Badminton School is one of the top schools in the UK and is highly listed in the league tables. Forces children are very welcome at the school and are entitled to 20% discount off fees. There are over 100 different extra curricular clubs and activities at the school and wonderful opportunities to play a variety of sports and to participate in the performing and creative arts . For more information contact www.badminton.bristol.sch.uk, email admissions@badminton.bristol.sch.uk or call 0117 9055271.
Background
Badminton is one of the leading boarding and day schools in the UK for girls aged 4-18 years with pupils boarding from 10 years old. The school is situated on a stunning 20 acre, safe campus in the popular university city of Bristol and all facilities, including a 25m swimming pool and international sized astro sports pitch, are on site.
Tradition of taking girls from Forces families
The school was formed 150 years ago to cater for children whose families were going to work overseas and has always attracted girls from Forces families. Those in receipt of the continuing education allowance are entitled to 20% discount off fees and further discounts are offered for siblings.
Impressive results
The school achieves impressive results and is ranked highly in the national league tables. 100% of students go onto university and around 20% enter Oxford and Cambridge each year.
Range of opportunities
An excellent education is not just about academic results. Badminton offers nearly 100 extra curricular activities ranging from golf and horse-riding to swing band, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Model United Nations. The school runs exchange programmes with schools in Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and South Africa, organises events such as public speaking competitions and skiing trips with other schools, hosts swimming galas and netball tournaments, runs House dance competitions and encourages pupils to travel to destinations such as Barbados and Barcelona for educational visits, to perform in music concerts and play in international sports tours.
Sport
Badminton is a very sporty school and this year the school reached the national finals for both netball and swimming. Girls play for the county in judo, hockey, netball, tennis, golf and swimming and some also represent their country. All our sports staff are PE specialists and whatever their ability, girls at Badminton, from Reception to Sixth Form, are encouraged to achieve their potential and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Creative and performing arts
Girls and their parents cannot fail to be inspired by the Creative Arts Centre – a superb facility for girls to study fashion, design, ceramics, photography, fine art and jewellery making. Last year, two Badminton girls gained the top grades at A Level in both creative art and photography. We value the performing arts with 85% of students playing at least one musical instrument. Orchestra, choirs, jazz bands, string quartets and musical theatre groups run weekly and with many drama productions a year, girls at Badminton have the opportunity to develop interests in choreography lighting, set and costume design as well as directing and performing on-stage
Inspirational boarding
70% of the Senior School board at Badminton and as well as weekend excursions we provide a variety of extra curricular activities for boarders to enjoy every day. Sanderson House is Badminton’s new, state-of-the-art boarding house, designed for 14-16 year olds, with IT networked study-bedrooms and modern, spacious common rooms. Family-style Bartlett House is home for our younger boarders (10 – 13 year olds) and has a cosy common room with lots of games and comfortable bedrooms. The Sixth Form Centre is designed to act as an interim between school and university. Students here reside in single and double study bedrooms, wear their own clothes and are given more freedom and privileges.
Pastoral care
All girls at Badminton have both a Head of Year and a Form Tutor, responsible for their academic progress and pastoral care and parents are welcome to contact them at any time. In addition, every boarder at Badminton has both a boarding and an assistant boarding mistress who offer advice and support to the girls on a daily basis.
Admission
Families are encouraged to visit at any time. Following registration, Sixth Formers take entrance exams in early November in two subjects that they would like to take at A Level. Senior girls are assessed in English, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning in January. Juniors come to school for an assessment and familiarisation day, also in January, and all girls are invited to school for a taster day to meet pupils in their form. Every new girl is given a guide for her first few weeks at Badminton to help her settle in.
What makes Badminton special?
Badminton is outstanding at educating girls and aims to nurture, inspire and empower modern young women by offering them an excellent education. Small class sizes, excellent teaching and being surrounded by other motivated and bright young women is key to the school’s success. The school has very strong values, and a respect for others and a sense of community are very much valued. However, what strikes most visitors about Badminton is the girls’ sense of fun and enjoyment of life and perhaps it is these characteristics, above all, that make Badminton girls so successful.
Next step
You are welcome to visit at any time. For more information, to request a prospectus or to register please visit www.badminton.bristol.sch.uk, telephone 0117 9055271 or email admissions@badminton.bristol.sch.uk
