History of the Senior School
Founded in 1978 by Mr Peter Pyemont, Bede's Senior School grew out of Bede's Preparatory School in Eastbourne.
Based at the heart of the rural village of Upper Dicker, the School is surrounded by over 100 beautiful acres of Sussex Downs National Park, a site of Special Scientific Interest, in an estate established by Horatio Bottomley, the notorious swindler, MP and founder of the Financial Times.
During Bottomley's heyday, 'The Dicker' (as the School's site is known) included kennels, a stable yard for breeding racehorses and still boasts the lake and stunning gardens landscaped by Bottomley's team of gardeners.
Indeed Berwick, the local train station, was built where it was because Bottomley influenced the decision in parliament; the stop was originally called 'The Dicker Halt' after the estate.
After Horatio Bottomley was jailed for fraud and his estate repossessed, The Dicker went through several owners before being acquired by the newly founded St Bede's School Trust at the end of the 1970s.
Bede's Senior School grew rapidly over the ensuing years, from a starting figure of 23 pupils to today's roll of approximately 750, making Bede's one of the fastest-growing and most successful independent schools of the 20th Century.
A recent major development has been the new Dorms boarding house and in September 2027, a new £6 million development which will extend provision at the Senior School campus, for pupils in Years 7 and 8.
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What's happening at Bede's
![Bede's Announces Major New Commercial Partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1785762611/bedesorg/iebjmovimwd68vwubcna/BEDESBRIGHTONHOVEALBION-10.jpg","width":2200}])
David Byrne, Director of Commercial Partnerships
Bede’s School is delighted to announce a prestigious new commercial partnership with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion FC. This collaboration unites two of the South East’s leading institutions, establishing a strong partnership alignment rooted in shared values, community engagement and focus on developing excellence.
![Bede's Space Education Quality Mark]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1785835541/bedesorg/knojd5f75jct675z5fmt/SpaceAward-1.jpg","width":2200}])
Mesha, Harry, Vir and Ralph (Sixth Form)
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Bede’s Senior School has been awarded the prestigious Gold SpaceEducation Quality Mark (SEQM)!
![Heads of School 2026/27]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1778594324/bedesorg/kdj48ka266jo2lvlrbn8/HoS-6.jpg","width":2200}])
Mesha, Harry, Vir and Ralph (Sixth Form)
Our new Heads of School have been appointed for the academic year 2026/27! Get to know Mesha, Harry, Vir and Ralph...
