BRUERN ABBEY SCHOOL

Bruern Abbey is a unique school, providing specialist education and pastoral support exclusively for boys diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia or other learning difficulties. We have two sites, our Preparatory School is based in Chesterton, Bicester, with our Senior School housed in Chiltern, Buckinghamshire. Both have beautiful grounds that provide the perfect setting for boys to thrive and engage in a plethora of opportunities beyond the classroom. Our highly skilled and passionate specialist staff, support the boys with their academic and pastoral needs; helping them develop techniques and skills to successfully manage their learning difficulties.

We have for many years been the only school in the country to have as its main purpose the preparation of boys with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other learning difficulties for Common Entrance and other entrance examinations, including GCSEs, to mainstream independent senior schools. Learning difficulties should not preclude academic success, and we believe that extending our provision will allow even more boys to benefit from Bruern's unique offering.

In the Junior years, the Prep School runs a skills-based curriculum. What this means in practice is that the focus of lessons is far more on 'how to do' rather than factual learning. This is crucial in bringing boys' literacy and numeracy skills up to speed and hence why we have twice as many English and Math lessons as a standard prep school. As the boys move up the year groups we prepare them for nationwide examinations.

The Bruern Senior School is similar to a traditional public school for boys aged 13 to 16, with breadth to the curriculum, including GCSEs and other nationally recognised qualifications, full and varied sports, and co-curricular programmes coupled with Bruern’s outstanding pastoral care. The Senior School’s weekly structure will allow for a busy action-packed week, Monday to Friday, whilst also offering the boys a full weekend with their families.

“Teachers who really take the time to get to know the pupils and create a unique environment.”

Bruern Abbey Senior School Parent 2023