Boarding Secondary School in Birmingham, UK area

Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire:
Bromsgrove School is a leading independent co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire in the West Midlands region of Central England. We offer an outstanding education for students ages 3-18 in our Preparatory School, Senior School and Sixth Form, and boarding is available for students aged 13 -18. At Sixth Form level, International Baccalaureate, A levels or limited BTEC options are available.

Co-educational Primary & Secondary School Programmes:
We offer an outstanding education for students between 3 and 18 years of age in our Preparatory School, Senior School and Sixth Form. At Sixth Form level, the International Baccalaureate, A levels or limited BTEC options are available. Boarding is available for students aged 13 -18.

Preparatory School Curriculum:
Bromsgrove Preparatory School shadows the National Curriculum. Academic expectations are very high, but initial selection means children of average ability are as welcome at Bromsgrove as the gifted and able. We believe in a liberal education, but at the core of the Prep School’s academic curriculum lie English, Maths and Science.

The stronger the foundations, the taller the eventual building can be. The creative arts flourish all the more in that context, and the demands of the Senior School come not as a shock but a natural continuation of the Preparatory years. Since we do not prepare for Common Entrance, we are less geared to examinations than excellence in teaching and learning.

These should be years of intellectual excitement and curiosity, not drudgery as one is taught to remember a particular set of facts for a particular exam. Children from seven to thirteen prosper in a vibrant academic atmosphere which caters for the huge changes that occur in these crucial six years.

Dyslexic children and others who have Special Learning Difficulties are all given extra support if that is what is needed in order for them to access the main curriculum. Obviously, a School such as Bromsgrove cannot cater for all, but we pride ourselves on our achievements with those for whom the gentle, nurturing approach is essential. Rigour and the understanding of individual needs co-exist.

Fourth and Fifth Form Curriculum:
Most pupils spend three years preparing for GCSE examinations in the Senior School before joining the Sixth Form. In addition, a reduced but intensive one year GCSE course is available for pupils (mainly from overseas) who join us in the Fifth Form in order to go on and study the International Baccalaureate.
Bromsgrove offers a broad range of GCSEs, and Fourth Form pupils sample pre-GCSE lessons in many options before finalising their choice of GCSE subjects (normally eleven) in the Fifth Form. We insist upon a core of English, Maths, the Sciences, Religious Studies and a Modern Language, but beyond that we offer pupils flexibility. Some AS qualifications can be taken early, and we offer an extended project AS Level option for pupils with sufficient maturity to handle sustained analysis.

Whether on the standard GCSE course or the one year programme, pupils are expected to work hard and do themselves justice. Entrance to a full A level or Baccalaureate course is dependent upon performance at GCSE.

Sixth Form Curriculum:
Bromsgrove pupils may choose the International Baccalaureate, A level or a limited BTEC option. The range of subjects is huge, and the School is very flexible when it comes to accommodating unusual combinations.

Most pupils choosing the A level route will study four AS levels in the Lower Sixth and three A2 levels in the Upper Sixth. International Baccalaureate pupils study for terminal examination over two years. However, these official programmes are only part of the story. A unique Lower Sixth lecture programme, an extensive Enrichment offer, and numerous opportunities to learn and explore outside of the classroom ensure that breadth remains the byword.

Sixth Form Enrichment Department:
The Sixth Form Enrichment Department aims to develop personal skills; highlighting their vital importance to both academic study and to a student’s future career development, as well as assisting students to promote their key strengths effectively in university / work applications and interviews. This is a large and well resourced department benefiting from the breadth of experience and expertise of over 20 staff from across the academic spectrum and supported by the School's exceptionally strong careers department.

In the Lower Sixth the students study key transferable skills including: communication, presentation, leadership, organisation, teamwork, persuasiveness, decision making and problem solving. These skills are developed alongside essential aspects of effective Sixth Form study and the important early planning and preparation for University applications. The Microsoft Office specialist course ensures that all Lower Sixth students have the most up to date and highly sought after computer skills.

The Upper Sixth are given the option to study a broadening course in either A level General Studies or AS Critical Thinking which allows students in this increasingly competitive world to differentiate themselves, enhancing their offer to University over and above their 3A2 / 3 AVCE core subjects. A good grade in either is seen by Universities as an indication of a student’s ability to cope at degree level study.