Welcome to Life@Bedales - Finding home far from home, conversations with Bedales international students about what it’s like to join a UK boarding school and build a life here.

In this episode, students reflect on their experiences of settling into Bedales School - from discovering British food to becoming part of a small, close‑knit community that quickly starts to feel like a second home. They talk about the friendships they’ve formed across different year groups, the fun of weekend BBQs and celebrations like Thanksgiving, and the confidence they’ve gained from trying new things and finding their strengths across the curriculum.

Sport features strongly too, with students loving the facilities and the chance to get involved in activities they’d never tried before. They also speak about the freedom to express themselves, whether that’s through their work, their interests or simply by wearing their own clothes.

A recurring theme is the authentic relationships students build with teachers. First‑name terms and a culture of mutual respect help create an environment where they feel genuinely cared for and understood. It’s a place where they’re encouraged to “be yourself and have a go” - advice they’re keen to pass on to anyone joining the school for the first time.

You’ll hear honest reflections on how Bedales has shaped our students: how they’ve grown more confident, more open and more at home in themselves.

This is life at Bedales, told through the voices of those who travelled farthest to find it.

Music performed by Bedales students. Interview recordings by George Purves and edited by Old Bedalian Sofia GM.  

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Welcome to this Christmas episode of the Bedales Podcast featuring interviews, carols and readings from members of the Bedales School community. We hear from Clare Kirkham (Head of Bedales Prep) and Will Goldsmith (Head of Bedales) in conversation with Sixth Form students Orlando and Aaron.

We then enjoy highlights from the Bedales Service of Carols and Readings for Advent and Christmas, recorded from All Saints’ Church, Steep in December 2025, led by Doug McIlwraith, Director of Music, and featuring the Bedales Senior Choir and readings from students and staff. Thank you to Harry Boulton, Assistant Director of Music, for the recording of the service, Rev Canon Dr Susie Collingridge for taking the service and making available the church, The congregation for joining in so heartily with the singing, and to Sofia GM, Old Bedalian, for producing this episode.  

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This podcast is all about the Stansted Players, a theatrical group of Bedales alumni, directed by former Bedales teacher Alastair Langlands. They come together every year to produce a play, usually a little-known one, which is then performed at Bedales.

The acting troupe of Stansted Players was founded in the late 1920s by the Earl of Bessborough of Stansted House. In this episode, current player Christy Callaway-Gale (2012) finds out from Alastair how he revived the players in 1990 and moved its home to Selborne and Bedales. Old Bedalian Sofia G-M (2014) then meets up with other players Serena Brett (2011), Nick Tier (1986) and Jordan Theis (2010) during rehearsals for their 2025 production of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Stansted Players perform at Bedales School annually at the end of August.

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Welcome to this Bedales podcast featuring musician Tim Arnold, actor Kate Alderton, and Bedales Senior School pastoral staff Peter Thackrey and Jen Moore. They discuss the school's approach to the difficult issue of screen dependency, and the use of art and creativity to explore this topic and its impact on young people's mental health. The discussion also considers the perspectives and responsibilities of parents and big technology companies.

This podcast episode is released ahead of a live theatre show and film viewing of Super Connected at Bedales School on 17 September as part of Tim Arnold’s UK tour. Tickets are available for this feature-length film drama with live music at https://www.bedales.org.uk/event/super-connected-tim-arnold

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Welcome to this episode of the Bedales podcast.

Sixth Form students Nadia and Anna interview Kath Lawrence, Trustee of the Rural Refugee Network (RRN), who visited Bedales as an external speaker for a global perspectives lecture.

The RRN was formed in 2016 and works to support refugees and asylum seekers affected by war, such as those from Afghanistan and Ukraine. They help to provide housing, community support, education, training and financial assistance for essentials such as clothing, IT equipment or furniture. Kath gives an insight into the refugee experience of our time, common misconceptions, and how to support their cause.

All episodes of the Bedales Podcast are at www.bedales.org.uk/about-us/news-hub/bedales-podcast and you can find out more about the RRN at www.ruralrefugeenetwork.org/.

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