Bedales School, Petersfield
Bedales School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Petersfield. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bedales School in detail
Bedales School in its own words
In its own words: "Students (from 3-18), staff, parents and our alumni - Old Bedalians - collectively shape a culture of living and lifelong learning together. This unique environment fosters rich opportunities for cross-age learning, mentoring and role modelling, all grounded in our founding ethos, 'work of each for weal of all'."
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 28 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 2 December 2026, an open day on Thursday 3 December 2026 and an open day on Saturday 5 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Hampshire
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedales School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Bedales School are Churcher's College (1 mile, selective); and Ditcham Park School (4.6 miles).
Where pupils go next
Of the 95 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 43% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 14% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 326 pupils (45.2%) received SEN support and 5 (0.7%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Petersfield Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bedales School (w-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 26 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
7 October 2025
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
10 May 2022
Regulatory Compliance
21 March 2018
Integrated
1 April 2014
About
Bedales School is a coeducational boarding and day public school, in the village of Steep, near the market town of Petersfield in Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1893 by Amy Garrett Badley and John Haden Badley in reaction to the limitations of conventional Victorian schools and has been co-educational since 1898.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedales School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with Bedales School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bedales School.
- JC Sports Holiday Camps at Steep Primary School300m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
722 pupils
800 places
78 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Petersfield
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Petersfield
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,392
Applications
13,874
Got 1st preference
90.1%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
326
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
45.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
722
Total Pupils
338
Boys
384
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Bedales School
What are GCSE results like at Bedales School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedales School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Bedales School last inspected?
Bedales School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2025.
How many pupils go to Bedales School?
Bedales School has around 722 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Bedales School?
Bedales School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Bedales School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Bedales School: JC Sports Holiday Camps at Steep Primary School (300m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bedales School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bedales School?
Bedales School is at Church Road, Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 2DG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)