Joining Booklet YEARS 5 & 6
Key Contact Information Key Telephone Numbers & Email Addresses Prep School Reception
+44 (0)1234 362274
prepinfo@bedfordschool.org.uk
Prep Absences
+44 (0)1234 362274
prepabsences@bedfordschool.org.uk
Late Room
+44 (0)1234 362276
preplateroom@bedfordschool.org.uk
Harpur Trust Fees Office
+44 (0)1234 369510
info@harpurtrust.org.uk
Bursary
+44 (0)1234 362244
bursary@bedfordschool.org.uk
Medical Centre
+44 (0)1234 362261
nurse@bedfordschool.org.uk
School Shop
+44 (0)1234 362266
shop@bedfordschool.org.uk prepguild@bedfordschool.org.uk
Prep Parents’ Guild
Useful Online Links School Website
www.bedfordschool.org.uk
Parents’ Section
www.bedfordschool.org.uk/portals/parents/home
Firefly Learning Platform
www.bedfordschool.org.uk/portals/parents/firefly-vle
Sports Fixtures & Results
www.bedfordprepsport.org.uk
School Shop
www.nolimitz.co.uk/schoolwear/bedford-school
School Facebook
Bedford-School
School Instagram
bedfordschool_uk
School Twitter
@bedfordschool
School LinkedIn
bedfordschool
Emailing Staff Please visit www.bedfordschool.org.uk/portals/parents/staff-lists for a full list of our teaching staff. Staff emails are generally formatted as follows: first initial followed by surname (without any spaces or full stops) then @bedfordschool.org.uk
Contents Year 5 Tutors......................................................................... 04
Safety Measures............................................................................................... 19
Year 6 Tutors......................................................................... 04
Contactless Payment.................................................................................... 20
Welcome................................................................................ 05
Online Ordering ............................................................................................. 20 More Than Uniform....................................................................................... 20
Future Skills Curriculum..................................................... 06
Returns and Exchanges.............................................................................. 20
School Routines................................................................... 07
Labelling ............................................................................................................. 20
Arrangements for the First Day.............................................................. 07
Nearly New Shop ........................................................................................... 21
Daily Routines................................................................................................... 07
School Uniform for Years 5 and 6......................................................... 21
Weekly Timetable........................................................................................... 09
Mouthguards.................................................................................................... 23
Beyond the Classroom........................................................ 10 Clubs and Activities....................................................................................... 10 Homework.......................................................................................................... 10 Wraparound Care................................................................ 12 Late Room........................................................................................................... 12 Day Plus ............................................................................................................... 12 Pastoral Care......................................................................... 13 Tutor Groups...................................................................................................... 13 The Houses......................................................................................................... 13 Academic Staff................................................................................................. 13 School Rules ..................................................................................................... 13 The Chapel.......................................................................................................... 13 Medical Centre................................................................................................. 14 Counselling at Bedford School.............................................................. 14
Devices.................................................................................................................. 24 Stationery Requirements for Years 5 and 6.................................... 24 Additional Requirements for Boarders.............................................. 25 Useful Information.............................................................. 26 Term Dates.......................................................................................................... 26 Exeats..................................................................................................................... 26 Lost Property..................................................................................................... 26 School Fees ....................................................................................................... 26 Payment of Fees.............................................................................................. 27 Transport - School Buses........................................................................... 27 Visa Requirements ........................................................................................ 27 Cash Management Procedures for Boarders................................. 28 Insurance ............................................................................................................ 28 Learning Support .......................................................................................... 28 English as a Second Language (ESL) ................................................. 29
Communication................................................................... 15
Enrichment......................................................................................................... 29
Your Son’s Tutor .............................................................................................. 15
Speech and Drama Lessons..................................................................... 30
How we stay in touch ................................................................................. 15
Instrumental Music Lessons ................................................................... 30
Reporting Illness, Leave of Absence and Early Departures.. 16
Hotel Accommodation in Bedford...................................................... 31
School Meals ........................................................................ 17
Travelling to Bedford from the Airports............................................................................................ 31
Typical Lunch Menu...................................................................................... 17 Meal Arrangements...................................................................................... 18
The Wider Community........................................................ 32
Special Dietary Requirements................................................................ 18
The Bedford School Association (BSA).............................................. 32
Food Allergies................................................................................................... 18
Eagle Connect.................................................................................................. 32
The School Shop.................................................................. 19 Opening Hours................................................................................................ 19 Day Boys and UK Boarders........................................................................ 19
Bedford Prep Parents’ Guild ..................................................................... 32 The Old Bedfordians Club......................................................................... 32 Bedford School Foundation..................................................................... 33
Overseas Boarders.......................................................................................... 19
Forms..................................................................................... 34
Key Measurements........................................................................................ 19
Mandatory Forms........................................................................................... 34 Optional Forms................................................................................................ 34
04 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Year 5 Tutors
Mr Dominic Affleck Head of Year 5
Mr Ed McGregor
Mrs Debbie Rossington
Mrs Rebecca Russell
Mr Sam Roberts
Year 6 Tutors
Mr Ed Loader Head of Year 6
Mrs Eugenie ChaillouKindred
Mrs Joy Leeson
Mrs Charlie Walker
Miss Jessica Hone
05 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Welcome A very warm welcome to Bedford Prep School. Starting a new school is always a time of great excitement (with perhaps just a hint of trepidation!). This booklet is designed to answer some of the questions you may have and provide you with an introduction to life here in the Prep School and how the school runs. Whilst I hope that it becomes a very useful guide for you, especially in the first few days and months of your son’s education at the school, it is even more important that you feel able to develop a personal interaction with your son’s Tutor. Please get in touch if there is anything you are not sure about, or that we haven’t covered. The same principle applies throughout your son’s time with us. Good communication is essential, and we are always happy to have a conversation and help in any way we can. We look forward to seeing you throughout the year. Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you a highly enjoyable summer, and I hope that we can start to put the pandemic behind us. We have learned a great deal from the way we, as a community, have dealt with the crisis, and we hope that you feel the benefit of this as parents of new boys. I look forward to welcoming you in person to the school in September.
Ian Silk Headmaster
06 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Future Skills Curriculum At Bedford Prep School we want our boys to begin the process of growing into happy young men, who are confident, flexible and adaptable learners, ready to respond to any challenges life throws their way, and to shape their futures in a positive way. To help with this, learning is underpinned by our Future Skills curriculum, which is a comprehensive, school-wide approach that helps boys to develop the key skills, attributes and characteristics to be happy and successful not only during their time in the Prep School but as they move up to the Upper School and life beyond.
Our Future Skills curriculum is based around the school’s core values of endeavour, curiosity, integrity, responsibility, and kindness, and aims to help to develop boys who are ‘intellectually curious adventurers’, confident and articulate, able to thrive in any setting, who understand how to learn, and who are resilient. To bring the curriculum to life for the boys, we have also developed our own superheroes, who embody our values, and whom our boys love and align themselves to.
SCHOOL RD PREP O F D E B
Endeavour PROFESSOR
Curiosity
EAGLE
CAPTAIN
Kindness
MAN OF
Integrity
Responsibility RAPTOR
07 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
School Routines Arrangements for the First Day
Daily Routines
Please note that the timings and activities below are subject to confirmation.
Arriving at School Boys should arrive at school each day between 08:00 and 08:35. Should you need to drop your son off at school before 08:00, please see our before-school care options.
Arriving on the First Day - Monday 6 September All new boys should meet outside the Erskine May Hall (EMH) at 08:35, where they will be collected by staff and prefects and taken to their Tutor rooms. Boys will spend most of the first morning with their Tutors and will be introduced to school routines. There will also be the first whole Prep School assembly of the new academic year. Leaving on the First Day At the end of the day, boys should be collected from the Prep School Astro at 16:10, unless otherwise specified. Catching the Bus All new boys who will be catching buses will meet before the end of the day in the Erskine May Hall. They will be helped to go to the correct bus stop in time to catch their bus home.
Boys are expected to be in their Tutor Room ready for registration by 08:35. The School Day There is a standard weekly timetable for lessons. Lessons begin at 08:55 each day and last for 35 to 40 minutes. As boys enter Year 6, they start to attend school on Saturday mornings from 08:40 to 11:40. This slightly longer week allows them to explore a greater range of opportunities, and helps to prepare them for the transition to the Upper School. Boys in Year 5 are offered the opportunity to attend additional sports coaching sessions on Saturday mornings. Two afternoons a week, boys take part in games and activities. Years 5 and 6 sports fixtures against other schools are usually played on a Wednesday as well as some Saturdays. The main sports by term are: autumn - rugby, spring - hockey, summer - cricket. End of the School Day The school day ends at 16:10 each weekday. Boys can be collected from the Prep School Astro pitch between 16:10 and 16:30 or can catch their school bus home. For parents who need to extend the school day beyond 16:30 we offer a number of options, including our free of charge Late Room. Please click here for full details of the available wraparound care options. Parents arriving by car should enter the school via the Palmer’s Gate at the bottom of De Parys Avenue and exit via the Inky Gate onto St Peter’s Street. We ask that parents switch off their car engines while they are queueing to enter the school as well as when parked to help minimise air pollution.
08 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
A Typical Day
Creative design technology
Music rehearsals
Break time fun
Fun clubs
Tasty lunches Engaging drama
Geography and archaeology
Wide choice of sport
New challenges
09 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Weekly Timetable Mon
Tue
Wed Arrive at school
Thu
Fri
Sat
Tutor Room
Tutor Room
Tutor Room
Tutor Room
Tutor Room
Years 6 - 8
08:00 - 08:35 08:35 - 08:50 Period 1 08:55 - 09:35 Period 2 09:35 -10:15 10:15 - 10:35 Period 3 10:35 - 11:15 Period 4 11:15 - 11:55 11:55 - 13:00 12:20 - 13:00 13:00 - 13:25 Period 5 13:30 -14:10 Period 6 14:10 - 14:45 14:45 - 15:00 Period 7 15:00 - 15:35 Period 8 15:35 - 16:10 16:10 - 16:30 16:30 - 17:45
Period 1 08:40 - 09:20 Period 2 09:20 - 10:00 B
R
E
A
K Period 3 10:20 - 11:00 Period 4 11:00 - 11:40
LUNCH Extra-Curricular Activities Prep School Assembly
Y5-Y6 Assembly
Prep School Assembly
Y5-Y6 Tutor Time
House Meetings
A
K
Games Y5-Y6 B
R
E Games Y5-Y6 Pick Up / Break Late Room
Games Y5-Y6
10 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Beyond the Classroom Clubs and Activities The school offers an extensive and diverse range of clubs and activities. We actively encourage boys (though most need little encouragement!) to participate in a new activity each term when they join, as well as trying out things that they would not normally consider. It is an ideal way to discover new interests or hidden talents. Clubs and societies typically run at lunchtimes, after school and occasionally before school. And, with the odd exception, no charge is made. A selection of the clubs and societies typically available for boys in Year 5 and Year 6 are shown below. Academic and General Interest Academic Skills Animal Care Club Beginners Chinese Board Games Club Card Games
General Knowledge Club Historical Novels Club History Club Hungry Boys' Club Intermediate Chinese
Chess Club Climbing Club (Y6) Doodle Maths Club Design Technology Catch Up Design Technology Enrichment Gardening Club
Italian Club Maths Clinic Maths Club Enrichment Scrabble Wordshark Club
Musical Assembly Band Chapel Choir Guitar Ensemble Orchestra Prep Concert Band
Samba Band Steel Band Steel Pans The Jam Factory Theory Class
Prep Rock Group Recorder Karate /Ninjas
Wind and Brass All Stars Windpower!
Sporting In addition to the main sports on offer. Badminton Basketball (Y6) Cricket Nets Fencing Fives (Y6) Golf Squad Ice breakers (swimming) Indoor Football League Non swimmers
Running Skiing Squad Swimming Squash Swim Training Table Tennis Tennis Water Polo
Homework Homework is an important part of your son’s education, and plays a significant role in developing independent working skills and time management. Your son will be issued with a student planner on the first day of term and will be expected to record his homework on a daily basis together with the date when it is due. We also ask that parents check and sign their son’s student planner each day. In Years 5 and 6, boys are likely to receive three hours of homework each week. Year 5 Your son will be given a homework timetable which outlines what homework should be done each night. All homework should be entered into the student planner. Boys are expected to complete the homework on the day assigned to it and not the day before it is due in! If for any reason no homework has been set, then a boy should write ‘no homework’ in his book, and the time allocated should be used for revision or general reading.
11 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Year 6 Homework will be set on a weekly basis. In general, boys should be given at least two working days to complete homework, although there will be some occasions where work has to be completed in less time because of the demands of the curriculum. When work is set which is extended over a number of weeks, pupils will be given interim deadlines to assist them in completing the task and these should be entered in the planner. The amount of work will vary from week to week and boys will have the opportunity to plan their workload through the week, which should help them develop the important skill of time management. Where boys are finding this difficult, Tutors and subject teachers will be able to assist them. Time management is an important skill to develop as demands and expectations increase. It is expected that most homework will be completed at home. However, rooms are available for study or homework during the lunch break.
12 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Wraparound Care Late Room All day boys in the Prep School can make use of the Late Room. This free-of-charge facility is open from 16:30 to 17:45 in the Inky Library each weekday. Boys have the opportunity to complete their homework or read a book in a supervised setting. The Late Room is run by Mrs Brattle, the Late Room Supervisor, together with a member of the Senior Leadership Team, both of whom are available to help with any queries boys and parents may have. No refreshments are provided but boys are encouraged to bring a snack to eat at the end of school before going to the Late Room. Booking is not required to make use of the Late Room. If you would like to find out more, please call Prep Reception on 01234 362274. If you need to contact the Late Room, please call 01234 362276 between 16:15 and 17:45 and speak with Mrs Brattle. She can also be contacted on preplateroom@bedfordschool.org.uk
Day Plus The Day Plus Programme is available to all day boys in the Prep School and consists of three different options providing a before and after school programme and flexible boarding opportunities. Before-school This before-school facility is available in Eagle House from 07:30 each week day. Boys are supervised from this time and join the boarders for breakfast at 08:00. Please note: boys should not be in school before 08:00. This is the earliest time that staff supervision is available. The before-school option should be used if you require your son to be in school before 08:00.
After-school The after-school option allows boys to join the boarders in Eagle House from 16:10 until 19:30 each weeknight. They take part in a supervised prep session, join the boarders for an evening meal and enjoy a range of activities on certain nights. Flexible Boarding Eagle House also offers flexible boarding on an ad hoc and regular basis. During their stay, boys become part of the boarding community. The flexible boarding option includes supervised prep, an evening meal, supper and breakfast as well as a range of activities. Bookings To book any of the Day Plus options, please email eaglebookings@bedfordschool.org.uk. We ask that parents give 48 hours’ notice for all flexible boarding bookings. Pricing Details of the Day Plus prices can be found on the school website. Discounts are also available on block bookings for a minimum of a half term (night/s booked must be the same day/s each week) - please enquire when booking. All before-school and after-school charges are invoiced termly.
13 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Pastoral Care We believe that for a boy to learn he must be happy and we have several tiers of pastoral care to ensure that the needs of all boys in our school are fulfilled. The Assistant Head (Pastoral) has overall responsibility for the pastoral care and safeguarding in the Prep School and oversees a team of Heads of Year – one for each year group – who have responsibility for both the academic and pastoral needs of the boys in their year group. Each Head of Year also has responsibility for managing the Tutors in their year group. For any query about a pastoral or academic concern, your son’s Tutor should be the first point of contact. Please be assured that they will work hard to ensure that your son settles in quickly and successfully. We encourage parents to contact their son’s Tutor by email if they have any concerns about their son that they may wish to share with them. Your son’s Head of Year will also be an important point of contact.
Tutor Groups From Year 5 each boy is allocated to a form with a Pastoral Tutor who usually teaches their form for at least one subject. Boys have a form base but move around the school to specialist areas for lessons and are taught by subject specialists. This pastoral system continues until Year 8 when boys are encouraged to become increasingly independent in their learning. The curriculum continues to be broad, with expectations increasing in terms of assessment and homework. In Year 5, boys are grouped by ability for the first time in maths. This is based on measures of underlying ability. Boys are assessed regularly through the year by means of end of unit tests in the majority of subjects. From Year 6 to Year 8, boys are also grouped by ability in other subjects based on measures of underlying ability and performance in assessments.
The Houses On joining the Prep School, your son will be allocated to one of four houses: Bunyan, Harpur, Howard or Whitbread. Each house includes boys of all ages and seven members of staff, including the Housemaster. A house assembly takes place weekly. Inter-house competitions are organised across the age range and in as many fields as possible, and all boys are given the opportunity to contribute points for their house..
Academic Staff A full list of academic staff in the Prep School can be found in the parents’ section of the school website.
School Rules Copies of all school policies, including the school rules, can be found in the parents’ section on the school website. We would be grateful if you could draw your son’s attention to the following policies: ‘School Rules’ and ‘Mobile Phones and Other Digital Technology’.
The Chapel The school welcomes all faiths. Its foundation is nevertheless rooted in the Christian tradition and the chapel plays an important part in the life of the school community, symbolising Bedfordians past and present, and providing a daily reminder of life’s spiritual dimension. Families are always welcome to join us for Sunday Services in the chapel. Details of services can be found on the chapel page on the website. The school Chaplain, Mr McCleery, is available throughout the school term and during much of the holidays, and provides pastoral counselling and support to any member of the school community.
14 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Medical Centre The school has a professionally staffed and equipped medical centre which offers all boys a kind, confidential and professional service. They deliver a high standard of nursing care: aiming to treat every pupil holistically, looking at their social, psychological and physical needs. The medical centre has a treatment room, bedroom and a quiet seating area. The medical centre supports the national child measurements programme by taking measurements of pupils in Year 6 (ages 10-11). Medical Questionnaires Medical questionnaires are completed before admission to the school. The school nurse will check these and identify any health issues. If necessary, a care plan is written in consultation with you and your son. It is essential that your son’s medical questionnaire is completed and sent to the school by Friday 11 June. We may be unable to allow your son to start with us if this form has not been completed in full and returned to the school. You will also be asked to regularly update your son’s medical information during his time at the school to ensure that his medical record remains up to date. EU Medical Cards Boys from within the European Union (EU) should bring their medical card with them at the start of each term. Medicines Short-term prescribed medication (e.g. antibiotics) prescribed to day boys by their GP that require a school-time dose must be handed into the medical centre in their original container displaying clear instructions. In addition, a letter from a parent giving permission for school staff to give this dose is required. The nurses at the medical centre can be contacted on +44 (0)1234 362261 or email: nurse@ bedfordschool.org.uk.
Further information on the giving of medicines to day boys can be viewed here. We would ask that you refer to this guide for detailed information and instructions. Staff at the Medical Centre y Jill Turner-Webb, Lead Nurse y Trish Comerford, School Nurse (part time) y Karen Henry, School Nurse (part time) y Holly Clifton, School Nurse (part time) y Claire Collins, School Nurse (part time) y Lisa Kenna, Administrator (part time) The nursing team are available during term time from 08:15 to 17:30, Monday to Saturday. The school Medical Officers are local GPs from the De Parys Group. They are available in school each Tuesday and Thursday between 10:30 and 11:30.
Counselling at Bedford School The school has a long established counselling service. All boys are free to visit and talk to a school counsellor in complete confidence for help and support during difficult times. Boys can seek help and advice on a wide range of issues. Parents can also be seen, and referred to counsellors in their locality, if ongoing support is required. Counsellors are available at school during term time: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
12:00 - 15:00 15:00 - 17:00 12:00 - 15:00 12:00 - 17:00 12:00 - 14:00
Appointments can be made by emailing counsellor@ bedfordschool.org.uk, by calling +44 (0)1234 362248 or through the medical centre: +44 (0)1234 362261.
15 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Communication Communication between parents, boys and staff, both formally and informally, is valued and is seen as integral to each boy’s success at the school. We encourage you to develop a strong relationship with your son’s Tutor, and to get in touch with any concerns, queries and, importantly, successes both in and out of school. Your son’s Head of Year will also be available as the next point of contact.
Your Son’s Tutor Your son’s Tutor is your first point of contact at the school. They will be in contact with you by phone or email at least once each half term to update you on your son’s progress, and are happy to discuss any queries or concerns you may have.
How we stay in touch School Website The parents’ pages of the school website host a wealth of useful information including notices, school policies, term dates, the school calendar, staff lists, parent letters, news and events, as well as links to our dedicated sports website, the secure parents’ portal and Firefly (e-learning site). The pupils’ pages of the school website include a similar selection of information tailored to their needs. Secure Parent and Pupil Portals We offer parents and boys online access to a variety of information via our parent and pupil portals. These portals are real time and cover such areas as reports, rewards and conduct, timetable, activities, exam results and detentions. We will write to you shortly before the start of term with details on how to selfregister for the parent portal. Boys are automatically granted access to the pupil portal through their school network account.
Firefly (school e-learning site) The school has an online teaching and learning resource called Firefly, which can be accessed via the parents’ section on the website. Boys and parents will find details of each subject and year group’s schemes of work and other topic resources, as well as revision material. Details of extra-curricular activities can also be found on Firefly. Boys’ homework is also set via Firefly. If you ask your son to login to Firefly using his username and password, you can take a look at the work he is being set. The Firefly app can also be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Sports Website Our dedicated sports website holds details of all our fixtures and results as well as team sheets and useful directions for away fixtures: www.bedfordprepsport.org.uk To access the team sheets, please use the password: deparysav A web app is also available for the sports website. Instructions on how to add the web app to a mobile phone can be found here. Bulletins and Emails We send parents regular emails and newsletters, to ensure that you have all the information that you need for your son as well as news about the wider school community. Each week during term time we send a newsletter called The Week, which provides a round-up of the week’s top stories and the Prep Bulletin, which contains all the key information for the week ahead.
16 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Social Media Regular news stories and updates are posted on the school’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as the school website. We advise that Prep parents follow BPSTravelInfo (@ TravelBPS) on Twitter for details of any delays in trips or fixtures returning to school. Classlist Towards the end of the summer you will be invited by the Prep Parents’ Guild to join Classlist, which is a private social networking site specifically for parents and guardians of Bedford School to keep in touch with each other. Once you have received the invitation from school, all you have to do is download the Classlist app on your phone or visit the website www.classlist.com and search for Bedford School. Then it is just a case of following the very straightforward joining instructions. Once you have signed up, you can use Classlist to talk to other parents, find out about the Prep Guild and the activities they’ve got planned, join (or even set up) special interest groups, discuss arrangements for parties and lift-shares, and even find a home for an old bicycle. It’s simple to use and we hope will help to introduce you to even more of our fantastic parent community. If you do have any queries about Classlist, please contact the Prep Parents Guild at prepguild@ bedfordschool.org.uk.
Reporting Illness, Leave of Absence and Early Departures We ask that parents advise us of any required absence from school. Reporting Illness If your son is unable to attend school due to illness or injury, we ask that you notify us by completing the ‘Absence - Notification of Illness’ form, which can be found in the forms section on the Parent Portal. You can also call Prep Reception on +44 (0)1234 362274 in emergencies. It is very helpful if you can let us know before 08:45 so that we can notify all necessary staff of your son’s absence. Leave of Absence Any requests for leave of absence (with the exception of medical appointments – see below) should be made using the ‘Absence – Request for Exceptional Circumstances’ form, which can also be found in the forms section on the Parent Portal. Your form will be received by the Headmaster and your son’s Tutor. Medical Leave of Absence If your son needs to come into school late or leave during school hours for a doctor, dentist or hospital appointment, we ask that you complete the ‘Absence – Medical Appointment’ form in the forms section on the Parent Portal. This form will automatically inform Prep Reception and your son’s Tutor of the appointment.
17 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
School Meals The school catering team offers boys a wide variety of wholesome, delicious food choices and encourages good nutritional habits and a healthy lifestyle. Boarders and day boys from across the school eat together each day in the Dining Hall and enjoy a wide range of tempting options. The weekly lunch and supper menus can be viewed in the parents’ section of the school website.
Typical Lunch Menu Soup Station
Roasted Tomato & Basil / Seasonal Soup
Jacket and Pasta Bar
Home Baked Jacket Potatoes with Baked Beans Freshly cooked Pasta and Chef’s Seasonal Sauces, served with Mild Cheddar, Nut Free Pesto, Flaked Tuna or Chicken Pots
Main Counter Option 1
Cumberland Sausage, Glazed Carrots, Sweetcorn and Garden, Peas, Herbed Mash and Rich Onion Gravy
Main Counter Option 2
Chicken Tikka, Cardamom Rice, Bombay Aloo and Potatoes
Vegetarian
Vegetarian Sausage, Glazed Carrots, Sweetcorn and Garden, Peas, Herbed Mash and Rich Onion Gravy
Special Diets Main Course
Halal/Gluten Free Sausage, Glazed Carrots, Minted Peas and Rich Onion Gravy
Cold Desserts
Seasonal Selection of Whole and Sliced Fruits and Jellies, Baked Raspberry Ripple Cheesecake
Hot Desserts
Sticky Date Banoffee Pudding with Toffee Sauce
Yoghurt Bar
Daily Selection of Freshly Homemade Yoghurts accompanied with Fruit Pulps, Compotes, Granolas, Crunchy and Sponge Toppings
Special Diets Desserts
Daily Selection of Gluten Free Cakes, Puddings and Desserts
18 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Meal Arrangements The following meals are included in your son’s fees: Day boys: lunches during term time - Monday to Friday for Years 3 - 5, Monday to Saturday for Years 6-8 Weekly boarders: all meals from Monday breakfast to Saturday lunch during term time Boarders: all meals during term time
Special Dietary Requirements If your son has special dietary needs for medical reasons, religious or personal beliefs, these will be catered for by our chefs. To help us ensure the right food is available for him, we ask that parents complete the dietary requirements section of the Medical Information form at the back of this document. Any query you have on the catering arrangements should be raised with the Catering Manager in the first instance by emailing cateringmanager@ bedfordschool.org.uk, and thereafter with the Director of Finance and Operations, if necessary. Parents of boys who have a special reason for not taking lunch in school should write to the Headmaster explaining the situation. If, in exceptional circumstances, permission to take lunch at home is given, there will be no reduction in fees.
Food Allergies Bedford School provides all its catering through Sodexo, a leading contract catering company. In conjunction with Sodexo, the school seeks to ensure that suitable procedures are in place to manage all potential pupil allergy issues and obviously we are keen that all new pupils enjoy a positive dining experience from day one. If your child has been diagnosed with a food allergy, please ensure you complete the Food Allergen form. Please note: this form must be received by us by Friday 11 June.
The details of the allergy should be supported by a doctor’s or dietician’s diagnosis/assessment of their condition in writing. The correct medical information will ensure that Sodexo staff are able to identify specific allergens in ingredients which your child is allergic to, so that an appropriate diet can be provided. Returning this form by the due date will allow Sodexo to evaluate and clarify this information where necessary, enabling them to make any specific arrangements or adjustments to ensure the most appropriate provision of school meals for your son. Please ensure that you also inform us whenever there is a change to your child’s medical condition which may affect their food requirement, or if there is an update from the doctor regarding their food allergy. We hope that you are able to assist the school through providing all necessary information required to enable the safe provision of school meals for your child. If you require any further information about Sodexo’s ‘Allergy in Schools Procedures’, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We would ask that you do not send your child to school with treats for their classmates/friends, to avoid the risk of a child being inadvertently given something that may cause an allergic reaction. Please also note that nuts are not permitted on the school estate.
19 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
The School Shop Our school uniform and sportswear is supplied by No Limitz.
We ask that parents and guardians check the school shop website regularly for updates
Their store is located at:
www.nolimitz.co.uk/schoolwear/bedford-school
25 Shuttleworth Road Bedford MK41 0HS
Key Measurements
Tel: 01234 350720 Email: shop@bedfordschool.org.uk
Opening Hours
Staff will not be able to measure your son in store, so please prepare by taking your son’s measurements before coming in. This will help to reduce unnecessary trying on of clothes, save time and make the process safer and more efficient. The key measurements are: y Waist
Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 18:00 Saturday: 9:00 to 17:30
y Inside leg
Day Boys and UK Boarders
y Chest
We kindly ask that all day boys and UK boarders make every effort to book an appointment between 14 June and 30 August. Appointments from 31 August are reserved for overseas boarders.
All measurements should be in inches, and a guide on sizes can be viewed here.
All customers requiring more than three different items will need to make an appointment via the online booking system.
y Collar/Neck y Shoe Size
Staff will be on hand to offer guidance whilst maintaining a safe distance, as much as possible.
Safety Measures
There are a range of different appointment lengths to cater for individual needs, and it is advised to book as soon as possible.
No Limitz will adhere to government guidance around social distancing as far as possible to minimise risk and keep both customers and staff safe.
We ask that all appointments are booked by 30 June to enable No Limitz to allocate and provide adequate resource.
The following measures will be in place in store:
To make an appointment, please visit: www.nolimitz.co.uk/schoolwear/bedford-school
Overseas Boarders We will be offering uniform appointments at the No Limitz store specifically for overseas boarders from 31 August onwards.
y Customers will be greeted, checked in for appointments where appropriate, and/or advised if they are able to browse. Browsing will be subject to the number of customers in store at any one time. In the event that the store is at capacity, customers will be admitted on a one in one out basis. y Customers must maintain at least a two-metre space from other customers at all times. There will be posters reminding customers of this and markers on the floor in high traffic areas.
20 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
y Protective screens erected at till points. y Staff will be wearing appropriate PPE, and there will be hand sanitiser available at various locations in store. y Routine cleaning and disinfection of all regular touch points will be carried out. y Changing rooms will be available for school uniform customers, but please minimise the number of garments you try on. Please ask a member of staff for advice. Items tried on and not purchased will be steamed and quarantined before being returned to the shop floor. To assist in maintaining social distancing and to maximise the number of customers we can serve at any one time, where possible we request that only one adult attend and ideally only bring the child requiring uniform. Parents must be responsible for their children at all times and ensure they are adhering to social distancing.
Contactless Payment Please consider setting up a contactless payment method such as ‘Apple Pay’, if you have not already. Chip and pin machines will be wiped down after each use, but contactless payment helps reduce risk further.
Online Ordering Online ordering is strongly encouraged for small topup orders, where customers are confident with sizing. Orders placed online can either be delivered to your home or for click and collect in store.
Returns and Exchanges Customers have an extended period of up to 90 days to make returns. Exchanges must be pre-arranged with No Limitz by emailing shop@bedfordschool. org.uk or calling 01234 350720. Exchanges will be processed via the click and collect entrance. Please ask for further details in store at the time of your appointment.
Labelling It is essential that all clothes, including mufti and bags are clearly marked with the owner’s name and initials. No Limitz have partnered with The Zip Yard in Bedford to offer a discounted service for customers of No Limitz and process all labelling orders should you wish to use them. Orders must be dropped off at The Zip Yard but can be collected from either The Zip Yard or No Limitz, whichever is most convenient. Tel: 01234 217771 Email: info@bedford.thezipyard.co.uk Please use the following guidelines to label your son’s sports kit and equipment. Games Kit Labels Please use the blue labels with red writing supplied by the School Shop. y Reversible Sports Shirt – Blue side opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle. y Blue Sports Shorts - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle. y Blue Sports Socks – Both labelled inside at the top.
More Than Uniform
y Tracksuit Top - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle.
No Limitz can also help with all your sports requirements, including trainers, rugby boots, hockey shoes, sticks etc. as well as school shoes, bags, labels and stationery.
y Tracksuit Bottoms – Opposite leg and level with the bottom of the Eagle. y School Hoodie - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle.
21 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
y Sports Kit Bag – Outside and on top. y Base layers and thermals – clearly labelled.
School Uniform for Years 5 and 6
y School Cricket Jumper – Inside collar.
All boys are expected to wear the school uniform, of which all major items are available from the school shop. Variations from the agreed uniform list are not permitted and boys must ensure that the correct footwear, overcoats and jerseys are worn.
PE Kit Please use the blue labels with red writing supplied by the School Shop.
The basic school uniform for boys in the Prep School costs approximately £450. Full details and prices can be viewed online at
y House White Shirt - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle.
www.nolimitz.co.uk/schoolwear/bedford-school
y School Cricket Shirt – Inside collar. y White Cricket trousers – Inside waist band.
y White Shorts - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle. y White Socks - Both labelled inside at the top. y Swim Shorts - Opposite and level with the bottom of the Eagle. y Swim trunks - Inside waist band. y Blue PE bag – Outside. y Blue and Red Swim Bag – Outside and on the top red band. Additional Equipment – does not need to be the blue and red labels. Please ensure all personal additional kit and equipment (hockey stick, cricket bat, boots, trainers, towel etc.) are clearly named. Please note there is also an embroidery option available at the school shop for all bags.
Winter Uniform Prep School blazer Eagle long sleeve navy jumper or Eagle sleeveless navy jumper Blue shirt (long sleeve) White shirt (long sleeve) – for special events House tie Grey trousers Grey socks Plain black leather shoes (not ‘trainer’ style) School book bag
Nearly New Shop The Parents’ Guild Nearly New Shop holds a good selection of second hand uniform including sports equipment. The shop will be open all day on Wednesday 30 June for new parents looking to buy any nearly new items of uniform. There may be other dates added, please keep an eye out for notifications on the Guild Shop page on the school website. The nearly new shop can be contacted by email: guildshop@bedfordschool.org.uk or via twitter (@ bedfordguild).
School rucksack (optional) Art overall School coat - if worn, must be school coat (optional) School fleece (optional) School hat (optional) School scarf (optional) Gloves (black or navy) (optional)
22 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Summer Uniform - via notification from the Deputy Head Blue short sleeve shirt (to be worn open at the neck without a tie) Eagle long sleeve navy jumper or Eagle sleeveless navy jumper Grey trousers or grey bermuda shorts (optional) Grey socks Plain black leather shoes (not ‘trainer’ style) Games and Sportswear Essential Games Kit School tracksuit Navy shorts Navy games socks Outdoor trainers School hoodie (optional) White base layer (optional in summer) Blue/white reversible rugby shirt Blue under/cycle shorts (optional) Boots with safety studs or moulded studs School sports bag Blue base layer (optional in autumn and spring) Towel
PE Kit House t-shirt White (plain) sports socks PE bag White shorts Non-marking trainers
23 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Swimming Kit
Cricket helmet (optional)
Navy swimming shorts or jammers
Cricket bat (optional)
School swim bag
Cricket box/jock strap (essential)
Towel
Cricket pads, gloves and thigh pads (optional)
Goggles (optional)
* Note: team players will be expected to wear spikes when playing cricket
Rugby (main sport in Autumn Term) Mouthguard (essential) Shoulderpads (optional) Headgear (optional) Hockey (main sport in Spring Term) Mouthguard (essential) Shin pads (essential)
Essential kit for other sports Football - shin pads Tennis - racquet Other sports will advise participants of any additional kit required.
Mouthguards
Cricket (main sport in Summer Term)
As you may be aware, the governing bodies of rugby and hockey strongly recommend the wearing of custom-fitting mouthguards at all levels. The school policy is to adhere to these guidelines. We have asked OPRO, the dental organisation that specialises in mouthguards, to visit the school on Tuesday 7 September at 09:00 to give everyone, including wearers of fixed braces, the opportunity to have a dentally fitted mouthguard at a reasonable cost.
Cricket whites trousers (for team players, optional for others)
OPRO now visits a very substantial number of schools, and provides the following service:
School cricket shirt (essential)
y A qualified dental professional to take the impression.
Cricket cap (essential)
y A CE approved individually named mouthguard.
Hockey stick (essential) Hockey gloves (optional) Stick bag (optional)
School cricket slipover or school cricket long sleeve jumper (essential) Navy cricket training shorts (optional) Sports trainers (essential)*
y Anti-microbial mouthguards and cases available which reduce bacteria growth by 99.9%. y Range of designs available which can be ordered online. y School name in mouthguard. y Mouthguards returned to school in approximately one week.
24 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
y Prompt replacement in case of loss (OPRO keep the impression for up to nine months, so no need to have a new impression during the same season).
y A dental accident warranty for 12 months.
*To guarantee the best digital learning experience, Wi-Fi capability is an important consideration. A pupil’s personal device should be capable of 2.4GHz or 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity. This means that the device should have 802.11 a/n or ac as the Wi-Fi standard. Also, be aware that if your child’s device is equipped with wireless standard 802.11 b/g/n, then it is unlikely to be 5 GHz compatible.
In order to take advantage of this service all you need do is:
We would also ask that boys have a set of headphones for personal use in school, too.
1. Go to www.opro.com to view the full range of designs available.
Boys are expected to have their device charged ready for the day with sufficient charge to last three to four hours.
y A comprehensive aftercare service. OPRO have a dedicated customer care team to address any fitting issues or mouthguard queries.
2. All orders need to be placed via the website. 3. In all cases please deal directly with OPRO and not the school. If your child already has a mouthguard, please check if it fits. Growth does limit the mouthguard’s life.
Please click here to read our device FAQs.
Stationery Requirements for Years 5 and 6
Devices
Fountain pen or roller ball pen - blue/black ink
From Year 5, we complement our traditional teaching and learning with innovative use of digital technologies in the classroom. As such, each boy is required to have a device for use in lessons - a laptop or laptop/tablet hybrid is preferable to a tablet.
Pencils
There are minimum functional specifications recommended for each boy to use his device for digital learning. As Bedford School uses mostly cloud-based apps in the classroom, it is not essential to have a high specification device to run the latest applications.
Black fineliner for DT
Devices should meet the requirements of the Digital Pencil Case criteria: y Wi-Fi connectivity* y Web browser access to school email accounts y Camera and picture storage
Eraser Protractor - either 360o or 180o
Highlighter Pens Scissors Transparent ruler Pencil sharpener Pair of compasses Red, green and black biros
y Video and audio recording
Coloured pencils/felt tip pens
y App for taking notes
Glue stick
y Devices should have a keyboard attached and boys can bring a mouse too, if it is easier to use than a touch pad
Small language dictionary (ESL pupils only)
y A good quality protective case (labelled)
Stationery pack available
25 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Additional Requirements for Boarders 1 single duvet cover and matching pillow case 1 school sports bag 2 bath towels (not too thick please) Toiletries bag with brush, comb, flannel, soap, toothbrush, shampoo/shower gel and deodorant 1 dressing gown and slippers 2 pairs pyjamas 2 pairs trousers/jeans 2 sweatshirts 2 jumpers 4 t-shirts 2 pairs leisure shorts 1 tracksuit 4 pairs coloured socks 6 pairs underpants 1 pair trainers 1 waterproof kagool 1 warm jacket/coat
It is essential that all clothes, including socks, underwear and footwear, are clearly named. All clothes must be able to be tumble dried. Please inform Matron upon arrival if there are any exceptions to this. It is very helpful if parents can send the correct numbers of each item as indicated, especially adhering to requirements for house and general play clothes, as each boy has only one wardrobe. All personal equipment, such as laptops, iPads and mobile phones, should be clearly marked with your son’s name. All electrical items will be subject to a safety check prior to their use, and two-pin adapters must NOT be used on any appliances.
26 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Useful Information Term Dates
Exeats
Autumn Term 2021 Term starts: Monday 6 Sept (08:40)
Each half term there is one Exeat weekend (with the exception of the second half of the summer term), which provides boys and staff with a well-earned break from their busy timetables. On Exeat weekends school finishes at 16:10 on Friday and resumes at 08:35 on Monday.
Exeat: Sat/Sun 25/26 Sept Half Term: Friday 15 Oct (16:10) to Monday 1 Nov (08:40) Exeat: Sat/Sun 20/21 Nov Term finishes: Friday 10 Dec (11:50) Spring Term 2022 Term starts : Wednesday 5 Jan (08:40) Exeat: Sat/Sun 22/23 Jan Half Term: Friday 11 Feb (16:10) to Monday 21 Feb (08:40) Exeat: Sat/Sun 12/13 Mar Term finishes: Friday 25 Mar (11.50) Summer Term 2022 Term starts: Wednesday 20 Apr (08.40) Exeat: Sat/Sun/Mon 30 Apr/1/2 May Half Term: Friday 27 May (16:10) to Monday 6 Jun (08:40)
Boarders are expected to leave Eagle House by 18:00 on the Exeat Friday and return between 18:00 and 20:00 on the Sunday evening.
Lost Property Any misplaced uniform, sports kit or school equipment that is found around the school is collected and taken to the lost property hut, which is next to the parking area on the Prep School playground. It is essential that all items of school uniform and kit are named so that they can be returned to boys. Named items of lost property are sorted into each Tutor’s box. Boys can then go and collect them from the lost property hut at break time and lunchtime. Any named items not collected are usually returned to boys on a weekly basis. Parents can also visit the lost property hut each weekday between 15:45 and 16:10.
Term finishes: Friday 7 Jul (16:10)
School Fees
At the beginning of each term, boarders return by 18:00 the previous evening and, after half terms, by 20:00 the previous evening.
Details of fees are sent to parents each year and are also available throughout the year on the school website.
We strongly recommend that all Prep Boarders go home to their families during the Christmas, Easter and Summer Holidays, as well as the two week half term break in October.
Fees for the forthcoming year are announced each summer term.
27 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Payment of Fees Termly Payments Termly fee invoices are uploaded to the secure parent portal before the start of each term. Payment should be made by direct debit, bank transfer, debit or credit card before the term commences. Monthly Payments Fees can also be paid, by direct debit only, in nine equal instalments on predetermined dates (usually the first working day of the month or the first day of term if later). Autumn Term
Sept, Oct, Nov
Spring Term
Jan, Feb, Mar
Summer Term
May, Jun, Jul
Fees in Advance The Harpur Trust accepts payment of fees by lump sum in advance. Further details of this scheme are available from the Harpur Trust Fees Office, tel: +44 (0)1234 369500. Fees Invoice - Disbursements (Blue Bills) Any additional costs not covered by the main tuition fee will be added to the following term’s fees invoice and itemised accordingly, as these are charged for in arrears. These may cover the cost of additional text books, additional excursions or trips, private music tuition, ESL lessons, subscriptions, shop purchases or any boarding house expenses, etc. Further details about the fees invoice are available from: The Director of Finance and Operations, 10 Glebe Road, Bedford, MK40 2PL Tel: +44 (0)1234 362245, email: bursary@bedfordschool.org.uk.
Whilst the school does not endorse the transport suppliers, these companies have been used for many years by Bedford School and other independent schools in Bedford. It is the responsibility of parents to organise transport to and from school and to make their own checks as they deem necessary. For further information on routes, times and costs, please contact the providers directly.
Visa Requirements All non-British passport holders are required to have a visa to study in the UK. We have a Home Office Licence which enables us to take international students and to issue a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) for boys applying for a Child Student Visa. To enable us to hold the Home Office Licence we have to follow certain procedures and are regularly checked by the Home Office to ensure we are working within the guidelines. We would, therefore, be grateful if you could assist us with any request in regard to this matter. Families whose sons require a Child Student Visa should have received a communication from us, but if not, please contact us as soon as possible. Non EU Applications When your visa application has been approved, your son will be issued with a vignette in his passport which is valid for 90 days and will allow him into the UK. Please advise us and send a copy of both the confirmation letter and vignette as soon as you receive them. Your son’s visa in the form of a BRP (Biometric Resident Permit) card will be sent to the school.
Transport - School Buses
On your son’s first day at the school he must bring his passport with him so we may physically see the passport and vignette before he can sign and receive his BRP.
There is an extensive network of buses to all Harpur Trust Schools. This transport system is run by voluntary parent associations and commercial suppliers, a list of which can be found on the school website.
EU Applications Successful EU applications will receive a letter with a link where you are able to generate a Share Code
28 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
which needs to be sent to our Admissions team straight away. Your son will also need to bring his passport to the Admissions Office for checking upon arrival. If your son has a British National Overseas passport or a Tier 1 Investor or Entrepreneur Visa or Tier 2 Visa, we would like notification of this before starting and will ask to see both the passport and visa when he arrives at the school. We recommend that your son keeps his passport and BRP (if applicable) in the boarding house safe. Boys whose families are resident outside of the UK must have an AEGIS or BSA accredited guardian and we must have their guardian’s full contact details. Please complete and return the Parent Nomination of a Guardian Form. Before each Exeat weekend and the start of each holiday, your son will be asked by his Housemaster for the following details: y Where he is staying during his time away from the school. y How he is travelling from the school and who is collecting him. y If flights are involved, the flight numbers and dates/times of the flights.
Cash Management Procedures for Boarders Pupils at Eagle House may only bring small amounts of cash each term (we would suggest an allowance of between £5 - £10 per week) which must be handed in to the Eagle House parents on arrival, with cash distributed as deemed appropriate over the term. We also operate a chit (signed note) system with the school shop that allows boys to purchase any items of uniform, games kit or stationery stocked by the shop. Boys are always asked if they have their parents’ permission to buy expensive items. The shop provides each boy with an itemised statement at the end of the term. If you have any queries, please contact Mr Lincoln or our Accounts Team.
Insurance The school automatically provides pupils’ personal accident insurance for all boys. A summary of the policy is available on request from the Bursary. Your son will be automatically covered by this policy when he starts at the school. Boarders also receive personal effects insurance which covers their personal property in the boarding houses. The total sum insured is £5,000, with a single item limit of £2,000. Bicycles are covered up to £250 if they are kept securely in the bicycle shed. Items are replaced on a new for old basis if they are less than one year old. Please note this policy does not cover cash, mobile phones or mobile phone accessories. The policy excess is £25. A summary of the policy is available on request from the Bursary.
Learning Support Bedford Prep School is an inclusive school where there is an emphasis on high quality learning and teaching provision for all children so that they can work to the best of their ability alongside their peers in lessons. The school’s Academic Support Department is experienced in providing support strategies in lessons for boys who have a range of additional needs, including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, AD(H)D, or those who may need additional study skills support in areas such as comprehension, planning or handwriting practice. Targeted support for some boys is through small group support sessions which are aimed at closing the gap in achievement. Personalised one-to-one lessons are for a small number of boys who require a more individual approach to support their learning. All additional support is provided free of charge by the school. In accordance with the SEND Code of Practice (2014), the school uses a graduated approach to identify and support pupils with SEND. The main focus is on enabling those with SEND to succeed in their education. If a boy should require an assessment report, the school will recommend an external specialist teacher who is able to carry out a private assessment, payable privately to the external teacher. The school can then use the strategies from this report to inform teaching and learning within lessons and / or small group and one-to-one sessions.
29 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
At Bedford Prep School we enjoy working closely with parents to support all the boys in their learning. We value parents’ input, and request that the school is made aware of any existing difficulties and / or assessment reports that have been carried out before they join. A joined-up approach between home and school is vital in ensuring a supportive learning environment for the pupil. Should you have any concerns about a child’s needs, parents should discuss this initially with their son’s form Tutor, or with Mrs Rossington, Prep School Head of Academic Support (drossington@bedfordschool. org.uk). We welcome discussion about any aspect of a boy’s development and offer a supportive and positive approach to enable boys to make good progress throughout the different stages of their time at the Prep School.
English as a Second Language (ESL) In addition to classroom teaching, we provide ESL teaching for pupils whose first language is not English. This is a condition of entry to the school. Tuition offered in ESL Our aim is to provide specialised help in those areas where it is needed. These might include: 1. Basic English skills - reading, writing, speaking and listening. 2. The writing of essays, note-taking and summaries. 3. Specific Preparatory School examinations. y
KET Cambridge
y
PET Cambridge
4. Personal assistance and general availability to help each student, should any language or communication problems arise. We generally suggest up to four teaching periods per week are sufficient for new boys joining the school. If we discover a boy needs more intensive help, we will communicate further with you. We require your son to bring:
y An electronic translator y A small dictionary y A large dictionary The small dictionary and electronic translator can be taken to lessons and the large dictionary can be used in Eagle House. We realise that there will often be individual requirements and we welcome contact with parents or guardians. The fees are termly and depend on: a. The number of lessons per week. b. Whether the lessons are with one boy (single) or with more than one boy (joint). All bills for ESL tuition will be sent to parents at the end of each term. Current fees are shown on the school website.
Enrichment The Enrichment Programme at Bedford Prep School aims to prepare boys for their future by providing a range of opportunities to develop different skills, pursue interests, and to gain new experiences outside of the curriculum. This year, we ran a competition in conjunction with the Independent Schools Association in which boys had to learn and perform a Shakespearean monologue. Boys took part in a workshop delivered by the Royal Shakespeare Company, organised by our Head of Drama, which provided coaching on how to use voice, gesture and intonation to enhance performance. During the lockdown period, boys also took part in a Mind, Body and Soul whole-school curriculum collapse day: activities and tasks including bridge design and building; an online cookery class; fitness sessions, and art and music sessions. Boys were encouraged to be creative and spend time away from the screen. The Enrichment Programme, this year, has also included an opportunity for boys in KS3 to attend Economics seminars, and a newly-formed Year 8 Debating Society. Boys have enjoyed developing their public speaking skills, and we look forward
30 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
to providing more opportunities to develop this important skill next year. Each year, we commit to providing a rich programme of events and clubs for boys to take part in as well as opportunities for academic extension and collaboration with the Upper School.
Speech and Drama Lessons The Prep School offers speech and drama lessons, which are organised on a weekly-rotating basis during the school day. Boys spend the autumn term building performance skills and technique, the spring term working towards performances at the prestigious Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama in March and the summer term working towards their LAMDA examination. All boys are taught in small groups (varying between two to five, depending on the age group), and the current fees (covering 30 lessons over the year) can be found on the school website. If you would like your son to have lessons, please complete the Speech and Drama Lessons form at the back of this document, so that arrangements can be made for him to begin in September.
Instrumental Music Lessons If you wish your son to have instrumental music lessons, please complete the Instrumental Music Tuition form at the back of this document. Applications must reach the school by the end of the preceding term. Each form should relate to only one instrument. Applications to learn more than one instrument should be on separate forms (please submit the form as many times as required). 1. All matters relating to instrumental lessons should be addressed to Mr Jonathan Sanders, Director of Music, Bedford School, De Parys Avenue, Bedford MK40 2TU. Email: jsanders@bedfordschool.org. uk. 2. As part of their musical tuition, boys learning orchestral and band instruments will be expected to play in at least one of the school orchestras and bands at the discretion of the Director of Music.
3. Termination of lessons. Notice in writing of the intention to discontinue lessons is required and should be sent to the Director of Music as soon as possible. The notice period is 11 term-time weeks from the receipt of the notice of termination of lessons. 4. Time of lessons. All boys will normally be required to have lessons during normal school periods on rotation on one instrument but at the discretion of the Director of Music. Please note that we are unable to process applications which request a fixed lesson time as a pre-requisite condition for taking up lessons. 5. Absence from lessons. If a boy/parent gives at least 72 hours’ notice in writing (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays), either directly to the Visiting Music Teacher (VMT) or to the Head of Instrumental Department (HoID), of being unable to attend an instrumental lesson due to a schoolrelated activity, then the VMT/HoID will endeavour, where possible, to find an alternative time for the missed lesson to be taught. If it is not possible to find an alternative time, the missed lesson will not be charged to the boy’s family. Notice by email will be accepted as long as it is copied to the relevant HoID. In all other situations, if a boy misses an instrumental lesson, then it will be charged to the boy’s account, as the VMT will be working and needs to be paid. Relevant school-related activities which require boy/parental notice will include sports fixtures, academic visits, trips and unavoidable classroom commitments, but this list is not exhaustive. 6. Reports. Reports by instrumental teachers are made at the end of each autumn and summer term. An instrumental music parents’ evening is arranged at the end of the spring term each year. 7. Fees. Fees are reviewed annually and published by the Director of Finance and Operations. Reduced rates apply to those sharing lessons and for boys in the Prep School. Class tuition for theoretical examinations in music is provided free for those having instrumental tuition but a charge is made for other boys. 8. Examinations. Boys are entered for instrumental examinations at the discretion of the Director of
31 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Music and the cost charged to parents on Blue Bills. 9. Instruments. Instruments may be hired from the school, subject to availability, during the early stages of tuition. Parents are charged a termly hiring fee and are responsible for maintenance and repair costs and also for making good loss or damage, whether in or out of school. Parents are advised to take out insurance against loss or accidental damage. In most cases, boys will be expected to have their own instruments after the first year. Parents and boys are reminded that instruments should not be left at school during holiday periods as the school cannot accept responsibility for their safety.
Hotel Accommodation in Bedford There is a wide range of hotel accommodation available in Bedford. The hotels listed below are just a few of the options available. Hotels Close to Bedford School D’Parys De Parys Avenue Tel: +44 (0)1234 340248 Email: info@dparys.co.uk www.dparys.co.uk Swan Hotel The Embankment Tel: +44 (0)1234 346565 Email: info@bedfordswanhotel.co.uk www.bedfordswanhotel.co.uk Embankment Hotel The Embankment Tel: +44 (0)1234 261332 Email: embankment@peachpubs.com www.embankmentbedford.co.uk
Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel St Mary’s Street
Tel: +44 (0)1234 799988 Email: HB541@accor.com www.accorhotels.com Please note that these details are provided for information only. Their inclusion does not imply that the school endorses the services offered by the provider.
Travelling to Bedford from the Airports Please note that the school does not provide transfers to and from the airports. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians. It is possible to take a train to Bedford from Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow airports but not from Stansted. Information on routes, costs and timetables may be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Once you reach Bedford Railway Station, we advise that you take a taxi to Bedford School. To avoid confusion with other schools in the town it is best to give the taxi driver the school’s address (De Parys Avenue). If you would like to arrange a taxi to collect you from any of the above airports, you will find it cheaper to pre-book a taxi from Bedford rather than getting a black cab from the airport.
32 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
The Wider Community The Bedford School Association (BSA) The aim of the BSA is to promote engagement across the widest possible alumni grouping in order to create a sense of attachment and an active network which positively supports Bedford School. The school takes an inclusive approach to make all elements of the community feel most welcome. With a joined up approach, we feel that more can be achieved. The BSA supports the work of the Bedford Prep Guild, Parents’ Guild in the Upper School, Past Parents’ Association, Old Bedfordians Club and Foundation, and helps all of these organisations to flourish. It also aims to build up strong relationships with friends of the school particularly within our local community. We are thrilled that more and more people want to be associated with Bedford School and join us at a variety of events and gatherings. Throughout its history, the school has meant a lot to many people, and, whatever their particular connection, we hope that they are all proud of their association, and that this will continue. As well as The Prep Guild, parents also get involved in specific areas to support the boys and for their own enjoyment. Two examples of this are the Friends of Bedford School Boat Club (FOBSBC) who put on a number of events, and the Eagle Choir, which is a School Community Choir, made up of parents (current and past), Old Bedfordians, staff and friends of the school. We are pleased that most parents find their niche and enjoy the general camaraderie that the school offers.
Eagle Connect Eagle Connect is the BSA’s online business and social networking platform. Membership is open to all constituents of the BSA who have a shared affection for the school and its community. The online platform provides a highly engaged and supportive community made up of those who are willing to help each other, both socially and professionally. From finding accommodation on a gap year trip (possibly a
few years down the line!) to giving advice to someone who wants to change their career, Eagle Connect is a forum for people to support each other. Joining details can be found under the BSA section of the school website.
Bedford Prep Parents’ Guild The Bedford Prep Parents’ Guild (Prep Guild) is made up of parents of current Prep School pupils and members of the wider school community who aim to support the school in a number of ways, including: y Arranging and promoting social events that bring parents and school staff together. y Fundraising with profits going to charities, groups and school projects agreed upon by the Prep Guild committee in conjunction with key members of Bedford Prep School staff. y Providing a social network for parents new and old, with representatives in each year group. y Supporting school functions, for example serving mulled wine and mince pies at Christmas Carol Concerts. All work carried out by the Prep Guild Committee is on a voluntary basis, but its work is greatly appreciated by the Prep School staff. Supporting the Prep Guild is not only rewarding and fun but also a great opportunity to meet other parents and staff in a more relaxed way. If you would like further information, please email prepguild@bedfordschool.org.uk.
The Old Bedfordians Club Established in 1891, the Old Bedfordians Club was formed in order to help Old Bedfordians stay in touch with one another and the school. Over the years it has gone from strength to strength and is now a vibrant organisation across the globe. Although the phrase ‘networking’ was not used when the Club was formed, this has always been a key element at the heart of the Club.
33 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Today, the OB Club is still an invaluable link between generations of Old Bedfordians worldwide and the school through a shared member database, regular communications and an annual programme of social, sporting and networking events and reunions. In becoming a member of the OB Club, boys join the ranks of a 9,000 strong network of members who: y enjoy a shared history of Bedford School y represent a vast range of professions, businesses, sporting and cultural interests and passions, and who y have extensive knowledge and experience as well as links and connections that span the globe. Importantly, Old Bedfordians have a natural inclination to help fellow OBs, irrespective of age, geography or status, and do so where they reasonably can. We are very pleased that more and more OBs return to the school each year to give lectures, talks or career advice. The OB Club works closely with the school under the umbrella of the BSA and takes direction from the OB Club Council whose plans are endorsed by Old Bedfordians at the OB Club’s AGM in July each year. It is managed through the OB Club office based at Bedford School. Boys automatically become members of the Old Bedfordians Club when they leave the school (subject to approval by the Head Master).
Bedford School Foundation Philanthropy has played a vital part in shaping Bedford School over the years. Generations of boys have benefited from the generosity of others, who have enhanced the school in all areas. Bedford School Foundation is a separate charitable company which was set up in early 2003 to support the school by developing strong relationships with alumni and friends of the school and to raise funds for various projects including capital development and scholarships. Funds are raised through major gifts, regular giving, legacy bequests and single gifts. Such gifts normally generate certain tax benefits and efficiencies. The Foundation works closely with the Bedford School Trust in providing scholarships for boys to attend Bedford School. The Foundation enjoys close links with the Old Bedfordians Club and, together with the school, coordinates events and activities for alumni and other supporters of the school under the auspices of the BSA.
34 Y5-Y6 Joining Booklet BEDFORD PREP SCHOOL
Forms We would be grateful if you could ensure that all applicable forms for your son are submitted by Friday 11 June 2021. Please click on the form name to open.
Mandatory Forms y Medical Information y Food Allergies and Special Diets y Emergency Contacts y Bedford School Association y Travel Information (Day Boys only) y Parent Nomination of a Guardian (for boys whose families reside outside the UK)
Optional Forms y Instrumental Music Tuition y Speech and Drama Lessons
bedfordschool.org.uk
