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01 July 2025
by Ferdinand Steinbeis

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English Boarding Schools in Profile: Bromsgrove School, a Hidden Gem among British Boarding Schools

Hello from Richmond,
It’s Thursday again—which means travel day at von Bülow Education. As always, half our team heads out to visit one of the UK’s many boarding schools. This week’s destination: Bromsgrove School. We board a morning train at London Euston, change in Birmingham, and continue to Bromsgrove. It’s been a while since our last visit, and we can genuinely say: we’re positively surprised by how much Bromsgrove has evolved.
Today, Bromsgrove is one of the top UK boarding schools for sport, offers excellent academics, and has an impressive programme in the arts and music. Pupils are highly involved in extracurriculars, and Sixth Formers in particular enjoy a level of freedom we haven’t seen at many other schools. We’ve been working with Bromsgrove for over 20 years, and it’s a safe bet for us: feedback from our pupils has been consistently positive. During our visit, we meet Headmaster Michael Punt, a few houseparents, and tour several boarding houses. Our charming German pupils Henrietta and Livia guide us around campus—and honestly, they’re the best ambassadors the school could wish for. Unsurprisingly, both are already considering extending their stay.
Join us on our journey to the heart of England and discover what makes Bromsgrove such a fantastic place to go to school.
Just outside the school gates
The Setting
We arrive at Bromsgrove station in Worcestershire a little behind schedule (try pronouncing that—it’s not as easy as it looks) and are greeted by our driver, Martin. British friendliness is famous; Martin welcomes us like old friends and manages to tell us a hundred things about the school on the short drive. Not so many royals have passed through Bromsgrove, but Dire Straits bassist John Illsley and author Nicholas Evans certainly did.
We only get a brief glimpse of the historic market town of Bromsgrove, home to around 35,000 residents. One thing that catches our eye: the school is located right next to a Waitrose supermarket—a quiet but telling sign of a fairly well-heeled town. Birmingham Airport is only 40 minutes away by car, and London Heathrow can be reached in two hours. With Birmingham and Oxford nearby, Bromsgrove is ideally located for pupils wanting to immerse themselves more deeply in British culture and history.
Bromsgrove's Waitrose supermarket
Soon Martin pulls into the Bromsgrove School car park. Although the school was founded in 1553, it doesn’t greet us with the grandeur you might expect. Nestled between the modern sports centre—complete with swimming pool and a delicious cookie smell wafting from the ground-floor café—and the first boarding houses, we follow a signpost pointing towards the main buildings. With a campus that spans over 100 hectares, those signs are not only useful for us, but also for the 2,000 pupils attending the school’s prep and senior departments.
Despite this large number, the campus doesn’t feel crowded at all. You wouldn’t guess how many young people attend the school just by walking around. That’s partly because the prep and senior schools are clearly separated. And to ensure no one feels lost at the start, Bromsgrove School holds orientation days in late August that buzz like a beehive and are perfect for forging the first friendships—some of which will last a lifetime.
Walking on campus
The campus is calm this morning. Everyone is in class. 120 teachers work in the senior school alone. Our Upper Sixth Form pupils, Livia and Henrietta, show us around. We focus on the senior school, as von Bülow Education mainly places pupils from the end of middle school and into Sixth Form. We take a look inside the spacious, bright library, which offers a wonderful environment for focused study. Attached to it is the Futures Department, where pupils receive in-depth guidance on all things career-related—but more on that later.
Next, we head to the Design and Technology Centre, a true eye-catcher: a generous, light-filled building with the flair of an artist’s loft. The quiet atmosphere allows for the creation of extraordinary projects. For us at von Bülow Education, no school visit is complete without a stop at the dining hall. A large display stand promotes healthy, varied meals—and indeed, the food tastes better than at many German universities, despite the kitchen serving up to 1,400 meals a day. The partially glazed building is bright and pleasant, though it can get a little noisy during the lunch rush.
Lots of amazing sports here - including football
What we believe makes Bromsgrove School special
We think Bromsgrove School is an all-round excellent school — and it doesn’t even feel the need to shout about it. As one of the country’s top sports schools, there’s a palpable sense of team spirit that extends well beyond the playing fields. Community is a core value here, and it’s visible everywhere: the pupils know one another, greet each other, and the atmosphere is genuinely pleasant.
Our team unanimously agrees that Housman Hall, the Sixth Form house, is particularly impressive—both in terms of the facilities and the level of freedom pupils enjoy in their final years. Boys and girls are strictly separated at night but spend their days together in shared common rooms and during meals. The school also offers the option for pupils to remain on campus during the Half Term holidays in February and October. That’s music to the ears of many parents who often face logistical challenges due to frequent term breaks and exeat weekends.
One of the beautiful boarding houses
The school also stands out for its strong academic results. Pupils taking the International Baccalaureate (IB) achieve an average of 38 points. Yet Bromsgrove isn’t one of those schools that focus solely on academics, as some IB schools do. There’s a sense of calm confidence here—and a refreshing lack of pretension.
Of course, sport is a major highlight: Bromsgrove ranks among the top five sports schools in the country, with outstanding performances in rugby, hockey, netball, and more. The facilities are absolutely first class. But don’t worry—this isn’t just a school for elite athletes. Everyone can train at their own level, whether they’re on the national team or the U14-B squad.
All in all, we believe Bromsgrove is a genuinely friendly, down-to-earth school with a warm, international, family-oriented environment. And our open, enthusiastic tour guides, Henrietta and Livia, were the best ambassadors we could have hoped for.
the school chapel
The Academics
Bromsgrove School is academically ambitious—but without being overly pushy. The annual exam results speak for themselves: in 2024, 60% of A-Level pupils achieved A*/A grades, and the average IB score was 38.9.
Every year, graduates secure places at prestigious universities such as UCL, Nottingham, Oxford, and even top international institutions like Columbia or Toronto. Ninety percent of leavers are accepted by their first-choice university.
Particularly strong departments include mathematics, sciences, economics, and languages. Specialisation begins as early as middle school, but there’s also the freedom to switch if a pupil’s interests change. Each subject area presents its own demanding challenges. In biology, for instance, pupils prepare for Olympiads, engage in beekeeping, and take part in specialised support programmes. On Saturdays, year-round academic enrichment courses are offered—especially popular in the lead-up to exams. In addition, there’s targeted Oxbridge preparation and a range of academic interest groups.
Design technology in full effect here
The IB classes are small, typically with around a dozen pupils, offering a supportive and focused learning environment. Teachers are always available for questions—even on weekends. The classrooms remain open too. As is typical for British boarding schools, there’s no Monday-to-Friday feeling here—school life blends seamlessly into everyday life.
For our boarding pupils Livia and Henrietta, the International Baccalaureate has meant an adjustment from the traditional German school-leaving exams: “The IB is more than just studying—here, you’re expected to take a lot of initiative.”
Small classes and dedicated teachers help pupils master the content and often bring hidden potential to light. “My teacher encouraged me to choose maths so I could later apply to study PPE. Maths has never been my subject, but my teacher here is so good that it’s now almost my favourite,” Henrietta tells us proudly. These are the kinds of stories we love to hear.
The Futures Department also provides tremendous support. Some seemingly unreachable goals have already become reality here. For those interested in medicine or veterinary science, the MedVet Society is extremely popular. It provides access to top-tier guest speakers covering topics like pathology, forensics, and surgery.
When we go on our typical two-hour school tours, it’s clear we can’t see everything a school has to offer. That makes the first-hand stories and impressions we get from our friendly hosts all the more important.
Seen at Mary Windsow boarding house
Livia, for example, loves the atmosphere in the modern studios of the Art, Design, and Technology Centre. It’s where remarkable work is created in film and photography, textile design, and product development. “I chose art and design as one of my IB subjects, but I often come here in my free time too—I’m currently sewing a dress,” she tells us excitedly. The support from the teachers is fantastic. And the finished projects speak for themselves. Vivienne Westwood would be delighted by the bold and creative fashion designs draped over the mannequins. In the basement, you’ll find work like a collapsible, portable drum stage or a clever hanging system for bathrooms. Even the presentation of these projects is professional. Bromsgrove understands that design and art aren’t just “extra subjects”—they are creative hotspots.
Bromsgrove's sports hall
Co-Curricular Life
Anyone coming to Bromsgrove School should be ready to try something new. With over 350 clubs and activities on offer, every pupil is bound to find their niche—whether it’s debating, Model United Nations, or beekeeping. Pupils can build and race electric cars, develop entrepreneurial ideas through the Young Enterprise programme, or get involved in social initiatives. One aspect that particularly impressed us was the mentoring programme, where older pupils support younger ones and help them settle into boarding school life.
As one of the top sports schools in the country, the sports facilities—unsurprisingly—are first-class. These include a large indoor arena with retractable seating for 400 spectators, where the national indoor hockey finals are held. The swimming pool and gym are available to boarders on weekends. Of course, the range of activities is both varied and high-quality: historically, Bromsgrove is a rugby school with an elite rugby programme that draws many pupils to the school. Those interested in tennis can start their day by hitting balls in the school’s own tennis academy before breakfast.
Hockey great for both boys and girls here
But Bromsgrove is also successful in many other sports—especially in hockey and cricket (for boys) and in hockey, netball, and athletics (for girls). Other sports include cross country, football, squash, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, fencing, basketball, and swimming. Scouts regularly visit the school to recruit hockey, netball, cricket, and winter sports talents for international competitions.
Every Saturday, teams from A to D compete—often with as many as 35 teams playing simultaneously, including matches against schools like Oundle School and Oakham School. It’s not unusual for weekends to turn into full-on sports marathons.
Those not training on the weekend can take part in outings—whether it’s bowling or a shopping trip to Birmingham. Some pupils even spend the night with day pupils in town.
Music and drama also play an important role at Bromsgrove. With an orchestra, jazz and pop bands, and more than 30 ensembles, there’s something for every musical taste. Around one third of the pupils play an instrument, and every boarding house has at least one piano. Lunchtime concerts—currently making a comeback—are particularly popular among pupils.
Drama life at Bromsgrove is thriving, with various productions and performances held every year for pupils in Years 9 and 10 and for Sixth Form. The much-loved House Drama competition is also a fixed highlight in the school calendar. Those who prefer to work behind the scenes can get involved in areas like lighting and sound engineering.
The school's 25m pool
The friendliness and strong sense of community that struck us at the beginning of our tour are actively encouraged by the school. Henrietta shares enthusiastically: “Everyone is genuinely nice, and there are loads of events we take part in. Recently we had a charity triathlon that we had to complete in 24 hours. We really supported each other—the last of us even got back on the bikes in the gym at night to finish on time.”
Headmaster Punt tells us that pupils actively help shape the school. One example is the “Development Club”. Mr Punt calls over a pupil, who tells us: “We organise art and charity events, collect clothes for good causes, and develop new ideas for the school.” Sometimes that even means making suggestions to the Headmaster on how the school could be run better. Michael Punt takes it all in stride—and actively encourages this kind of independent thinking. His motto: “Treat young adults like young adults.”
Bromsgrove School understands that pupils need to be prepared for life after school. That’s why Sixth Formers are given freedoms we haven’t seen elsewhere. Once a week, 17- and 18-year-olds are allowed to visit a nearby pub and have a pint—with strict controls before and after, of course. It’s less about partying, and more about learning to take responsibility and gradually getting ready for university life. This privilege is a sign of the trust placed in the pupils—something not to be taken for granted at most schools.
Stunning single room in Wendron Gordon boys house
The Boarding
Over the years, we’ve developed a little rule of thumb when visiting boarding schools: “The further the school is from London, the more likely boarders are to stay on campus over the weekend.” Exceptions prove the rule—but at Bromsgrove, it holds true perfectly. With 450 full boarders, weekends here are anything but dull.
There are five boarding houses—two each for boys and girls, and one for the Sixth Form—spread across the campus and beyond. We visit Mary Windsor, a girls-only house where the single, double, and triple rooms are small but warmly decorated by the girls themselves. Sixty of the 64 girls here are full boarders and spend their time together cooking, hanging out in the common room, or getting involved in school life. Andrea, the houseparent, cares deeply about her pupils but doesn’t shy away from enforcing rules when necessary. “Phones are collected in the morning and only handed out again for a short time in the evening. In Sixth Form, pupils can keep their phones—but they hardly have time to use them anyway,” she says with a smile.
The boys’ house, Wendron-Gordon, accommodates 100 pupils, two-thirds of whom are full boarders. While Year 9 boys still share four-bed rooms, Sixth Formers enjoy single or double rooms. The common room is cosy and equipped with a pool table and digital entertainment options. Weekends are filled with sports, music, tutoring, and excursions. “Each house has its own atmosphere—but somehow, it always seems to suit the pupils who live there,” says Becky James, a houseparent who rotates between several houses. By September, the final renovation work in the boarding houses will be complete. At that point, the entire senior school will have rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Boys playing football in front of Housmann Hall boarding house
What impresses us most is the Sixth Form area, where Livia and Henrietta live: Housman Hall. It’s a separate, mini-campus located just outside the main school grounds, with three houses where boys and girls sleep in separate buildings but spend time together in shared common rooms. Housman Hall is only a few minutes’ walk from the school, and the nearby supermarket we mentioned earlier is just around the corner. While the physical distance may seem minor, it’s psychologically important for these young adults. Every day, they go “home”—and with that, their independence and sense of responsibility grow. Not only on the walk back, but also in the common areas and especially in the well-equipped kitchen. Breakfast and dinner are shared here—and often self-cooked. Among the many nationalities represented, there are 20 German pupils. Cultural differences are actively celebrated. “We recently celebrated Chinese New Year, and during Ramadan we cooked for our classmate after sunset,” says Livia.
We can’t stress it enough: one unique aspect of Bromsgrove School is that of the 450 boarding pupils, around 120 stay on campus during the Half Term holidays. This is a real logistical advantage for many parents who don’t want to have to collect their children during every single break. And there’s an added benefit: “For some it’s better to study here than at home,” says Michael Punt. The school clearly goes out of its way to accommodate its boarders. And if the best return flight is at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, the school will find a way to collect and look after the pupil until then.
Room with a view
Our conclusion - who is Bromsgrove School right for?
While the size of the school might not seem ideal at first glance for introverted or shy pupils, we were genuinely impressed by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Bromsgrove School is especially well-suited for independent, active, and curious young people who want to complete their school-leaving qualifications while having a great time and making lots of new friends. The school demands a lot from its pupils—but never in excess. Whether in sport, the arts, academic projects, or social engagement, pupils are encouraged to discover their strengths, grow beyond themselves, and take on responsibility. Bromsgrove School is well prepared for international pupils. While some schools are only now beginning to recruit internationally due to rising tuition fees—and may not yet have the systems in place—Bromsgrove already has a long-established, smoothly running boarding programme.
Anyone looking for more than just a place to study—someone seeking a vibrant community with countless opportunities—will be right at home at Bromsgrove School.
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