Seeking feedback from parents is an extremely important part of College life. Parents have lots of opportunities to meet and talk with staff informally, from match teas to regular coffee mornings and other social events hosted by the Headmaster. Every two years, most recently in 2022, we commission external market research specialists to seek views from parents via an online survey. The aim of these surveys is to find out what parents particularly value about the College, gauge their attitudes to a wide range of aspects of school life and to track changes in views over time.
The surveys consistently tell us that parents strongly value Bradfield for the rounded, well-balanced and holistic education it provides. They appreciate our welcoming and inclusive ethos, which is underpinned by a real breadth of education and excellent pastoral care. They feel their children leave as confident well-rounded young adults who have experienced a wide range of opportunities and there is a very clear sense of community, cemented by excellent boarding provision with pupil well-being at its core.
In 2022, 94% of parents said they would recommend Bradfield to their friends with 76% of parents saying they would definitely recommend it.
Over 80% of parents are ‘completely’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the College with more than 90% of Bradfield parents feeling that the College has at least met their expectations, with 40% saying that it has exceeded them.
These very strong ratings from parents were higher than in the 2020 survey and place Bradfield above the key performance benchmarks for similar schools.
Read our review in the Tatler Schools Guide 2025 here.
There is so much that the school does brilliantly.
Parent Survey 2022
The school strikes a good balance between academic and co-curricular. Let’s keep that balance, it is an essential part of the school’s DNA.
Parent Survey 2022
Bella (M 19-24): Exploring every opportunity at Bradfield
Thoroughly unpretentious yet with lots to boast about, Bradfield is a heavenly place to learn and to grow. Very difficult to imagine who would not thrive here. There is something for everyone and lots for all.
The Good Schools Guide
James (A 19-24): Reflecting on the positivity and enthusiasm of the Bradfield community
The quality of the pupils' academic and other achievements is excellent.
Paragraph 4.1 - ISI Inspection Report 2022
Pupils are confident, understand themselves well and so are self-disciplined and resilient in their studies and well prepared for the future.
Paragraph 4.2 - ISI Inspection Report 2022
The school seeks to be a 'talking school' and pupils as well as staff put this into practice.
Paragraph 4.7 - ISI Inspection Report 2022
We were delighted when Bradfield was shortlisted for the Best Public School award at the Tatler Schools Awards 2024.
Read our stellar review from the 2024 Tatler Schools Guide below.
Next to the bubbling River Pang, with many of its brick-and-flint buildings converted from original village houses, Bradfield offers a ‘quintessentially English’ country education. As one of its charges told ‘Tatler’, “When I went on a run with my friend around the golf course…I realised how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful place”. But that’s not to say the teenagers here aren’t scaling academic heights: last year, 25 per cent of A Levels were graded A*, and 40 per cent of IB candidates scored 40 points or more. Meanwhile, parents love how all the Year 9s board together – ensuring a unified peer-group in which everyone knows each other – before moving on to their senior houses. Not only is the pastoral care exceptional, with a team of counsellors, listeners, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and CBT therapists on-hand; but the family-friendly boarding regime allows weekly boarders to return to school on Monday mornings. Known for its prowess on track and pitch – the boys’ football team were ISFA Cup Winners in 2022 – the school offers 21 other activities, including rifle shooting (with one pupil selected for the GB U18 cadet rifle team). And all this brilliance is fuelled by some of the best food on the circuit. Anyone coming to watch a match will be treated to tasting-bowls of venison with dauphinoise potatoes or Penang prawn curry. Form an orderly queue!
