Brentwood School

Brentwood School’s story begins in 1557, and its long history still sits beside a modern all-through education in Essex. Virtue, Learning and Manners remains the phrase used to frame its character, while the archives and Willis Museum connect present pupils with the institution’s earlier life. The senior years are part of a continuous route rather than a standalone secondary school.

From Year 7 to Sixth Form, the Diamond Model teaches boys and girls separately in lessons while bringing them together for activities beyond the classroom. The academic route includes 28 GCSE subjects, 26 A-level choices, Pre-IB, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC options in Business, Creative Media and Sport. Students therefore have several qualification pathways as they move towards sixth form and beyond.

More than 60 activities extend across sport, music, arts, societies, public speaking and the CCF. Full and weekly boarding are available from 11 to 18 in dedicated houses, making evening and weekend activity part of the routine for boarders. The combination of separate teaching, shared community life and boarding gives the senior years a distinctive internal rhythm.

Entry is direct to Brentwood across EYFS, Year 3, Year 7, day Sixth Form and boarding, with each route carrying its own registration and assessment arrangements. For boarding, the admissions timetable gives 1 December as the main date and 31 March as the late-application point. The school’s character lies in the continuity of its history, the Diamond Model and the breadth of academic and residential choice.