Admissions
Come and see us
Experience BMS.
The best way to discover Bedford Modern School is to experience it for yourself. Meet our students and staff, explore our site and get a real sense of the warmth, energy and ambition that make BMS such a special place to learn.
Whether you are just beginning your school search or considering your next steps, there are plenty of opportunities to visit and find out more. We encourage families to immerse themselves in as much, or as little, of school life as they wish. Every visit offers a different perspective and helps build a fuller picture of what it means to be part of the BMS community.
Explore our facilities
Science Centre
From September 2017 our students began to use the new multi-million-pound Science Centre which is by far the most significant capital investment in the School’s history. It is an exceptional teaching and learning environment which will inspire countless young scientists for many years to come.
Key features
- Separate floors house each discipline: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- A central learning atrium provides a flexible teaching and display area
- 17 multi-discipline laboratories are sized to accommodate up to 24 students each with ample storage and preparation space located close to them
- Facilitating opportunities to incorporate the very latest in modern technology
- The environment is calm, light, airy and conducive to learning
- The use of cutting-edge design and construction standards make the building itself a stimulus for learning.
Refectory
The recently refurbished Refectory serves all year groups and is open during both break and lunchtime. This spacious, light-filled dining facility features a glass frontage with views overlooking the surrounding woodland. We offer a varied selection of nutritious, well-balanced meals, prepared using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from trusted local suppliers.
Sixth Form Hub
Located within the Rutherford Building, our dedicated Sixth Form Hub offers a university-style learning environment that promotes independence and personal growth. Following a comprehensive refurbishment, the newly renovated Hub opened in January 2026, providing students with a contemporary space tailored to their academic and social needs.
Key features
- Collaborative and independent study spaces
- Adaptable seminar and discussion rooms
- Comfortable and spacious social areas
- A dedicated Sixth Form cafe
- High-quality digital connectivity and resources
Designed to support both academic achievement and personal development, the Hub empowers students to become confident, self-directed learners, well prepared for higher education and future careers. With its blend of study, social and refreshment spaces, it is a welcoming environment where students feel trusted, valued and inspired to succeed.
Art and Design Technology
Our Art and Design Technology faculty contains:
- Well-equipped art studios
- Specialist dark room with black and white and digital photography equipment
- Ceramics studio housing two kilns
- Dedicated departmental library
- Three specialist design suites
- An electronics room
- A Design Technology lab including a spacious workshop with a range of machinery for working with woods, metals and plastics.
There are also opportunities for students to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages in the form of Solidworks, 2D Designer, and Circuit Wizard depending on the subject option students choose. The department is well resourced with Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) machinery available for students to then manufacture their final products and 3D prototypes. This includes the use of CNC milling machines, laser cutters and 3D printing machines.
Music and Dance
Our Music Faculty contains well-equipped classrooms with pianos, interactive whiteboard and relevant audio facilities. Each class has access to a range of classroom percussion equipment, guitars and keyboards.
Over 25 peripatetic Visiting Music Teachers teach in 13 practice rooms, one recording studio and a live room. The department also houses a music tech room with a suite of Apple Mac computers using Logic Pro and Sibelius software to aid composition.
One of our main drama spaces adjoins the Howard Hall and the Music Faculty. This large studio is used for classroom drama, dance lessons and rehearsals and contains a comprehensive sound system, video projection facilities, a mirrored wall and ballet bar.
The Howard Hall
The Howard Hall is the School’s theatre and a versatile performance venue that sits at the heart of our Performing Arts provision. Designed to support a wide range of productions, performances and events, it provides students with exceptional opportunities to develop their talents both on and off the stage.
Key features
- A professional-standard lighting rig and sound system
- Tiered seating for up to 270 audience members
- A large adjoining scenery workshop
- Dedicated green room, dressing rooms, and prop and costume storage facilities
- Flexible performance and event space suitable for drama productions, concerts, assemblies and community events
Library Resource Centre
The Library Resource Centre is a dedicated learning environment that supports both the academic progress and personal interests of our students. Home to an extensive and continually evolving collection, it provides access to a wide range of resources designed to inspire a love of reading and support independent learning.
Key features
- A comprehensive collection of fiction and non-fiction books
- Access to magazines, eBooks and online learning resources
- Quiet, focused study areas for independent work and research
- Resources that support both curriculum-based learning and personal enrichment
- A welcoming environment that encourages reading, discovery and lifelong learning
The Library Resource Centre offers students a calm and purposeful space in which to study, research and read, fostering intellectual curiosity and developing the independent learning skills essential for future success.
The Junior School
There are more than 250 students in the busy and thriving Junior School. It is a friendly, happy environment where children enjoy excellent, enthusiastic teaching in first-class surroundings.
The spacious modern buildings include light and airy classrooms alongside specialist rooms for Art, Music, Design Technology, Science and ICT. A newly-refurbished library with a great range of books is a much-used resource and the most recent extension includes the striking Christopher Fry Hall as well as additional classrooms and offices. The youngest students benefit from a specially-designated Year 3 suite of classrooms and their own playground to help them settle in swiftly and feel at home.
School House
The School House is home to our Speech and Drama department, providing a dedicated environment in which students can develop their communication, performance and presentation skills. The building also houses the School Archive, an important resource that preserves and celebrates the rich history of the School.
Key features
- Dedicated teaching rooms for Speech and Drama lessons and tuition
- A specialist library of playscripts to support performance and study
- Flexible spaces for rehearsal, discussion and small-group work
- The School Archive, containing records and artefacts spanning the nineteenth century to the present day
- Historical materials in a variety of formats, documenting the life and development of the School over time
Sports Complex
Our large on-site Sports Complex provides students with exceptional opportunities to participate, develop and excel across a wide range of sporting disciplines. Designed to support both recreational activity and competitive performance, our facilities play a central role in promoting physical wellbeing, teamwork and sporting excellence.
Key features
- A large multi-purpose Sports Hall with a climbing wall and capacity for five badminton courts
- A fully equipped Fitness Centre
- Two floodlit netball courts
- A floodlit all-weather training area
- A dedicated gymnasium with fixed gymnastics equipment
- An indoor rowing training suite
These facilities enable students of all abilities to engage in a broad and dynamic sports programme, whether participating for enjoyment, pursuing personal fitness goals, or competing at a high level.
Sports Fields
Our playing fields provide a flexible and extensive outdoor sporting environment, located adjacent to the School on the lower site. Designed to accommodate a wide range of activities and fixtures, the facilities support both curriculum sport and an extensive co-curricular programme throughout the year.
Key features
- Flexible playing fields accommodating up to 12 pitches across a variety of sports
- Artificial and grass cricket nets for training and match preparation
- A floodlit Astroturf pitch for year-round training and competition
- A traditional cricket pavilion supporting fixtures, training and hospitality
- Dedicated Fives courts, providing facilities for one of the School's long-established sporting traditions
- Field changing rooms to support teams and visiting schools
- A large function suite for match-day hospitality, events and sporting gatherings
With facilities situated just a short walk from the main School site, students benefit from convenient access to high-quality outdoor sporting provision
Boathouse
Our rowing facilities provide students with access to one of the country’s most established rowing environments, situated on the River Great Ouse at the heart of Bedford’s thriving rowing community. Supporting both recreational and competitive rowing, the facilities offer excellent opportunities for athletes to develop their skills, fitness and performance.
Key features
- A dedicated boathouse on the River Great Ouse
- A fleet of 34 boats to support training and competition across all age groups and abilities
- Specialist weight training facilities for strength and conditioning
- Performance testing equipment to monitor and enhance athletic development
- Direct access to Bedford's extensive rowing network and training waters
The boathouse serves as a hub for the School’s rowing programme, providing students with the facilities, coaching support and competitive opportunities to excel.
Swimming Pool
Our indoor swimming pool provides students with year-round access to high-quality aquatic facilities, supporting curriculum lessons, competitive swimming, water-polo, fitness training and recreational use. The 33-metre pool offers an excellent environment for swimmers of all abilities to develop confidence, technique and physical wellbeing.
Key features
- A 33-metre indoor swimming pool
- Facilities suitable for swimming lessons, training and competitive events
- Year-round access in a safe and controlled environment
- Provision for a wide range of aquatic activities and fitness programmes
- Supporting facilities for students, staff and visiting teams
The swimming pool is an important part of the School’s sporting provision, enabling students to develop essential life skills, improve fitness and enjoy swimming and water-polo.