Introducing the Senior School

The BCS Senior School was launched in September 2009 on the spacious and well-equipped Wentworth Lodge site in Bournemouth, but it has 130 years of educational tradition behind it. This combination of experience, stability and innovation is a winning formula. Exactly the same mix characterises the United Church Schools Trust, which now runs BCS, so we have a guaranteed future that has a clear set of solid educational priorities but also a wide open door to new opportunities – whether in the performing arts, sport or exploiting our glorious coastal location. We would aim to challenge and excite every child who joins us, but also to provide them with a secure, happy and stimulating educational and living environment. The school is co-educational throughout, and offers the only co-educational independent school Sixth Form provision in the Bournemouth and Poole area.

Getting the balance right between learning and living is one of the main aims of any really innovative school. At Senior School level it is easy to focus on examination results as the primary target and measure of education – and with all the shared experience of the 10 UCST independent schools behind us we certainly take this aspect of school life very seriously. Quality is a value that underpins our approach, and we share it with pupils and their families through individual learning profiles and close monitoring of performance both locally and across the UCST group. Excellence is another target that we find extremely helpful: to excel is to go beyond what we could have expected, and that is something that needs to become a part of every child’s approach – it helps to show that every child can achieve “quality”, not just those at the top of the examination lists.

BCS aims to provide a very rich background of culture and experience to everyone who joins the school. Our boarding facilities welcome a flow of visiting groups from within UCST and beyond, ensuring that we have the chance to meet new people and new ideas. We place great emphasis on ICT provision, but also prioritise the performing arts – and have both a regional and European audience for our music through our many concerts and music tours. With a large Sports Hall, all-weather playing surface and indoor heated swimming pool, BCS Senior School is well positioned to cater for your sporting needs, and we are working to build a focus on beach and water sports that justifies our notion of a BCS Water Sports Academy and our UCST-wide role in Outdoor Education. We are located at the coast, and the sea finds its way into the curriculum as well as the sports and arts. Whether it is sailing, kayaking or surfing, you will be encouraged to take up new skills and confront new challenges. This is very much the approach that we want to characterise the whole of our new school.

Surfing the crest of a wave isn’t a bad image to hold in your heart as you head through school. It is pretty much how we think of our pupils – developing the skills, positioning them where they want and need to be and helping them learn to draw on the energy and direction that we provide to support them. Acquiring the disciplines, but also having the confidence and ambition to let go and fly free. Learning and living at BCS are meant to be challenging, but they are also fun.

 

 

CLICK HERE to download the School Prospectus

CLICK HERE to download the Sixth Form Prospectus