Bedford Modern School: Inspiring Excellence
Bedford Modern School (BMS) is a forward-thinking, coeducational day school with a proud 250-year heritage and a mission to deliver a truly modern, inclusive and relevant education. BMS combines academic ambition with outstanding pastoral care, enabling every student to become their best self in a rapidly changing world.
Founded in the spirit of Sir William Harpur’s 1566 endowment, BMS has strong foundations; it is an innovative independent school that embraces co education, diverse opportunity and unpretentious excellence. Today it is home to over 1,200 students aged 7 - 18, each welcomed into a community built on kindness, respect, ambition and integrity.
Set within a leafy 40-acre campus, the school offers exceptional facilities including a state-of-the-art Science Centre, thriving Junior School and a newly refurbished Sixth Form university-style hub. The school boasts several expansive all-weather training areas and sports facilities on-site as well as a large and well-stocked boathouse on the River Great Ouse.
Number of students. There are 248 students (M: 46%; F: 54%) in the Junior School (aged 7–11) and 970 students (M: 56%; F: 44%) in the Senior School and Sixth Form (aged 11–18).
Sport
At BMS, students of all abilities are inspired to participate, compete and excel within an outstanding sporting environment. We are proud of a long-standing tradition of success, with students representing at a national level and many more involved in county, regional and academy programmes. With over 30 sports, more than 100 teams and around 1,000 fixtures each year, every student can discover and develop their talent. Our sports staff are experts in their field and include ex-professional sports players. The playing fields are all on the school site with extensive facilities including two large all-weather training areas, netball courts, a 30m indoor swimming pool, fitness suite, gym and sports hall. A rich programme of tours, training camps and House competitions ensure that sport and physical activity remain central to school life and to the development of confident, resilient young people.
Performance Arts
Bedford Modern School offers a nationally acclaimed Performance Arts programme, enriched by outstanding facilities including dedicated drama and dance studios and a 300-seat theatre. Students participate in an exciting calendar of large-scale productions, a Drama Festival for local schools and numerous smaller performances throughout the year. Speech and Drama is available across all year groups, with many students progressing through LAMDA examinations, while dance - taught through the ISTD syllabus in ballet, tap and modern - provides further opportunities for creative expression and performance excellence.
Music
Students at BMS take advantage of one of the most extensive and inclusive programmes in the sector, with the school offering tuition in all orchestral and band instruments as well as piano, guitar, electric guitar, keyboard and voice. A vibrant array of choirs, orchestras, bands and specialist ensembles ensures that every musician can find their place. Students benefit from high-quality facilities including a music technology suite and state-of-the-art recording studios, and many go on to study Music at GCSE and A Level.
Co-curricular Excellence
Life at BMS extends well beyond the classroom. Alongside our sport, performance arts and music provision students can participate in a broad selection of clubs and societies providing opportunities for every interest and ambition. The voluntary Combined Cadet Force is strong with Army, Navy and RAF sections. The school offers a structured programme of outdoor education which includes residential trips in Years 6, 7 and 8, with international expeditions available for older students. Outreach including community service and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme are also very popular.
Broadening the Horizons of Learning
From Junior School through to Sixth Form, BMS offers a rich curriculum supported by teaching excellence and an inclusive ethos.
•Junior School students benefit from specialist facilities, enthusiastic teaching and a nurturing environment where independence and confidence grow from day one.
•In the Senior School, students explore a broad range of academic subjects before choosing 10 GCSEs, supported by expert teachers and superb resources.
•In the Sixth Form, we offer students an amazing 27 A Level subjects to study in the dedicated Rutherford Building - a vibrant space designed for this crucial stage of development.
Across all stages, personal tutors, strong pastoral structures and a focus on wellbeing ensure students feel known, supported and encouraged.
Sixth Form: Preparing for What Comes Next
Bedford Modern Sixth Form offers an inspiring, coeducational environment where students balance academic challenge with enriching experiences. With expert guidance, outstanding study spaces and a wide choice of activities, students build the skills, character and confidence they need for university, apprenticeships, employment or gap-year opportunities.
Recent outcomes reflect this success: in 2025, 77% of grades awarded were A*–B and 79% of students went on to a degree course at their chosen university. This includes eight students securing highly competitive places to study medicine, and many students taking up university places overseas. Others have secured highly sought after degree apprenticeships with leading blue-chip organisations.
A Connected Community
BMS has a strong and loyal alumni network, the Old Bedford Modernians, who remain an active part of the school through regular events, mentoring opportunities and careers support. Partnerships with local organisations, clubs and community groups reflect the school’s commitment to widening access and enriching educational opportunity.
Admissions
Students are admitted between the ages of 7 and 16. The School conducts its own entrance assessments; further information can be found on the school website at www.bedmod.co.uk/admissions. Fees per annum (2025-2026). Tuition: Junior School £15,300, Senior School and Sixth Form £20,988. Fees include VAT.
Bedford Modern School has been awarded the highest rating of ‘Very Good’ by the Telegraph in its latest Best Value Private Schools assessment, recognising our dedication to delivering exceptional education and opportunities while ensuring the best value for money for our families.
Bursaries. The school offers means-tested bursaries which are dependent on a student’s academic success in the entrance assessments. They can range from a small percentage of the fees up to payment of the full amount. Further details can be obtained from the BMS website at www.bedmod.co.uk/admissions/bursaries.
Charitable status. Bedford Modern School is part of the Harpur Trust which is a Registered Charity, number 1066861. It includes in its aims the provision of high-quality education for boys and girls.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of School Governors: John Fordham
Headmaster: Mr D Payne, MA Hons, PGCE, MEd
Senior Deputy Head: Mr A Whomsley, BA, QTS
Deputy Head (Academic and Innovation): Mr H Hewlett, BSC Hons, PGCE
Deputy Head (Pastoral and Student Progress): Mrs J Goodacre, BA Hons, PGCE, MBA
Head of Junior School: Mrs P Pacyna, BA Hons, QTS
Director of Sixth Form: Mr J White, BEd Hons
Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications: Mrs L Whitcombe, BA Hons
Director of Operations: Mr M Horn BEng Hons, PGDip, MA, CEng, FIMechE