2025 A-level results: 50% A*–A and 85% A*–B across the sixth form.
RU Leading British boarding school for boys aged 7 to 18
Why this school
2025 A-level results: 50% A*–A and 85% A*–B across the sixth form.
More than 25 orchestras and ensembles rehearse weekly, alongside a professional-standard theatre.
Six boarding houses take around 250 boys, with flexi, weekly, and full boarding all available.
Bedford School is an independent boys’ day and boarding school founded in 1552, placing it among England’s oldest continuously operating schools. It sits in the market town of Bedford, around one hour north of London, and educates approximately 1,100 boys from age 7 to 18 across its prep and senior divisions. A member of HMC and IAPS, Bedford carries a long history without relying on it. The school draws boys from across the UK and internationally, and the mix of day and boarding pupils produces a community that runs seven days a week.
The curriculum follows GCSE and A-level pathways. At GCSE, boys build across core and elective subjects before choosing A-level combinations in the sixth form. The 2025 A-level results recorded 50% A*–A and 85% A*–B, and 88% of leavers go on to Russell Group or Times Top 30 universities. Academic enrichment runs alongside taught lessons through subject Olympiads, research competitions, and specialist academic societies — routes that take boys well beyond the standard syllabus.
The sixth form operates as a distinct stage of the school. Boys select A-level combinations suited to their university targets, and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is available for those pursuing research-heavy applications. Regular places at Oxford, Cambridge, and Russell Group institutions reflect consistent preparation at this stage.
A-Level results
50% A*-A, 85% A*-B (2025)
Around 250 boys board across six houses. The house system underpins daily life, with housemasters and tutors tracking academic progress and personal development in parallel. Houses have study bedrooms, communal lounges, and structured prep time. Full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi-boarding arrangements are all available, giving families flexibility in how they use the school. Full boarding fees for the upper school and sixth form run to £51,732 per year (2025/26). The pastoral framework includes a dedicated medical centre and wellbeing programmes that sit within the house structure rather than operating separately from it.
Sport is taken seriously across all year groups. Rugby, cricket, hockey, and rowing have particularly strong traditions, and the school has produced professional and international athletes across these disciplines. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports halls, tennis courts, fives courts, extensive playing fields, and a boathouse on the River Great Ouse. In music, more than 25 orchestras and ensembles rehearse weekly. The school has a professional-standard theatre used for regular drama productions, with art studios and design workshops running alongside. Over 100 clubs and societies meet weekly, from debating and Model United Nations through to robotics, STEM projects, and entrepreneurship. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award operate as structured leadership programmes within the co-curricular offering.
The 50-acre campus sits in the centre of Bedford, combining historic architecture with modern academic facilities. Science laboratories, digital learning spaces, and sports complexes have been developed alongside the original buildings. The campus is compact and walkable, with academic, sporting, and residential facilities all within the school grounds.
Bedford is approximately 50 miles north of London. London Luton Airport is the closest international gateway, roughly 20 miles south, with Heathrow around 55 miles away. Bedford station connects directly to London St Pancras in under 45 minutes by fast train, making weekend travel and airport transfers manageable for boarding families.
Annual tuition
£53,232 per year · full boarding · Senior · Upper School & Sixth Form
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | Years 3-5 | Day | — | £20,037 |
| Junior | Years 3-5 | Flexi boarding | — | £25,239 |
| Junior | Years 3-5 | Weekly boarding | — | £32,442 |
| Junior | Years 3-5 | Full boarding | — | £36,315 |
| Pre-Prep | Years 6-8 | Day | — | £26,259 |
| Pre-Prep | Years 6-8 | Flexi boarding | — | £31,470 |
| Pre-Prep | Years 6-8 | Weekly boarding | — | £40,674 |
| Pre-Prep | Years 6-8 | Full boarding | — | £43,110 |
| Senior | Upper School & Sixth Form | Day | — | £30,918 |
| Senior | Upper School & Sixth Form | Flexi boarding | — | £40,533 |
| Senior | Upper School & Sixth Form | Weekly boarding | — | £50,556 |
| Senior | Upper School & Sixth Form | Full boarding | — | £53,232 |
London Luton Airport (~20 miles); Heathrow ~55 miles; Bedford to London St Pancras under 45 min by train.
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Bedford School admits boys from age 7 through to 18. The prep division covers Years 3 to 8, and the senior school runs from Year 9 through to the sixth form. Both day and boarding places are available at each stage.
Full boarding fees for the upper school and sixth form are £51,732 per year (2025/26), based on three terms. Weekly boarding at the same stage costs £50,556 per year (2026/27), and flexi-boarding options are also available. Prep boarding fees are lower and vary by year group and number of nights per week.
Boys follow the GCSE curriculum in Years 10 and 11, then move into the sixth form for A-levels. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is available alongside A-levels for those pursuing research-intensive university applications. The school is a member of HMC and IAPS.
In 2025, Bedford School recorded 50% of A-level grades at A*–A and 85% at A*–B, both sitting well above the national independent school average. 88% of leavers progress to Russell Group or Times Top 30 universities.
Rugby, cricket, hockey, and rowing are the school’s strongest sporting traditions, supported by a boathouse on the River Great Ouse, fives courts, a swimming pool, and extensive playing fields. Beyond sport, over 100 clubs and societies run weekly, including the CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, debating, robotics, and STEM programmes.
Around 250 boys board across six houses, each led by a housemaster and supported by tutors. Houses include study bedrooms, communal lounges, and structured prep time. Full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi-boarding are all available, with flexi options starting from two nights per week.
Bedford is approximately 50 miles north of London, with fast trains reaching London St Pancras in under 45 minutes. London Luton Airport is around 20 miles away, making it the most practical option for international families. Heathrow is approximately 55 miles from the school.
The school’s alumni include Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir John Gurdon, actor John Hurt, and former England cricket captain Sir Alastair Cook. All three are recorded in the school’s published history and represent a breadth of fields across different generations.
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