Introduction to Beechwood
Beechwood is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 3–18, founded in 1915 by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Today, there are 400 students on roll and there is an even gender balance throughout the school. The Nursery School (age 3-5), Preparatory School (age 5-11) and Senior School (age 11-18) are located in 23 acres of scenic landscaped grounds overlooking open countryside, but close to the centre of the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The Main School is based in a Victorian villa constructed in 1855 with all facilities located on a single campus.
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a historic spa town located in the county of Kent in the south-east England and located near to London. The School is close to the ton centre yet has scenic views to the south over open countryside. Royal Tunbridge Wells is a friendly, safe, and scenic town.
Boarding is offered for seventy boys and girls in modern and comfortable accommodation on the school campus and application for places is competitive. Junior boarders share in two or three bedded rooms whilst all sixth-form boarders are allocated single study bedrooms.
Academic Excellence
An excellent, broad general curriculum is provided and examination results and value added measures are strong given the non-selective intake of the school. At Beechwood we are very proud of our academic record and the progress made by all our students. We offer 24 subjects at GCSE and 24 at A-Level giving students an excellent range of subject choices. At GCSE students study compulsory courses in English, mathematics and sciences, and have a range of other optional subjects to choose from including design, creative arts, languages, and humanities subjects.
Academic results are excellent with typically 50% of grades awarded at the highest A*/A level and similar success was witnessed at A-level with our top student achieving 5 A*/ A grades this year. The majority of our leavers go on to study a range of courses at prestigious UK universities e.g. Medicine at Bristol, Natural Sciences at Durham, Biochemistry at Imperial College London, Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, and Yacht Design and Manufacture at Southampton.
A Well-Rounded Experience
At Beechwood students enjoy a well-rounded education with arts subjects valued as highly as other academic disciplines and we provide opportunities for students to explore a wide range of learning opportunities outside the classroom. Class sizes are small, typically 15 in Years 7-11 and 8 in Years 12 and 13, so that we can provide teaching that facilitates learning and inspires our students to explore new ideas so that they achieve their full potential. A cognitive development programme focuses on higher-order thinking skills, encouraging independent thinking, team work, a more positive approach to problem-solving and better habits of learning. Teachers know their students very well and encourage them to achieve their academic best.
Students in the Senior School enjoy access to a wide range of GCSE and A-Level academic courses and have an enviable degree of flexibility when selecting their option choices. Most students go on to study at their first choice university. Beechwood leavers are confident, articulate and ambitious.
Boarding Facilities
Boarding helps boys and girls to become more independent whilst still benefiting from the care and attention of experienced, dedicated staff.
Boarding is provided in comfortable, modern accommodation throughout, in single rooms for Sixth- Formers (Years 12 and 13) and two-or three-bedded rooms for younger students (Years 7-11). More than 80% of our students are from the UK, while our boarders include a range of nationalities from the UK and across the world. Beechwood encourages high standards and values – honesty, respect and consideration for others.
All Sixth-Form students enjoy their own single study bedrooms. After school, students can attend school clubs and activities before returning to their boarding houses for supper and supervised study. In the evening, boarders can relax and socialise in common rooms. The Sixth-Form have their own kitchen in which hot drinks, snacks and simple meals can be prepared.
Most boarders choose to stay at Beechwood at the weekends to take advantage of school facilities and the extensive grounds. We organise a varied programme of cultural and entertaining activities to include outdoor activities, workshops in school, sporting and theatre outings and visits to places of interest. Boarders may visit friends or relatives on any weekend, with prior parental permission.
All meals are included in the boarding fee and students enjoy the range and quality of food provided for them.
Boarding Age From: 11 | Boarding Age To: 18
| YEAR | FEE | EXTRAS INCLUDED IN FEES |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 30,600 | Includes airport transfers, school meals, bed linen, subject textbooks and stationary. |
