Our High-impact Bursary Programme

Each year we offer financial support to a number of students who show significant ability, but would otherwise be unable to afford the fees, through academic bursaries. These are available through years 7 to 13 at all our senior schools.

During the last year we provided:

177 bursaries

to pupils across the 3 schools totalling almost £3m.

75% of pupils

were given transformational bursaries, of 75-100% of school fees.

Bursary students had excellent results in all schools

Bursary students took an average of

9.8 GCSEs each

They achieved an average grade of 7.7.

Our A-level / IB students achieved an average grade of

B+

68% secured places

at Russell Group universities

Charlie Blades

Having a bursary at BMS made a huge impact on my life. It was very humbling; every day that I attended was, in a way, a gift. I was always aware of how lucky I was to be there and that really influenced my approach to school life. I took school very seriously, and I wanted to take advantage of everything the school had to offer. My piano lessons were also largely subsidised by BMS and its affiliates, and without these opportunities I would not be in the fortunate position I’m in now as a professional musician.

Cruz Molina

Without the bursary, I couldn’t have joined BMS and benefitted from the academic support and opportunities they provided. Receiving that bursary letter gave me the confidence to pursue medicine and work towards becoming the first doctor in my family, which is an achievement that means a great deal to me and my family. Looking back, I’m grateful to the Harpur Trust for their support and for opening doors that might otherwise not have been available to me. Coming from a single-parent and minority ethnic background, these opportunities are so important and transformative. They allow young students like I once was to dream without limit and to pursue ambitions without barriers. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can be an example of that and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

I am currently a fourth-year medical student at King’s College London and I’ve developed an interest in education, spending my summers mentoring prospective students at Oxford and Cambridge summer programmes for those wanting to pursue STEM degrees. More recently, I’ve returned to Bedford Modern as a governor, which is a role I’m very enthusiastic about and excited to continue developing as a recent OBM.

More Impact

Our schools deliver substantial public benefit by maximising access to our facilities and expertise to further our charitable objects. The largest area of public benefit through our schools is the provision of means-tested bursaries to help lower-income families pay all or part of their school fees. Find out more in the links below.

Our mission is to nurture potential and improve people’s lives. Our strategy, Together for Bedford, commits us to enabling more children and young people facing disadvantage to achieve their potential, to provide high quality education with an impactful bursary programme, and to maximise our impact on the community in Bedford. Find out more below about how we have achieved these aims in 2024-25.

More children and young people facing disadvantage achieve their potential

Our Accelerator Programme aims to enable more children aged 0-11 eligible for Free School Meals to reach the expected standard. We also host Bedford Giving, a collaboration to bring together the whole community to support children and young people in Bedford.

High quality education with impactful bursaries

For more than 400 years, we’ve helped generations of young people in Bedford to unlock their promise and embrace their moment to shine.

Maximum impact on community needs

Each year, we award £1m+ in grants, giving a diverse range of community groups the resources they need to tackle issues and seize opportunities.

Providing High Quality Education

Our four independent schools offer outstanding educational opportunities and we are extremely proud of their exceptional academic, sporting, enrichment and creative arts achievements.

Our Schools’ Public Benefit

Students and staff from our four schools deliver substantial public benefit to local schools and the wider community to further our charitable objects, by maximising access to our facilities, providing arts and culture enrichment, science outreach activities, career and leadership events, supporting subject learning in local schools, as well as taking part in volunteering and fundraising for local charities.