About Us

    About us

    History of Bryanston

    The Dalton Plan

     

    Designed and built from 1889-1894 by Richard Norman Shaw for the Portman family, Bryanston School was founded in 1928 when it was bought by JG Jeffreys, a young, innovative Australian schoolmaster.

    There were just seven teachers and 23 boys of various ages in the first term.

    Jeffreys was a natural innovator but one who respected good traditions, reflected in his choice of school motto – et nova et vetera – its combination of the new and the old being of particular appeal.

    It was one of the first English schools to adopt the Dalton Plan. The system was flexible enough to offer a combination of lessons in the classroom and time for assignment work in subject rooms, which gave boys the freedom to decide which pieces of academic work should have their attention.

    Pupils were required to keep a daily record on a chart showing their use of working and leisure time, meeting with their tutors on a weekly basis to ensure effective monitoring of their progress. The principles of this system, including the use of the chart, are still in place today and remain central to the school’s success.

    Historic image with headmaster

    Thorold Coade

    A humble man with a great sense of fun and a flair for the unexpected, Thorold Coade took over as Headmaster in 1932.

    He believed that the emphasis on freedom and self-development implied self-discipline and that the school should provide the framework within which this could be developed. He spent the next 27 years establishing this structure.

    Deeply invested in the well-being of each pupil, Coade founded the Bryanston family with an ethos and character which is still alive today.

    History of Bryanston - Building Greek Theatre early 1950s

    Pioneering

    In the spirit of self-development and nurturing the individual, there has always been a broad offering of hobbies, societies and clubs catering to every possible interest.

    Amongst those with lasting impact is Pioneering. Established in 1933, it remains a firm feature of school life to this day.

    Pioneering was conceived to provide practical and constructive training whilst encouraging the spirit of adventure. Initially, the focus was on maintaining and improving the school grounds. However, Pioneering grew to emphasise community work, with pupils engaging in local villages to foster greater awareness and involvement in life beyond Bryanston.

    The school grounds have been permanently shaped by the paths and structures created by the Pioneers. In the 1950s, students constructed several school buildings, the most notable of which is still in use today: our Greek Theatre.

    History of Bryanston - First Girls in 1972

    Co-education

    Thorold Coade retired in 1959 and Robson Fisher was appointed in his place.

    A number of important changes took place under his headship, including the change from short to long trousers and the arrival of the first girls in 1972 (see photo).

    This makes Bryanston one of the country’s most long-standing co-educational boarding schools.

    The transition to co-education was completed under the subsequent head, the Reverend David Jones.

    History of the School - Car Going Through Arch

    Bryanston memories

    Old Bryanstonians who studied here before 1964 talk about their memories of the school and how the school has retained the same ethos and atmosphere. With film snippets from the Bryanston archive, this film shows how special the school is to many of its former pupils.

    History of Bryanston - Boathouse Opening in 2012

    A family school

    1983 saw the arrival of Tom Wheare as Head and the start of a substantial, ongoing building programme.

    However, Bryanston has always been more than just its buildings and the concept of the loving family school was the strongest characteristic for Sarah Thomas as she took up her appointment in September 2005.

    The building programme continued with the Sanger Centre opening in 2007 and the Boathouse in 2012. Sarah also successfully introduced the IB into the Sixth Form.

    In 2021, Bryanston merged with Knighton House to form a through school for pupils aged 3-18. The renamed Bryanston Prep makes extensive use of the senior school’s facilities that are only a mile away.

    Heads of Bryanston

    • JG Jeffreys (1928–32)
    • Thorold Coade (1932–59)
    • Robson Fisher (1959–74)
    • Rev. David Jones (1974–82)
    • Bob Allan (acting head, 1982–83)
    • Tom Wheare (1983–2005)
    • Sarah Thomas (2005–2019)
    • Mark Mortimer (2019–2021)
    • Richard Jones (2022–present)

    Richard Jones became the school’s ninth Head in March 2022. With a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, he brings a wealth of experience both as a housemaster and in front-line teaching. Before joining Bryanston, Richard was at Canford School and St John’s School, Leatherhead.

    Richard’s vision for Bryanston centres on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, alongside advancing digital progression, to prepare pupils for the fast-paced digital world. This vision continues to bridge traditional educational methods with innovative approaches, embodying the school’s motto, ‘et nova et vetera‘ (both new and old).