Brentwood School
Brentwood School is a leading UK independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3–18, with nearly 500 years of history.
Key Information
75-acre campus in central Brentwood with exceptional facilities. Close links to London and major airports. Founded on values of Virtue, Learning, Manners (est. 1622). Focused on developing talent with confidence and humility. Preparing students for future careers, including those not yet imagined. Students are kind, enterprising, and self-driven. Embraces innovation while rooted in tradition. Specialist Music Programme (2024) and global Music Competition (2025). Sector-leading, fully accessible boarding house opens September 2025. Strong emphasis on wellbeing, resilience, and personal growth. Students excel academically, creatively, and in sport – exceeding expectations.
History of the School
In 1557 Sir Antony Browne, the Lord Chief Justice, acquired the land on which Brentwood School was first built. During Mary Tudor's reign, hundreds of Protestants were burned at the stake and a well-known Brentwood Protestant, William Hunter, was ordered by Sir Antony Browne to be executed. This act may have led Sir Antony Browne to found Brentwood School. In 1622, the School Statutes were signed by the Bishop of London and John Donne, Dean of St. Paul's and one of England's finest poets. The school has a Tudor schoolroom, a Victorian chapel and several Grade II listed buildings.
Pre-16 qualifications
Our academic curriculum is broad to promote a love of learning. With 28 GCSE subjects on offer, our students can construct a personalised curriculum path, while being confident that they are retaining an effective balance of subjects, valued in Sixth Form and by universities and employers. Many of our students leave a trail of As and A*s in their wake, but all our students leave Brentwood understanding that acquiring knowledge is only part of what it means to learn. We are a Diamond Model school, so from Year 7 until the Sixth Form, boys and girls are taught separately.
Post 16 qualifications
There is a wide choice of subjects on offer, whether you want to follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), BTEC Extended Diploma (Sport and Business) or A Levels. We support any combination of options to suit your strengths or areas of interest, because, rather than restrict you, we design the timetable around your choices, and we provide guidance and support throughout your Brentwood journey.
Academic performance
Our IB Diploma Class of 2024 returned an average of 38.3 points, which placed Brentwood School in the UK top 10. No fewer than 12 of the 31 IB Diploma students scored 40 points or more, with two securing the maximum total of 45. 132 students took A Level examinations and a strong set of results saw 37.2% graded A* or A. 10.7% of A Level results were A* and 72.0% of results were A*-B. The pass rate was 100%. In 2024, all 31 BTEC Extended Diploma students achieved their first-choice outcome. 5 students attained the equivalent of A*A*A*
Boarding accommodation
Opening September 2025, the new state-of-the-art Boarding House is designed to meet students' needs. The fully accessible ground floor includes communal seating, recreation, and social areas. A new Sixth Form Cafe will serve as a social, study, and meeting hub for boarding and day students, with a covered arcade and courtyard access. Upstairs, 122 single ensuite bedrooms provide modern, university-style accommodation, offering a comfortable home-from-home with bright, airy private rooms.
Pastoral care
At Brentwood School, we have an outstanding level of pastoral care. The wellbeing and safety of all our students is our highest priority and we have an excellent team in place to support each young person individually. The extended pastoral team in the Senior School comprises the Senior Deputy Head, Director of Pastoral Care, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Heads of Year and their Deputies, Form Tutors, Boarding staff, Pastoral Managers, our Chaplain, Director of Pupil Wellbeing, the School's medical team and our School counsellors. Together they enable each student to thrive in a kind, caring and inclusive community.
Extra-curricular activities
At Brentwood, we offer an exceptional programme of co-curricular and enrichment activities with a wide and diverse selection of trips, societies, and clubs, including our Tennis Academy, Equestrian Team, Chess Academy and Fencing Club. Our co-curricular provision is inclusive and we encourage all students to participate in activities and societies that they find interesting. Some activities aim to stimulate and extend students with a particular subject passion whereas some are less subject-driven and more focused on broadening interests and knowledge. There is something for everyone.
General school facilities
The facilities at Brentwood School are of the highest quality. Set within a 75-acre site, our campus provides a stimulating environment for innovative teaching and a first-class education. The School has an on-site Sports Centre, which features a 25m indoor swimming pool and a learner pool. There is a fitness suite with computerised equipment, four glass-backed squash courts, an indoor rifle range, a main hall large enough to accommodate seven badminton courts plus a multi-purpose room for fencing, dance and other activities. There is also a purpose-built Fencing Salle, the practice home of the School's strong fencing community.
A Quick Summary
Wellbeing is at the heart of a Brentwood education - happiness, purpose and an ability to use setbacks as learning opportunities are all ingredients of a successful education, and help our students excel academically, in the visual and performing arts and in sports to name just a few. They work hard, achieve great success, and often exceed expectations, carrying forward the leadership skills and values instilled at Brentwood. That's what makes us Brentwood.
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