Nestled in the western county of Dorset, this IB school is renowned for its outstanding creative arts department and its pioneering system giving students agency over their own learning. The picturesque surroundings also offer ample space for popular outdoor sports and leisure activities.
Founded in 1928, Bryanston School sits in the midst of beautiful green countryside in the South West of England. At first glance, the magnificent building looks like a palace straight out of a storybook. Creativity is highly valued here — the music and art departments are the school’s pride and joy.
The extensive sports offering and high academic standards further impressed us, placing Bryanston well above national averages.
Spread over 160 hectares, the large campus provides plenty of room for a lively mix of creative, sporting, and intellectual pursuits. Teachers are deeply committed to mental health and individual support, ensuring a warm and personal atmosphere for every student. kognitiven Aktivitäten. Hohes Engagement der Lehrer im Bereich mental health und die individuelle Betreuung durch Tutoren sorgt für eine warmherzige und persönliche Atmosphäre.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Number of students: 800
International students: 10%
Students in Sixth Form: 290
Average class size: 1:9
Boarding fees per term: £ 18,841
The most important sports on offer besides the traditional team sports: horseback riding, athletics, rowing, tennis, hockey, rugby
Nearest airports: London Heathrow (1.5 hours), Southampton Airport (1 hour), student shuttle at the start/end of each (half) term and on certain weekends
Key Strengths at a Glance
IB Diploma
excellent creative arts department
beautiful parkland
equestrian center with newly renovated outdoor facilities
Bryanston School – Photo Highlights
Bryanston School in Detail
Art and Creativity
We are convinced that Bryanston School boasts one of the finest creative arts departments in all of England. The newly built music school includes a professional recording studio and a beautiful concert hall. In theatre, students stage between 15 and 20 productions a year, with opportunities in dance and set design as well. The art department offers drawing, sculpture, photography, and painting, while the Design and Technology Centre features professional-level tools such as a 3D printer, laser cutter, and other high-performance equipment. At Bryanston, creativity truly knows no bounds.
Leisure and Sport
The leisure programme at Bryanston is just as broad and inspiring. From beekeeping, creative writing, breakdancing, photography, and skateboarding to producing the student newspaper or running the school radio station — there’s something here for everyone. The sports centre features three sports halls, a 19-metre climbing wall, its own riding stables, and much more. Traditional team sports such as hockey, rugby, football, and cricket are complemented by rowing, tennis, and kayaking. The school also offers an elite athletics programme for talented young sportspeople.
Academic Life
Bryanston combines a wide range of subjects with exceptional academic quality. Students can choose between A-levels and the IB Diploma. Subjects include music, history, maths, as well as German, Latin, computer science, and film. Teaching is based on the Dalton Plan, a method that promotes independent learning and time management — principles that Bryanston has mastered like few others. Several specialist libraries are available on campus, and each student is assigned a personal tutor. The focus is always on individual support to help students reach their full potential.
Boarding
We find Bryanston’s weekend concept particularly appealing, offering students a perfect balance and a real sense of well-being. Weekends are divided into different categories: on Whole School Weekends all students remain on campus, while on Open Weekends they are free to stay or go home. In practice, students often choose to stay, thanks to the school’s varied and entertaining programme of communal events and trips — from water parks to paintball adventures.
Fees at Bryanston School
Fees at Bryanston are £18,841 per term, or £56,523 per year.
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Conclusion: Bryanston School
Bryanston is a creative, versatile school in Britain. If you are looking for an all-round boarding school with a broad extracurricular programme where independence is actively fostered, Bryanston is an excellent choice.
However, it is by no means the only school in the UK with outstanding creative and academic opportunities. We strongly recommend exploring other options as well. Feel free to contact us for advice.
With years of close contact with these schools, we understand their individual strengths and can offer you genuine insights. We’re confident we can help you find the right school for your child.
We’re also happy to advise you on other schools in England. You can find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- authentic, first-hand insights
- our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- many years of experience in placements
- help with any visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
