Engagement Brochure
2026 - 2027
Events and engagement opportunties
Dear Prep School Heads,
At Bryanston, we really value the relationships we have with prep schools. These relationships are built not only through admissions conversations, but through pupil experiences, opportunities and collaboration between schools. It is a real privilege to watch children who begin their journey with you arrive at Bryanston, grow through some of their most formative years, and leave as young adults.
We have created this brochure to bring together our programme of events, admissions opportunities and school engagement activities for the 2026-2027 academic year. From discovery days and information events to sport, music, performing arts, debating, STEM, entrepreneurship and politics, the programme is designed to give pupils and families a genuine sense of the breadth, energy and ambition of life at Bryanston.
That breadth matters because Bryanston pupils are not shaped to fit one mould. They are encouraged to think independently, express themselves and become comfortable in who they are. Through a wide range of academic, creative, sporting and co-curricular opportunities, young people are able to discover their own strengths, explore new interests and find the areas in which they truly come alive. We believe pupils flourish when they are known as individuals
and given the space, support and encouragement to become their most authentic selves.
Many of these opportunities take place here at Bryanston, but we are also pleased to offer a range of workshops that can be delivered either at Bryanston or, where possible, within your own school. This allows us to shape engagement in a way that works best for you.
Whether your pupils join us for a sports tournament, debating day, music workshop, science session, admissions event or one of our new academic competitions, we hope they leave having discovered something new about themselves and their interests. We also hope they will offer families an authentic introduction to Bryanston and, for some, mark the beginning of their journey with us.
If you would like to take part in any of the events please contact Chantelle Cottrell (Prep School Liaison and Marketing Manager) at clc@bryanston.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you, your pupils and their families to Bryanston over the year ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Bonny Dales Director of Admissions
Admissions Key Dates 2026 - 2027
Friday 18 September Group Visit
Sunday 20 September Year 8 Activities Day
Saturday 3 October Group Visit
Saturday 10 October Group Visit
Thursday 15 October Imagine Day (Year 6 & Year 7)
Saturday 7 November Group Visit
Friday 20 November Junior Scholarship Application Deadline
Friday 27 November Group Visit
Friday 4 December Group Visit
Saturday 9 January Online Imagine Day (Year 6 & Year 7)
Friday 15 January Group Visit
Monday 25 January Junior Scholarship Week
Saturday 30 January Group Visit
Saturday 6 February Group Visit
Thursday 11 February Imagine Day (Year 6 & Year 7)
Saturday 27 February Group Visit
Sunday 7 March Year 7 Activities Day
Friay 12 March Group Visit
Saturday 20 March Group Visit
Saturday 24 April Group Visit
Friday 7 May Group Visit
Saturday 15 May Group Visit
Thursday 10 June Imagine Day (Year 6 & Year 7)
Friday 11 June Group Visit
Saturday 12 June Online Imagine Day (Year 6 & Year 7)
Tuesday 15 June Familiarisation Day (Year 8)
Bryanston Senior School Admissions Process
Parents can register their child for Year 9 entry at any point ahead of Year 9, however our process ideally begins when pupils are in Year 6 to ensure their place is confirmed.
For those who are currently in Years 7 & 8, there is a slightly different process. Please see the summary of the journey below and key dates for the coming term.
Group Visits
Any families, regardless of the current year their child is in, can attend a Group Visit. These mornings include an individual tour of the school, an introduction to the school by the Head, or a member of the Senior Leadership Team and an opportunity to speak to a number of teaching staff (Academic and Sport). For further information, please contact admissions@bryanston.co.uk or call 01258 484 633.
Year 5
Pupils in Year 5 can register to attend our Discovery Day. This is an opportunity for parents to visit the school with their children and enjoy an afternoon of activities and discover what life at Bryanston could offer.
Year 6 Admissions Process:
The admissions process for pupils in Year 6 is as follows:
Step 1 Registration (including a fee) and submit any supporting documentation.
Step 2 We will request a Head’s reference and CAT4 assessment scores (if they are used at the child’s current school). If CAT4 testing is not part of their school’s usual assessment process we will request if they can invigilate or arrange for the child to sit the assessment with us**.
Step 3 The pupil will be invited to an Imagine Day. This has replaced the formal interview stage and is an interactive, fun day for the pupils.
Step 4 Offer of a place – once we have the above-mentioned information we are then in a position to offer the child a place for their Year 9 entry year.
Step 5 Parents complete the acceptance form and pay the acceptance and confirmation deposit
Pupils are invited to attend Activities Day in their Year 7 & 8 Year – this is an opportunity for them to visit the school and spend time getting to know their future peers and our wonderful team ahead of joining us in Year 9. These days also help us get to know the pupils more, which informs our House and Tutor allocations.
**Invigilation of the CAT4 Assessment can take place either their current school, a lawyer’s office, or an educational agency.
Year 7 Admissions Process:
Pupils in Year 7 can be included in the Year 6 Admissions process, depending on when they register. If they have missed the opportunity to attend an Imagine Day, we would arrange an interview with a member of our Academic team.
Year 8 Admissions Process:
Pupils in Year 8 would follow Steps 1 & 2 but would be invited to attend an interview.
Overview
Autumn Term
September 2026
Tuesday 15 September U8 and U9 Mixed Football
Wednesday 16 September
Wednesday 23 September U13 Boys Football
Tuesday 29 September U8 and U9 Girls Hockey Sport
Wednesday 30 September U11 and U13 Girls Hockey Sport
October 2026
Friday 9 October
9 October
December 2026
Tuesday 1 December, 2:30pm
NEW
EVENT: The Bryanston Parliament Week Competition
Launching in time for Parliament Week, November 2026
The Bryanston Parliament Week Competition invites groups of pupils in Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 pupils to make a short video arguing for a change they genuinely care about.
More information to follow and if you are interested in taking part, please email clc@bryanston.co.uk.
Overview Spring Term
January 2027
Wednesday 6 January Design & Technology Teachers Meeting Design & Technology
Wednesday 20 January
Bryanston x London Pulse U11 and U13 Netball Tournament Sport
February 2027
TBC Dance Show Maintee Performance Performing Arts
Friday 12 February IAPS Swimming Qualifier Sport
NEW EVENT: Debating Day hosted at Bryanston Launching Autumn Term
We are pleased to offer a Debating Day designed to develop Year 5 and Year pupils’ confidence, clarity of thought and public speaking skills.
More information to follow and if you are interested in taking part, please email clc@ bryanston.co.uk.
Summer Term
May 2027
Tuesday 11 May U8 and U9 Mixed Cricket (Softball) Sport
Wednesday 12 May U11 and U13 Cricket (Hardball) Sport
June 2027
Tuesday 8 June STEM Day - D&T and Science Academic
All events dates are correct at time of design but may be subject to change.
We will get details out ahead of each term for the events listed above. Please feel free to pass this brochure across to our Heads of Department.
We have already sent out the sports dates to your Directors / Heads of Sport. If they did not receive the email, please contact Chantelle Cottrell - clc@bryanston.co.uk
Offers from Departments
Outside of the main calendar of events, we would be delighted to come and visit your school and can offer the following workshops and events. If you are interested in any of these, please contact Chantelle Cottrellclc@bryanston.co.uk
Performing Arts
We offer the opportunity to work with our Director of Performing Arts, who is available to visit schools to deliver inspiring workshops, practical sessions, and interactive learning experiences. This provision can include bespoke sessions for pupils, guest speaker talks on performance and creative pathways, and support as a judge for competitions or festivals.
Where timetables permit, our senior school pupils will be invited to take part in interactive sessions.
Music
Our engaging music outreach programme offers a range of exciting opportunities to inspire young musicians. Pupils can take part in a lively Brass Workshop Day, showcase their talents in our String Competition, and experience collaborative music during our Orchestral Day. For singers, our Choral Day brings pupils together in a joyful celebration of voice and teamwork, offering a taste of our vibrant musical community. Our Music Department will reach out to schools for each event.
Science – Chemistry and Physics
We are pleased to offer Chemistry and Physics workshop sessions, delivered by our specialist teaching staff. These sessions can be tailored to suit different year groups and are designed to be engaging, practical and curriculum-led.
For schools in which our staff would need to travel further than 45 minutes from Bryanston, we would be very happy to create a bespoke day (rather than just one session), which could include a series of activities or workshops across different year groups, allowing pupils to gain the most from our visit.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
We would be delighted to invite your school to take part in an exciting opportunity for your Year 7 and/or Year 8 pupils by joining us for an interactive workshop led by our Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Caroline de Mowbray, delivered either at your school or at Bryanston.
This session will give pupils an introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) at Bryanston and will include a practical, hands-on breakout activity designed to inspire creativity, collaboration and confidence. We would be very happy to tailor the workshop to suit your pupils and discuss dates and arrangements that work best for you.
In addition, we are currently in the process of compiling information for an E&I competition which we will be rolling out to schools in due course.
Bryanston School, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 0PX
Bonny Dales - Director of Admissions: bd@bryanston.co.uk
Chantelle Cottrell - Schools Liaison: clc@bryanston.co.uk