BSA

BSA (Bedford School Association)

BSA REPORT

WORDS BY Mr Hugh Maltby, Director of the Bedford School Association

2021 2022

The Bedford School Association (BSA) is made up of several groups from across the wider school community comprising of; the Prep School Parents’ Guild, the Upper School Parents’ Guild, the Past Parents Association, the Old Bedfordians Club and the Bedford School Foundation Trust. Whilst last year remained somewhat challenging, with a mixture of physical and online events taking place, the community used its creativity to put on a programme of events and talks designed to support everyone and appeal to a wide audience. The special ‘Bedford spirit’ was in sharp evidence last September when over 100 members of the school community came forward to offer their time to support the lateral fl ow testing of the boys and staff, a huge logistical exercise, which would not have been possible without the tremendous help of everyone.

Eagle Connect (www. eagleconnect.uk), our digital business and social networking platform open to all parents, OBs and past parents, now has over 1,850 members, sharing connections and business opportunities. Our annual Upper School careers fair, which was once again online this year, attracted a broad range of guest speakers from many different business sectors, giving pupils, including seven non Harpur Trust schools, the opportunity to ask questions and learn about a variety of different careers.

The Bedford School Foundation Trust continued its fundraising activities last year in support of the boys, providing funding for many different projects including renovation of the Prep School playground, portable tennis nets, a junior bowling machine and a new milling machine for the

Above: the BSA team at the Networking Event

Inset images:

from the Estates Master Plan technology department, to name but a few. The proposed Estates Master Plan will usher in the next, and arguably most exciting phase of Bedford School’s development since the science building in the 1930s. The concept, which has yet to obtain planning permission, would reimagine much of the estate, refi ning the visual aesthetic of the school’s entrance via the installation of an innovative facility to house Maths, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Business Studies and Economics. These subjects have been chosen carefully and are woven into the strategic vision of Bedford. Our young men will grow up in a world where digital technologies underpin their lives, and where entrepreneurial endeavours will be some of their most likely routes to success. We need to enable our boys to pursue these areas boldly, in the best possible facilities, and foster the skills and determination they need to thrive.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those connected to the BSA for their ongoing support in what has been a very diffi cult period for everyone is made to feel part of our school community.