Dear Head,
I hope you enjoyed a lovely summer and that the new term has begun smoothly.
I am delighted to introduce myself as Bryanston’s new Director of Admissions. Having spent several years as Registrar, it is a privilege to take up this role and to continue working alongside our exceptional senior school admissions team, who support families at the beginning of their journey with Bryanston.
This term, we are thrilled to welcome 189 new pupils to the school, including more than 100 in our D (Year 9) year group from 60 feeder schools. It has been a joy to see them settling in so well, embracing Bryanston life. From rugby trials to Beauty and the Beast auditions and adjusting to our Bryanston Method of teaching, they have been busy making new friends and immersing themselves in all that school life offers.
Over the summer, our pupils celebrated excellent exam results across the IB, A Levels, CTECs, and GCSEs. What we are most proud of, however, is the breadth of our academic offering, reflected in the diverse choices our pupils make for life beyond Bryanston. This is at the heart of our ethos, an education that emphasises the individual.
Applications were submitted to universities in 14 countries worldwide, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, and join the likes of the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Columbia University in the US. Just as impressive is the range of subjects they have chosen – from Liberal Arts at Bristol to Industrial Design at Loughborough, Fine Art at Edinburgh to Medical Engineering at Southampton. Many are also pursuing courses in Business and Entrepreneurship, while others join leading Music, Art, Drama, and Film schools. This variety reflects not only their individual passions but also Bryanston’s particular strengths in encouraging pupils to be innovative in their choices. You may enjoy this recent article by our Head, Richard Jones, which captures our philosophy perfectly.
Looking ahead, I’d like to share an important development in our junior boys boarding model. From September 2026, new D boys (Year 9) will move directly into senior boys’ houses, just as the girls already do, rather than beginning in a junior house. We believe this change will provide greater continuity of care, stability through GCSE preparation, and the benefits of mentoring from older year groups from the outset. It also allows us to respond more flexibly to growing boarding demand across the school. Day pupils will continue to be integral members of their houses, with no “day-only” houses. All prospective families who have registered for 2026 and 2027 entry have been informed and invited to come and tour our boarding houses.
Attached you will find key admissions dates for this term, along with updated information on entry timelines for each year group.
As always, we would be delighted to welcome you or your colleagues to Bryanston, or to visit your school in person. Thank you, as ever, for your support in sending us the next generation of Bryanstonians.
With best wishes from all of us in the Bryanston Admissions team,
Bonny Dales
Director of Admissions