All Creatures Great and Small) was a Bedalian.
The novelist and journalist Rebecca West DBE — whose Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941), the canonical English travel-history of Yugoslavia, is among the great mid-twentieth-century English non-fiction works — was at Bedales. The architect Sir Peter Cook — founder of Archigram, the seminal 1960s avant-garde architecture group — was a Bedalian. The political theorist Sir Bernard Crick — author of In Defence of Politics (1962), an influential post-war defence of liberal-democratic politics — was a Bedalian.
The school operates a substantial bursary programme.
Additional source record ·
Every child at Bedales is given the space to grow into the best version of themselves, prepared for a future that is both successful and meaningful.
Bedales chooses the bee to symbolise purposeful work, collaboration, and community - values that shape both our ethos and educational approach.
Founded in 1893 by John Badley, the school was built on the idea that education should be creative, independent, and prepare students for life, not just exams. From the very beginning, Bedales has embraced individuality and challenged traditional schooling. Our stunning campus reflects that blend of creativity and tradition. Over the years, Bedales has stayed true to its roots while evolving to offer a modern, forward-thinking education. It’s a place where history and innovation go hand in hand.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1893 by John Haden Badley — 133-year history
- England's first major progressive co-educational independent boarding school
- Co-educational since 1898 — the first major HMC school to be founded as co-educational
- ≈730 pupils with substantial boarding population
- Set on a 120-acre rural campus at Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire
- Arts and Crafts campus by William Lethaby and Ernest Gimson
- HMC and BSA member
- Most internationally famous alumnus: Daniel Day-Lewis
- Famous absence of conventional school uniform
- Founded 1893 — 133 year tradition
- 730-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
- Non-denominational foundation
- Strong in Arts, Drama, Sport
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Religious ethos
- Non-denominational
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Drama
- Art (Bedales has the largest art department of any UK school)
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Music
- Modern languages
- Arts
- Sport
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh)
- Royal Academy of Music
- International universities
Alumni notes
- Daniel Day-Lewis (three-time Academy Award winner — My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln)
- Lily Allen (singer-songwriter)
- Cara Delevingne (model and actress — Suicide Squad, Paper Towns)
- Sienna Miller (actress — Layer Cake, Foxcatcher, Live by Night)
- Sir Peter Cook (architect; founder of Archigram)
- Sophie Dahl (model and writer; granddaughter of Roald Dahl)
- Rebecca West DBE (novelist and journalist — Black Lamb and Grey Falcon)
- Robert Hardy CBE (actor — Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter; All Creatures Great and Small)
- Sir Bernard Crick (political theorist — In Defence of Politics 1962)
- Christabel Bielenberg (writer — The Past is Myself)
- Theo James (actor — Divergent series)
- Will Heaven (Spectator deputy editor)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Will Goldsmith (Head)
- Founded
- 1893
- Campus setting
- Rural
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 730
- Boys
- 340 · 46.58%
- Girls
- 390 · 53.42%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 516 · 70.68%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 5 · 0.68%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.14 (Average)
- Average grade
- B
- AAB percentage
- 17.80%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £4,419.6 – £14,716.8 |
| Boarding | £13,058.4 – £18,999.6 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Talk to the UniCampus team about entry points, available places, assessments, language requirements and application dates. Admission arrangements vary by age and year group.
Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
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Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Bedales School?
Bedales School is an independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 19, located near Petersfield in Hampshire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Bedales School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at Bedales School?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees at Bedales School are approximately £4,419–£18,999 per term, depending on the year group and whether pupils board. Families can learn more about UK private school fees and what is typically included.
Is Bedales School a day or boarding school?
Pupils at Bedales School can attend as day and boarding.
Is Bedales School selective?
Bedales School is a selective independent school. Admissions may include assessments and interviews where applicable.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Church Road, Steep
- Town / locality
- Petersfield
- County
- Hampshire
- Region
- South East
- Postcode
- GU32 2DG
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationChurch Road, Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire, South East, GU32 2DGSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.