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When you spend most of your days with a community of people with admirable values, you’ll find yourself shaped by them for the better. At Brentwood School, this couldn’t be any more true.
Since 1557, the school’s motto, “Virtue, Learning, Manners”, has been steeped in Brentwood’s ethos and pedagogy. Here, virtue means developing one’s character and moral purpose, doing the right thing even when no one is looking; learning revolves around acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to flourish in a fast-paced and ever-changing world; and having manners involves behaving positively in interactions with others – with consideration and respect.
These values are drilled into students, and boarders are especially immersed in these principles with every minute spent within Brentwood’s walls.
Brentwood School operates via the Diamond Model system, keeping boys and girls separate for a period of their formal studies, but allowing social interaction during co-curricular activities. Source: Brentwood School.
Full or weekly boarding for ages 13 to 18 is available, with girls and boys kept in separate boarding houses, the Mill Hill and Hough House, respectively. Each house is overseen by experienced houseparents who ensure the best possible care for each student, creating a structured yet relaxed and welcoming environment to grow and develop their self-identity in a safe space. International students are welcome to stay too, allowing Brentwood to host a rich, diverse community of bright minds.
Carlotta F. knew Brentwood was the perfect second home for her the moment she stepped through Mill Hill’s doors. “I thought a boarding house would have been more like a dorm and definitely less personal, but being met with the many framed pictures of the girls on the wall immediately made me want to be part of their community,” she says.
The more she got to know the girls who already resided there, the more she started to feel like part of their multinational sisterhood. “I can truly say they were my big sisters, and now it’s my turn to be that to the younger girls,” she says. Throughout her time there, she came to value the diverse array of stories, experiences, and traditions that each girl in the house brought to the table. Most importantly, she had their support whenever she needed it — all because she was a boarder.
Source: Brentwood School
To inspire more testimonials like Carlotta’s, another state-of-the-art boarding house will open its doors in Brentwood in September 2025 — one with a new standard for comfort, security and holistic student living.
The single building will be subdivided as girls and boys remain separate, but a central communal area will be available to strengthen bonds and foster relationships outside of a classroom or co-curricular setting. Staff accommodation will be situated at each end of the building, another constant of the school’s commitment to providing guidance and support in this home away from home. Boarders will also find the Sixth Form Cafe a neat oasis in the house, offering a high street-inspired menu and barista-style drinks.
Indeed, nurturing this tight-knit community positively impacts a boarder’s personal life, and the benefits are reflected in the school’s academic results, too.
Brentwood School focuses on building the whole person – this includes providing excellent education, a variety of co-curricular activities, and a range of sports to shape students into their best selves. Source: Brentwood School.
As the joint leading day and boarding school in the UK – and third overall – in the 2023 UK Top IB Schools (Small Cohort) League Tables from its 36-point average for the International Baccalaureate (IB), education at Brentwood is top-tier. Much like its boarding houses, the school separates girls and boys from the ages of 11 to 16 into separate classes before combining them in the Sixth Form, following the “Diamond Model” system.
In this, teachers are able to tailor their teaching and pastoral care more sensitively to the gender-specific needs of their students. At the age of 11 or Year 7, students go through various emotional, physical, and social changes, and allowing them the space to focus on their studies without unnecessary distractions can do wonders during these crucial and formative years. However, as proven, their socialisation needs that come with growing up are still, always met.
Interested in learning more about the Brentwood boarding experience? Mark your calendar for their upcoming Virtual Open Days — set to be held on April 27, 2024 and May 11, 2024. Via Zoom, you’ll have the chance to meet Headmaster Michael Bond, hear from Brian Hays, Brentwood’s Boarding Recruitment Manager and uncover everything else this dynamic school can do for your child.
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