Brentwood School

"Virtue, Learning and Manners"

Brentwood School is one of the UK’s leading independent schools for boys and girls aged 3 – 18. Founded in 1557, the school takes its heritage seriously but is not a slave to tradition and has an innovative and exciting approach to the curriculum. Brentwood was the first school in Essex and one of the first nationally to introduce the' Diamond Model' whereby girls and boys are taught together up to age 11, separately from 11 to 16 and together again in the Sixth Form.

All pupils achieve excellent academic standards that rank among some of the best in the country and consistent high grades are achieved by all pupils, supported by highly professional and inspiring teachers offering dedicated Oxbridge mentoring. Brentwood offers both GCSEs and IGCSEs; A Levels, the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the BTEC Extended Diploma in Business & Sport. All pupils are issued with iPads or Macbooks to enhance their learning experience.

The School is proud to report that our International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) average for 2024 was a record breaking 38.3 (the equivalent of A*A*A at A Level) retaining Brentwood’s status as a top 10 UK IB School and putting the School in the top 10% worldwide. Two students achieved the maximum 45 points, securing their place in the top 4% of IBDP students worldwide. A strong set of 2024 A Level results saw 37.2% of the results graded A* or A. Ten students gained places at top overseas universities, over 80% of students went to their first choice destination and over three-quarters of students moved on to a ‘top 20’ university. In 2024, the average BTEC Extended Diploma score was equivalent to A*AA at A Level with five students achieving equivalent of A*A*A* or higher at A Level. Among the many diverse courses students went on to study, nine selected to study Engineering, be it Civil, Mechanical, Automotive or otherwise. In addition, eight students are pursuing a degree in Politics/International Relations, and a further five students are studying Computing, an indication of our aim to prepare students for the jobs of the future.

2024 GCSE results were also strong. 56% of grades were a 9-7 (A*- A), and twelve students achieved the maximum 72 points, with 8- 11 grade 9s. Over 96% of grades were 9-4 (A*-C).

Brentwood School is one of only 16 accredited Steinway Schools in the UK and this exciting partnership with Steinway & Sons sees its musicians performing on the world’s finest pianos. The school's flourishing Performing Arts Department - which was recently selected as the best Performing Arts School in and around London - also runs a Minority Instrument Scheme and the provision of free school instruments, to be loaned to students across the school. In 2024 the School’s music provision was widened to include a Specialist Music Programme, designed for those seriously considering a career in music.

The programme combines rigorous music training and assessment with a tailored academic pathway, and the wider co-curriculum to create an individual programme, bespoke to each young musician.

The school offers an exceptional programme of co-curricular activities with a wide and diverse selection of clubs and trips available. Pupils may elect to take part in competitive and recreational sport, musical activities, drama groups and productions, public speaking, art, technology and many others. The school’s Combined Cadet Force was established over 150 years ago and is the largest CCF in the country.

In 2022, the school celebrated 400 years of ‘Virtue, Learning and Manners’ which were taken from the School Statutes of 1622, written by John Dunne. The principles of academic achievement within a caring Christian ethos remain a cornerstone of the school’s philosophy today.

Each year, Brentwood offers a number of transformational means-tested Bursaries at 11+ and 16+ to bright, deserving students who would benefit from a Brentwood education but whose families would otherwise not be able to afford one. Scholarships recognise academic potential as well as specialist talents in the areas of Chess, Dance, Drama, Music (including singing) and Sport which are available for entry in Year 7. There are also specialist scholarships in Art, Dance, Drama, Music and Sport for entry into the Sixth Form. The scholarship programme rewards pupils who have a talent and an on-going passion for their subjects.

Boarding is an important part of our school’s history and contributes to the diversity and international element of our community. It fosters cross-cultural friendships and ensures a rich, high-quality British educational experience for all our students. As boarding is such an integral part of the school, we are transforming our boarding facilities with a new purpose-built Boarding House for September 2025. The new House will be subdivided into three main sections; a girls’ and boys’ boarding house, with 120 single en-suite bedrooms and a central shared facility including new dining and communal areas including a Sixth Form Café. There will also be an outdoor courtyard with dedicated landscaped social space. We are also proud to offer three boarding options starting from Year 7: full boarding, weekly boarding, and flexi boarding (2 or 3 consecutive nights). This flexibility ensures we meet the diverse needs of our families while maintaining our commitment to excellence. Our new Boarding House is a testament to our ambition and aspiration to provide the best boarding experience for our students, reflecting Brentwood's constant drive to improve and move forward.

A flourishing Old Brentwoods community keeps thousands of alumni connected across the globe.

Brentwood School
Middleton Hall Lane,
Brentwood,
Essex
CM15 8EE
Telephone: +44 (0)1277 243243

headmaster@brentwood.essex.sch.uk

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