Beechwood School

Beechwood gives an all-through education a strong sense of place. A Victorian mansion and 23 acres provide the setting for nursery, preparatory, senior and sixth-form pupils, while the co-educational community combines day places with boarding. Outdoor classrooms, Forest School, sport and residential houses mean that learning is not confined to the main building or to one kind of school day.

The senior years offer a broad academic base before the Sixth Form opens into 23 A-level subjects. Photography, Art, Textiles, Design Technology, Drama, Music, Psychology and Business Studies sit alongside more traditional courses. Small classes and individual guidance help pupils follow the subjects that suit their strengths, whether those interests lead towards making, performance, design or more conventional examination study.

Younger pupils have their own opportunities to work outdoors, while the wider school makes room for football, other sports, creative activity, performances and boarding life. The result is a community in which practical work, artistic interests and academic progress can continue side by side as pupils move from the early years towards post-16 study.

Entry is available at Pre-School, Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and Year 12. Pre-School families meet the school to discuss fit; Prep and Senior applicants may complete English and mathematics tests and take part in an interview or taster day, with references and previous results also considered. The admissions pattern reflects Beechwood's full age range and its mix of day and boarding provision.