Below are some excerpts from recent, unsolicited letters and emails sent to Bredon School.

2011

• Thank you so much for your good wishes for our relocation. Our son has been exceptionally happy at Bredon and it is with much regret that we have had to end his time with you. I do feel, however, that the many things instilled in him during his time at Bredon will continue to reap rewards in his future. Please pass on our sincerest appreciation for the growth in confidence and character our son has shown over the year which is attributable to the encouragement and support he has experienced whilst at Bredon.
   
• "I have just returned to a very excited daughter who tells me she has achieved a Grade A in her first History GCSE module and grade C in her latest Maths module. We are just utterly delighted. I would be grateful if you could send this email to her teachers as I do not want to wait until Parents' evening to personally thank them for all their much-appreciated efforts."
   
• "Just thought I would have a quick look at your website, as I used to be a boarder at the school some years ago. Although I didn't really enjoy School one thing is for certain; without Bredon I would not be the person that I am today. I became a carpenter and by the time I was 25 I had around 20 men working for me. I now run a very successful building company which deals in the public sector, including building and refurbishing schools. So thank you Bredon, without you I would not be the man I am today."

 2010

• "I would like to thank all of you in all you have done for my son during his time with you. It showed up at the funeral of my father, where he transformed from a boy to a young man, where he read his tribute to “Pa” beautifully, being the first reader to a congregation of 150 paying tribute to my father. We were immensely proud of him, but I felt I must thank you too as I know the School has had an influence on his attitude towards achieving this."

• "As you may recall in a letter to you at the start of Year 9, we had set the target of four grade-C GCSEs. So to have exceeded that target was excellent. I believe that my son has now returned to School with great determination to succeed in his chosen A-levels as well as achieving a pass in the all-important GCSE English and Maths. He returned home this weekend and was full of positive “vibes” for the two years ahead. Given all of this, I just wanted to pass on my thanks to you and all the staff who have helped him through the GCSE curriculum, particularly the patience and belief they have all shown in him."

2009-2010 testimonials

• "I thought that I simply had to write to thank you and all the Bredon team for what you have achieved with my son. I am so impressed with him that I can scarcely believe the phenomenal changes that he has undergone under your care and tutelage (not that he was not a fantastic boy when he first came to you!)."

• "I know that the best thing I ever did for my granddaughter was to ring Bredon School. On the day we visited, you took one very nervous little girl, who because of past experiences had no sense of self-worth and who had at the tender age of 11 years already decided to give up on herself, and in just under two short years you have turned her into the thriving teenager she is today. She now knows that she has a place in the world and that if she works hard enough she can achieve. She has also learned that she can make goals and strive to reach them."
   
• "I will start by saying that were I as eloquent as Wordsworth I could never do justice to the positive feelings and emotions we have towards Bredon School and its magnificent staff. When our son joined you he was a sad, lonely boy who had given up on himself and been given up by most of the people around him. His previous two schools - both expensive with generally good reputations - had failed him, to the extent that we had been told he was unteachable, would never achieve anything and was on the road to expulsion. Four years later however, he has just sat nine GCSE’s, eight of which we anticipate to be at grade C or above, and has been accepted to study four A levels at one of the top colleges in the country, with a view to taking a degree at the end of that. But more importantly still, he has developed into a confident, outgoing, gregarious young man, the complete opposite of the child you admitted. He has made many new and valuable friends and learnt life skills and lessons that he will call upon for the rest of his life, wherever it may take him. Thank you."
   

• "Just a quick note to say we can’t believe that our son is almost at the end of his first year at Bredon. Everyone who has seen him recently has been amazed and delighted by his confidence. Please could you forward our thanks to all the staff for all their support and positive attitude that has created such a wonderful change in him."

• "I am amazed at the progress the school has made over the years since I was there. Since both my parents were out of the picture, as we say here in the States, the staff at school became my family and gave me the life skills I possess today. All my success in both civilian and Army life can be directly traced to the schooling and mentoring I received at Bredon School." (Letter from an Old Bredonian).

• "I was delighted with our daughter’s results. Six years ago when you showed that shy, insecure little girl around I never thought that she would gain any formal qualifications at all. Here she is with four GCSEs – one at grade C and a bronze Duke of Edinburgh award! Thank you Bredon School."
   
• "Two years ago our son came to Bredon an anxious child disabled by his previous educational experience. Now he is an enthusiastic, confident and caring young person with a big heart who knows he will be able to do whatever he puts his mind to in life."
   
• "Prior to joining you, our son was a sad little boy who had given up on himself: even when discussing the move to Bredon he said: 'It doesn’t matter where I go, I will still fail: it’s just me; I am useless.' If you contrast that with the boy we have today you may begin to appreciate what you have achieved. In his entire school life we have never seen him so happy and confident, he clearly loves the School and is truly blossoming."
   
• "As parents we are very proud that our daughter is able to attend such a unique School as Bredon. Reading the recent inspection report confirms how hard you all work and the dedication that your staff put into educating the children of Bredon. We just wanted to say: Thank you and well done.”

• “We would like to thank you and all the staff at Bredon who have worked with our son over the years for the tremendous support he has been given, both in the junior and senior School. One thing that became very clear was just how much of an impact the environment at Bredon had on our son, not only in terms of academic support but the emotional support that was so important in helping him have the confidence to succeed.”

• “Our son just loves your School. He says: 'The teachers encourage the things you can do, but also they understand and know what you find difficult.' I think something that comes across is that the teachers seem to have this ability to understand and interact with a child.”

• “I had the most wonderful telephone conversation with my son last night when he described the weekend as probably the best weekend of his life. He thought the scenery was amazing, the group dynamics fantastic and his mates awesome. He used words and phrases that I have never heard him use before; it was a great pleasure to hear.”