Commenting on the school's values, Headmaster Michael Bond says: 'They guide our core purpose in helping young people discover and develop their talents with both self-assurance and humility.'

'Our pupils are kind, ambitious, and seek to make a positive contribution in the present and the future: our role is to help them achieve their successes – in whatever shape they may come – without any sense of entitlement.'

Boys and girls are taught separately between the ages of 11 to 16, part of a 'Diamond Model' of teaching. The same curriculum is taught to both boys and girls and they participate together in a wide range of co-curricular activities from music and drama through to trips and excursions.

Attain asked the school, what makes Brentwood School different – and why should parents consider it?

'Here in the past may you find arms in the present to fight the battles of the future.’ (Edwin Bean, Headmaster, Brentwood School, 1891-1913)

This sentence adorns the wall of the old Bean Library, built to recognise the work of Edwin Bean, Brentwood School Headmaster at the turn of the 20th Century. It encapsulates one of the many reasons why Brentwood School is a special place.

A place of learning since 1557; a place with deep roots that provide stability in a changing world; and a place where we turn challenges into opportunities to ensure we face the future with confidence. Above all, we are a community, with a shared vision, common purpose and a determination that everything we do will benefit the young people of today (and tomorrow) who are in our care.

Underpinning everything we do are our values – Virtue, Learning and Manners – which first appeared in the School Statutes, written by John Donne, Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral and one of England’s finest poets, in July 1622.

They are as important now as they have been at any point in our history; they act as our compass and our guide. Ultimately, their main purpose is to help us achieve our overall aim: to enable our pupils to become the very best version of themselves.

Head, Governance and Inspections

When reviewing details about a particular school, prospective parents should always ensure they have looked at the governance details, reviewed recent inspections and read about the Head's vision for the school. Find out more about how to read an inspection report, the role of the Head (and whether you need to like him or her!), the school's pastoral care provision, looking at what is taught through the curriculum and assessing the extracurricular opportunities on offer.