FAQs

The following FAQs are based on questions recently raised by prospective parents. We hope that you find them useful. They are not in any special order.

Is Bearwood College selective?

Yes. We select those we assess as capable of benefiting from our educational provision and progressing to tertiary education.

We do not accept applicants who are not of an appropriate academic ability, who have medical or other needs that we cannot reasonably meet, or about whom we have behavioural or other concerns. We aim to achieve a broad balance of pupils’ skills and interests (actual and potential) across each yeargroup. We aim to support families, and give due preference to siblings. We provide places for ‘Foundationers’ sponsored by the Royal Merchant Navy School Foundation.

What is the selection process for entry?

Bearwood aims to assess potential of applicants as well as current achievement.

All applicants normally go through a selection exam and a one-to-one interview with the Headmaster, based in part on a detailed reference from their current school. Applicants (those aged 11 to 13) usually come from Prep Schools or Primary Schools, and sometimes from overseas as "ex-pats" or "non-Brits". Applicants who have English as a Second Language take a special English test. Applicants aged 13 in Prep Schools take Common Entrance (CE) rather than the Bearwood selection exam; each CE applicant is given an individual CE target for entry, arranged in conjunction with their Prep School.

What are the yeargroups at Bearwood called?

  • National Curriculum Year 7 = the First Form
  • National Curriculum Year 8 = the Second Form
  • National Curriculum Year 9 = the Third Form
  • National Curriculum Year 10 = the Fourth Form
  • National Curriculum Year 11 = the Fifth Form
  • National Curriculum Year 12 = the Lower Sixth Form
  • National Curriculum Year 13 = the Upper Sixth Form

Is there provision for dyslexics?

Yes. Individual programmes for a limited number of able dyslexic children are provided through the College’s ‘Study Support Centre’.

We are a small school and can communicate an individual’s requirements to those who need to take account of them. There is normally a charge for Study Support.

How are the brighter pupils stretched?

All pupils are stretched, according to their ability.

Bearwood College makes significant and substantial efforts to accurately assess and review the academic capability of all pupils, regardless of their ability. This data is used carefully to ensure that every pupil, whether brighter or more average, is given personalised individual-subject exam targets that are challenging but achievable. Classes are setted.

How does Bearwood College do in the League Tables (including the FT Oxbridge-oriented league tables)?

The College’s true performance is frequently and substantially misrepresented in the DfES and newspaper league tables for various reasons:

  1. our exam entry cohort is too small to feature in many tables
  2. we allow flexibility over the age of individual pupils; the results of a candidate who is slightly young or slightly old relative to the National Curriculum age definitions are discounted negatively against the College’s performance
  3. some of our subjects (eg Photography GCSE and A Level) are ignored in some league tables
  4. no league table accurately reflects the strong individual ‘value addition’ that Bearwood achieves; even value-added league tables are distorted by item 2 above
  5. unlike some independent schools, we do not oblige candidates once entered to withdraw from examinations on the basis of academic performance

Where do Bearwood pupils progress on to after school?

Sixth Formers move on to a range of universities, including Russell-group universities. We enjoy the occasional Oxbridge success.

The few individuals who do not choose university either attend art or drama school, or go on to serve in HM Armed Services or the Merchant Navy, and sometimes to enter overseas educational systems; Bearwood has a traditional link with the Merchant Navy and the Armed Services.

How many non-British pupils are there?

Approximately 10% of all pupils are non-British.

We aim to have relatively few from any one ethnic / cultural group, to optimise integration. Current pupil diversity includes representatives from Angola, China, France, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Libya, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, the Ukraine, and the USA.

What internet access do pupils have?

An optical fibre intranet operates in about 80% of the school. Boarders have access to the internet in their Houses.

Those areas still to be wired have access to the main school network, with terminals in the computer suites, the Library, the Art suite, the Sixth Form Centre etc. The College takes reasonable measures to manage safe internet access including the use of monitoring software.

What do Boarders do at weekends?

Along with all day pupils as well, boarders take part in the Games/Activities programme until 1 pm on Saturdays. In addition, there are organised trips almost every weekend.

This ranges from ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’ expeditions, through supervised trips to the cinema etc, to simply going shopping. Pupils are encouraged to suggest outings, and there is a range of opportunities for different ages and sexes. These activities are organised by our Weekend Activity Co-ordinator and the nine residential boarding staff.

My child is a fussy eater; may I send him in with crisps and coke?

Please do not. The College provides a balanced and nutritional diet at break, lunch and tea for day pupils, and boarders have a quality breakfast and supper as well.

We discourage pupils from ‘snacking’ on high sugar, high fat and high additive foods and drinks during the day, and ask for parental support in this. The School Shop sells only appropriate foodstuffs. Vegetarians are provided for.

What exactly are the drop-off / pick-up times for day pupils?

Weekdays: 8.20 am drop-off and 5.20 pm pick-up (or 6.30 pm for those doing ‘Day Prep’).

Saturdays: 9.45 am drop-off and 1.00 pm pick-up.

What is ‘Day Prep’?

Day Prep is a teacher-supervised prep (or homework) session.

It is voluntary, and carries no extra charge. It runs from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm Monday to Thursday.

How many pupils are there in each year group / in each class?

We aim to have approximately 15 pupils in each of three sets in the First and Second Forms, and approximately 20 pupils in each of three sets in the Third to Fifth Forms.

In the GCSE years, the precise number of pupils in a particular class is governed by the number who make that particular subject choice (maximum mid/low 20s). The total in any one yeargroup can vary from year to year. When we have gone significantly over the ideal, we have run four sets to cope with the bigger numbers. Sixth Form classes are usually between 4 and 14.

What is the “Fifth Form to Sixth Form” retention rate?

We aim to retain about 75% of Fifth Form numbers into the Sixth Form.

This compares very favourably with other independent schools in the areas. Fifth Formers who do leave Bearwood invariably move to state Sixth Form Colleges or go abroad. We caution potential Fifth Form leavers about the high drop-out rate from Sixth Form Colleges.

What is the gender ratio?

A quarter of the Bearwood pupils are girls, and the proportion is steadily rising.

Characteristically, almost 50% of our Sixth Formers are female.

What is the “boarding:day” ratio?

A third of the Bearwood pupils are boarders. A significant number of the day pupils ‘occasionally-board’. The “boarding:day” ratio increases across the yeargroups, with more pupils opting to board as they get older.

Is Chapel compulsory?

Yes. Bearwood College is a Church of England foundation.

We welcome pupils of all faiths and of none. We have regular Chapel Assemblies and Services, attended by all pupils and staff. The College seeks to sustain and express its cultural identity, but does not seek to ‘proselytise’.

How is discipline enforced?

The College has clear straightforward ‘Rules and Regulations’, which are well publicised to the pupils.

Occasionally, as in any group of young people, disciplinary sanctions are required, and which are for the good of the individual and of the College community. We try to exercise discipline with the willing cooperation of pupils. We aim for school discipline to be:

  • constructive: if a pupil has got something wrong, we want to him or her to improve as a result of the sanction
  • fair: we want to treat everyone equally, while taking proper account of each pupil’s personal circumstances; and we don’t "let someone off" if that means being unfair to another pupil
  • de minimis: we try to deal with any issue as rapidly as possible, and at the lowest level possible, with the least possible fuss – and we aim to ‘forget’ it afterwards

The Headmaster has three possible responses to a pupil whose behaviour is brought formally to his attention: HM Jankers (a form of community service); temporary suspension; permanent exclusion.

Can my child have an evening or weekend job?

We discourage pupils from having jobs in termtime.

We encourage them to have jobs in the holidays, especially jobs related to career progression.

Is Saturday school optional?

Saturday school (an extension of the Games/Activities provision) is compulsory for all pupils up to and including the Fifth Form.

The majority of Sixth Formers take part in Saturday school on a voluntary basis. It is important for a pupil to develop a wide range of skills. Through the Saturday programme pupils are being introduced to may things that are going to help them build their CV in the future. Key team matches are also played on Saturday mornings, compulsory for those selected at whatever age. In exceptional circumstances – eg an individual is training with the national judo or pentathlon teams (two existing situations) – the Headmaster may give special permission not to attend Saturday school. All pupils attend Speech Day and two Open Mornings which are on Saturdays.

Can my son keep going to his soccer team?

Yes, provided that it does not clash with school commitments.

With some “back of the envelope” calculations, there are some 200,000 children playing soccer in organised clubs / teams in each year group 8 – 18 (based on 2 million playing short-sided games organised though the FA); and there are about 150 professional football players in each year group 18 – 33. The chances of making the grade are 13,000 to 1. By all means keep the training going, but be realistic! If, as is likely, your son does not make the professional grade, he will have to fall back on his school / university achievements, so that is what ought to take priority. If your son or daughter is very good, the PE / Games Department will arrange for them to be considered for participation in county level competitions.

What is CCF?

CCF is the Combined Cadet Force.

All pupils participate in the Third and Fourth Forms. They may opt for either the Army or the Navy Sections. The programme includes Self Reliance, Field Craft and Weapons Safety. In the Fifth Form and above, participation is optional, but those who continue with the programme can qualify to develop their leadership experience as cadet-officers. The CCF organises Adventure Training and Summer Army and Navy camps, as well as helping with the training for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Why are the Houses single-sex?

Single-sex houses in a co-educational school are better for children’s development.

We firmly believe in a coeducational environment for your children. There do however have to be divisions in accommodation to meet national regulations, and it is right to provide for the natural desire of boys and girls to spend much of their time with friends of the same sex. There are co-ed recreational areas in College, and virtually all lessons and activities are fully coeducational (other than some of the games). Girls and boys tend to mature at different ages, and separate House areas allows for their development not to be dependent upon others. Single-sex Houses also allow for better competitive events in school.