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Bryanston School

United Kingdom, Dorset

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 813
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1928
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, IB (DP), BTEC Qualification
Taught languages French, German, Spanish, Latin
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Bryanston School is a co-educational day and boarding school on a 400-acre campus beside River Stour in Dorset. It educates pupils aged 3 to 18 and offers a broad academic programme through Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, the IB Diploma and Cambridge Technicals, with the Bryanston Method at heart of curriculum. In Year 9, learners begin Method classes and work on a self-determined research project with tutor guidance, while the Sixth Form timetable reserves substantial independent study time. The school houses facilities for the arts, sciences and design: the Tom Wheare Music School, the Sanger Centre for Science & Mathematics, the Don Potter Art School, the Coade Hall Theatre and the Creative Centre. Outdoor education runs alongside sport and a High Performance Sports Programme, with a Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Ten Tors training and a Boathouse on River Stour. The result is an environment that supports exploration, creativity and development.

www.bryanston.co.uk

Bryanston, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0PX

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Bryanston School has 813 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Bryanston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 0PX; 400-acre site with a riverside location near Blandford Forum; accessible from surrounding towns and with on-site transport options including daily minibus routes and a coach service for international pupils.

Stages
Pre-Prep; Prep School; Senior School; Sixth Form.

Type
Co-educational day and boarding school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
International pupils represent approximately 15% of total pupil numbers; pupils come from a broad range of nationalities; some British pupils have parents overseas and English language proficiency is required.

Additional learning support
Learning Support department offers assessment, IEPs and targeted help; SENDCo leads inclusive teaching and coordinates interventions; support across Pre-Prep, Prep, Years 9–11 and Sixth Form with small-group and one-to-one options.

School day structure
Day pupils begin in their houses and attend lessons and activities; day starts around 8:15am and ends around 6:00pm on weekdays; day pupils have a designated study area within their house; after-school events and weekend activities are available.

Bus service
Daily minibus routes: Route 1 (Sandbanks), Route 2 (Dorchester), Route 3 (Ringwood), Route 4 (Shaftesbury/Salisbury); booking via StudentSafe; standard cost per journey £8 (£12 if not booked in advance).
Diving Deeper
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Fees
Application and registration fees

- Senior School (Years 9–12) registration: non‑refundable £300.
- Sixth Form application: non‑refundable administration fee £300.
- Prep School (Nursery–Year 8) registration: non‑refundable £120.
- Acceptance deposit (Senior School): £2,200 payable on acceptance. Of this, £1,000 is credited to the pupil's first term fees and the remaining £1,200 is credited to the final leaver's bill; the acceptance deposit is non‑refundable if the place is not taken up. For parents resident outside the UK, an additional one‑term fee deposit is payable at acceptance.
- Acceptance deposit (Prep School): £420 payable on acceptance; parents resident outside the UK pay the £420 plus a one‑term fee deposit. The deposit is non‑refundable if the place is not taken up.

Tuition fees — Senior School (Years 9–12) — 2026/27

- Boarding (full boarding): £19,750 per term (equivalent to £59,250 per year).
- Day with Bed (flexi/part boarding — bed allocated in house): £16,195 per term (equivalent to £48,585 per year). Additional nights for Day with Bed pupils who stay overnight are charged at £74.53 per night.
- Day Only (no bed): £13,555 per term (equivalent to £40,665 per year).

Tuition fees — Prep School (termly, 2026/27)

- Nursery and Reception–Year 2 (per term / per session details for Nursery available): Reception–Year 2 (Day): £3,883 per term.
- Years 3–4: Day £5,704 per term; Boarding £9,650 per term.
- Year 5: Day £6,550 per term; Boarding £10,785 per term.
- Year 6: Day £6,785 per term; Boarding £10,785 per term.
- Years 7–8: Day £7,450 per term; Boarding £11,450 per term.
- Prep flexi‑boarding (per week): 1 night £67.08; 2 nights £130.81; 3 nights £191.18; 4 nights £248.20; 5 nights £305.21.
- Nursery session fees (per session / full day): Morning session (8:30–11:30) £23.63; Midday with hot lunch (11:30–12:30) £7.88; Afternoon session (12:30–15:30) £23.63; Full day (8:30–15:30) £55.13. (Early years funding may apply where eligible.)

What boarding fees include

- Boarding fees cover: tuition for the standard curriculum, use of school facilities, travel for most sports and games, personal accident insurance, meals, accommodation and laundry services. Day with Bed pupils who stay overnight incur the additional nightly charge noted above; Day Only pupils do not have breakfast or evening meals provided.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Standard payment timing: school fees are payable seven days before the start of each term by Direct Debit or bank transfer. Fee bills are published on the Parent Portal prior to payment due dates.
- Planned fee bill publication and payment due dates (example 2026/27 schedule): Autumn Term published by 14 August 2026, payment due 31 August 2026; Spring Term published by 22 December 2026, payment due 28 December 2026; Summer Term published by 7 April 2027, payment due 12 April 2027.
- Late payment charges: £40 per invoice for payments 7–14 days overdue; a further £40 for payments 15–28 days overdue; if a balance remains outstanding after 28 days, interest is charged at 5% above the Bank of England base rate.
- Bank details for UK payments and overseas payments (IBAN/BIC) are provided for bank transfers; parents are asked to ensure any bank charges are borne by the payer so the school receives the full amount. The school operates a Fees in Advance scheme (lump‑sum prepayment option).

Boarding‑related charges

- Additional night charge for Day with Bed pupils: £74.53 per night (Senior School, 2026/27).
- Prep flexi‑boarding nightly/week prices detailed above.

Other costs and typical extras (charged separately)

- iPad provision and charge: pupils are issued with an iPad, keyboard, cover and stylus; a Parent iPad Agreement applies and a charge of £100 per term is added to the bill (this includes AppleCare but not loss or non‑accidental damage cover).
- Individual music tuition: £397.50 per term per instrument (up to ~30 lessons a year); instrument hire and sheet music charged separately.
- Equestrian (when riding as a sport): £525 for ten lessons per term; horse livery example rate £285 per horse per week.
- Typical co‑curricular/recreational charges (examples): rowing £75–£125 per term, kayaking £59.50 per term, sailing ~£36 per term (2026/27 prices indicated as TBC for some items), squash/dance/sessional costs and Duke of Edinburgh expedition/registration charges. School trips, examinations, textbooks, art/DT materials and other course materials are charged separately.
- Personal expenditure that may appear on bills: school shop purchases (uniform, sports kit, stationery), transport to/from term, theatre tickets, school photographs, dry cleaning, damage charges, private medical treatment and transport for hospital visits. The campus operates cashless payments for on‑site spending and pupils should have a debit/prepaid card or digital payment method such as Apple Pay.
- Overseas pupils requiring a Child Student Visa incur a compliance fee of £600.

Refunds, deposits and notice

- Acceptance deposits are non‑refundable if the accepted place is not taken up or if the pupil is withdrawn after acceptance; for Senior School the acceptance deposit is applied as described above (credit to first term and final leaver's bill).
- A full term's written notice to the Head's Office is required to withdraw a pupil; failure to give the required notice will render the parent liable in accordance with the Parent Contract and Terms & Conditions. Example: to withdraw for September intake a notice deadline was stated as before the start of the preceding Summer Term (example date shown in the 2026/27 schedule).
- Fees are not normally reduced or refunded for absence (including illness); parents may opt into a Pupil Absence Insurance scheme which may provide reimbursement in specified circumstances.
- Refunds of payments by card or bank transfer are normally returned to the same account or card used for payment, subject to the School's anti‑money‑laundering and refund procedures.

Fee payment options and practical notes

- Primary methods for standard termly school fee payments: Direct Debit or bank transfer (UK sort code and account number provided; overseas payments by IBAN/BIC). Parents are asked to cover any bank charges so the school receives the full invoice amount. Fees in Advance (lump sum) is available as a prepayment option.
- On‑campus spending is cashless; pupils should use a debit card, prepaid card, or digital payment (e.g. Apple Pay). Holiday and short‑course bookings are paid via the course booking system and accept credit card, debit card and childcare vouchers for those bookings.

VAT and price notes

- Termly fees are quoted inclusive of VAT where indicated; the school applies VAT in accordance with HMRC rules introduced on 1 January 2025 and indicates where VAT is included or applied. Fees are reviewed periodically and may increase in accordance with the School's Terms & Conditions.
Academics

Bryanston School teaches Pearson Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, IB (DP), BTEC Qualification for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
The Bryanston Method is the heart of the curriculum and is tailored to each pupil's strengths and interests. The curriculum is deliberately broad, emphasising independent study and creative thinking across subjects. In Year 9 (D) pupils begin with Method classes and work on a self-determined research project under tutor guidance, with weekly assignment periods. GCSE years offer a broad range of subjects within a flexible timetable, with ongoing support through one-to-one or small-group sessions. In the Sixth Form, pupils may choose between A Levels, the IB Diploma, Cambridge Technicals or a combined programme, with around 40% of the timetable devoted to independent study from the start.

Exam Results
Bryanston's 2026 A Level results show strong progression to university, with 91% of A2 pupils securing a university place of their choice and 83% achieving their first-choice destination. A Level grades were strong, with 66% of all A Level grades awarded A-B, and the IB Diploma average reached 33.2 points. There were 123 university applications across the cohort.

Higher Education Progression
Bryanston offers strong pathways to higher education with high rates of progression to university. The Higher Education roadmap includes early lectures in Year 12, UCAS registration and interview preparation, and a Futures Fair that connects pupils with universities and career sectors. Pupils go on to study at a wide range of institutions in the UK and overseas.

Gifted and Talented
Bryanston recognises academically gifted pupils and provides scholarships and enrichment opportunities. Year 9 Scholarships are available for entry to Year 9, and Richard Hunter all-rounder scholarships reward talents in at least three areas (art, drama, music, sport) alongside strong academic potential; scholarships are complemented by academic enrichment and co-curricular programmes.
Wellbeing
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Parent Experience
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Facilities
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Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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Admissions

Admissions
1) Enquiry. Families submit an enquiry form or contact the Admissions Team on 01258 484 633 to begin the process and receive information about the admissions journey. 2) Group Visit. The school hosts group visits with a personal tour of the campus, opportunities to meet academic staff, and a chance to hear from a senior member of the leadership team. 3) Discovery Day. Discovery Day is held for pupils in Year 5; places are limited and early booking is recommended; attendance does not require prior registration. 4) Registration. Complete the registration form with a £300 registration fee. 5) Assessment. Assessment for a Year 9 place can start when the child is in Year 6; the current school is contacted for a reference, a CAT4 assessment is arranged, and Year 6/7 pupils may be invited to Imagine Day; Year 8 pupils may be interviewed. 6) Imagine Day. Imagine Day is an afternoon of problem solving, communication games, puzzles and activities designed to show pupils at their best. 7) Offer & Acceptance. If a place is offered, an acceptance form is completed and a £2,200 deposit is paid; £1,000 is refunded against the first term's fees and the balance against the final term's fees. 8) Activities Day. Children in Years 7 and 8 who have confirmed places for Year 9 attend Activities Days to get to know peers and staff and to support tutor allocation. 9) Year 9 Scholarships. In Autumn term of Year 8, pupils can be considered for Year 9 Scholarships in various subjects; scholarship assessments take place in the first half of the Spring term and scholarships can carry up to 10% fee remission. 10) Familiarisation Day. Familiarisation Day is held in the Summer term of Year 8; pupils meet the House Parent and visit the boarding house they have been assigned. 11) Year 6/7 Offers. Firm offers can be made in Year 6 and Year 7 to provide certainty for the transition to Year 9.

Scholarships
The school offers scholarships with up to two awards per pupil. Awards range from honorary to a maximum of 10% of the fees. The remission may be enhanced by a means-tested bursary, and a bursary can stand alone or supplement scholarships. Year 9 scholarships and Sixth Form scholarships are available as part of the scholarships program. Scholars are ambassadors for their specialist area and the school, receive one-to-one mentoring, and have access to a range of activities and events to nurture their talents.
School Events
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