Bristol Grammar Private School

• Year of foundation: 1532
• Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
• Age of students: 4-18
• Number of students: 500+
• Language of instruction: English
• Type: full-time school.

A mixed independent day school for children aged 4 to 18 was founded in 1532 on the basis of a royal charter to teach good manners and literature to wealthy Bristol merchants Robert and Nicholas Thorne. It is divided into four sections:

1. primary school (4–7 years),
2. junior school (7–11 years),
3. high school (11–16 years old),
4. Sixth Form (16–18 years old).

In 2016, The Good Schools Guide named the junior school one of the best preparatory schools in the UK. High School and Sixth Form are considered to be among the top independent schools in the South West of England in terms of academic performance.

In 1767, the school exchanged seats with another institution bearing the name of Elizabeth, as a result of which the number of students decreased significantly, and the school fell into decay. The administration managed to bring things back to normal by 1812. During this period, the school moved away from the classical concept of education, which led to its closure in 1844. But in 1847, after a three-year hiatus, bristol Grammar School reopened. From 1877 it moved to Tyndalls Park, in 1879 the first buildings were opened: the director's house, where the junior school is now located, and the Great Hall. Additional classrooms, a spacious courtyard and a shooting range were added. Subsequently, a number of buildings were converted into rehearsal rooms and art workshops. In 1900, a preparatory school was opened (in 1928 it received its own building on Elton Road).

The preparatory hall is currently occupied by the McKay Theatre. Since the war, the school has been systematically and consistently mastering Elton Road; new classrooms and a sports hall were built, and the Center for Design and Technology was opened on the playing field.

Since 1946 it has been a gymnasium with direct funding, since 1979 it has been an independent school. A year later, co-education was introduced here, although the admission of girls to the Sixth Form had begun two years earlier.        

High school has six Houses, or faculties, named after famous leaders. A student is assigned to one faculty as soon as he or she enters high school, and remains in his or her faculty until he or she leaves school. The houses hold performances, music competitions and sports tournaments.

It was originally located in St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The motto of the school Ex Spinis Uvas, which translates as "Bunches of Thorns" is a play on words based on the names of the founders Robert and Nicholas Thorne.

At the base of the foundation is a stone containing a time capsule. According to legend, it contains copies of the newspapers The Times and Bristol, as well as a parchment document containing an account of the bookmark ceremony. It was laid down on June 10, 1877 and has not been discovered since then, despite active searches.

Class sizes range from 25 students per teacher in the lower grades to one-to-one lessons in some Sixth Form groups.

Bristol Grammar School occupies a triangle of land between the University of Bristol on the Side of University Road, the former Dingle Department Store on the underside, and a series of houses on the Elton Road side known as Tyndalls Park. Currently occupies most of the houses on the street.

The architectural dominant of the school is the Great Hall, opened in 1879, the largest in the United Kingdom and designated as an architectural monument. Its dimensions are 43 by 15 meters with a ceiling height of 15 meters. On the lower level there is a principal's office, a high school hotel and classrooms.

Already in elementary school, students can find new friends and gain valuable experience by joining one of the clubs. These can be gardening classes, LEGO, cooking, choir, sports club for primary school; in junior school, the choice is complemented by arts, a business club, yoga, choir and orchestra, Russian language classes and various sports, including badminton, rugby and netball.

Each week, one day is devoted to the school program of activities, when students can choose a new task for themselves or indulge in a favorite hobby, spend time with classmates or teammates.

Sports permeate school life at all levels of education - here they know firsthand that in a healthy body there is a healthy mind, and also believe that physical education strengthens mental health. The high school holds weekly sports at the Feyland site in addition to physical education classes in the gym. Seventh-graders pay close attention to rugby, hockey and cricket, netball, while in the 8-9 grades football, tennis and athletics become the main ones. Starting from the 10th grade, the game options are expanded to include gym classes, rock climbing, kayaking and running club, traditional team games. 

Schoolchildren represent their alma mater in local, regional and national competitions in such disciplines as football and rugby, swimming, badminton, athletics, squash and equestrian sports.

At Bristol Grammar School, art is considered a vital part of education.  The Performing Arts Center, opened in 2016, offers students access to state-of-the-art performance equipment, experience working together on a piece of music, drama or dance, which contributes to the development of a creative streak, flexibility, dedication, perseverance and teamwork skills.

All children take part in outdoor activities, numerous excursions, hikes and other activities – from the Forest School to sailing trips. This helps the child to gain self-confidence, try something new, become independent, take responsibility and share the joy of sharing leisure time together. Joint rest develops the skills of communication and teamwork, the ability to solve problems.

Highly popular is the Model UN organized at the school, on the platform of which the annual BGSMUN conference has been held since 2007.

The true jewel of the school is the organ built by Vowles & Son; it was donated by William Wills, 1st Baron Winterstoke, in January 1880. At the time of manufacture, it cost 1,000 pounds, which in today's prices is equivalent to 2 million. The organ works, it is still used during meetings, concerts and divine services.

Classrooms are equipped with modern computers and projection equipment that allows lessons to be conducted using multimedia materials and augmented reality.

The school has a large plot of land in Feiland, where there are two hockey fields, tennis and netball grounds with asphalt pavement, five cricket fields and nine for rugby, football fields and an athletics stadium. Sports facilities are serviced by a professional service team. Sports classes are mandatory for students from grades 1 to 11 inclusive at least once a day.

The school provides a discount of 5% for the second and subsequent representative of one family attending classes at the school.

The tuition fee includes:

• Lunch on the occasion of admission to the 11th grade;
• Stationery and educational literature (starting from the 2nd year of study).

For a fee, students can receive hot meals, including vegetarian, halal or kosher meals.

You can also buy an iPad or another tablet on credit.

Upon admission, a one-time fee (£300) is charged, regardless of age group; this payment is refundable, subject to full payment of the tuition fee after graduation. Payment can be made by cheque, bank or direct transfer, one-time or monthly payments (in this case, the amount of payment will be higher by 3%).

Additional costs:

• Monthly payments to the director's fund in the amount of 2/4 of pounds for junior and senior students, respectively (this payment serves to subsidize excursions and other activities with the participation of students);
• Insurance of £4.3 per semester intended to cover accidents;
• £1 per semester to the parent association fund;
• Exam fees.

When entering the 3rd grade, children spend the day with teachers, solve the tasks aimed at assessing literacy, mathematical and everyday skills, the ability to speak and logical thinking. Comprehensive information about the entrance tests will be received by parents after submitting the application.

Future fifth-graders are evaluated for creative writing, verbal skills and the ability to independently solve emerging problems, without resorting to the help of adults, soberly assess their strengths, capabilities and resources.

High school applicants also pass entrance exams, including, respectively:

• For grades 7 – 45-minute essay, tests on logic and abstract thinking, arithmetic and problem solving (the duration of each test is 20 minutes);
• For 8 grades - written works in English and mathematics, a test of linguistic competence;
• For grades 9-10 - in addition to the exams used in grade 8, teenagers take tests in natural sciences.

For admission, it is necessary to send an application by e-mail or in person.

In recognition of a student's exceptional academic, athletic, creative and performing abilities, a scholarship may be awarded a scholarship designed to support development and designed to provide more opportunities for effective learning. Scholarships are available to high school and Sixth Form students.

In addition to the Merit Scholarship, there is a well-thought-out model of a scholarship programme to support schoolchildren in need; it offers a wide range of financial assistance, the amount of which, depending on the circumstances, ranges from 10 to 100% of the cost of education. Additionally, the school can subsidize the purchase of uniforms, educational equipment and stationery, tourist trips and other expenses.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision