I left Bruern in 2016 after five amazing years, going on to study at Charterhouse School after my Common Entrance.
I finished Charterhouse after six years and then took two gap years before going to university. I felt I had earned some time off and wanted to travel. It would be a lie to say that most of those two years were planned, because much of it was spent working in hospitality earning some money, but I did take a combined total of six months travelling away from home and came back with some killer stories.
In keeping with the Bruern way, my love for the outdoors persisted and I climbed Kilimanjaro with a fellow Bruern boy; a testament to the bonds you make with your fellow students while you are there.
I also solo travelled through Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Singapore with some of the money I had earned, and received my offer letter for King’s College London while I was away in Australia.
Currently I am finishing my Environmental Science undergraduate degree at King’s College London and am looking either to go into industry or pursue a master’s degree.
Not much of my life has been planned, but I knew to stick to what I am good at and what I enjoy doing. My gap years were not especially structured, but much of the advice I have received is that if you follow your heart, you’ll end up in the right place.
My strongest memories at Bruern are split into a few key things. Firstly, the annual Ghost Walk was one of my fondest memories, with staff wearing scary masks and outfits for Halloween. Packed with jump scares, the route around the school was brilliantly planned.
Secondly, the stream. I distinctly remember riding my bike through the river at morning break (simply because I could) and turning up to French in a jumper that had gone from yellow to plastered with mud, with fortunately a very understanding teacher.
But, above all of this was the freedom. Outside of lessons, particularly at break time, you could spend time in the woods building bases with friends, climbing trees, or riding bikes. Compared with my earlier experience of a London prep school playground, it was exactly the kind of freedom I needed to flourish.
I was very keen on Design Technology and was taught by a great teacher, who nurtured my interest and helped me secure a Design scholarship at Charterhouse. There were countless people who supported me during my time at Bruern. Outside the classroom, my science teacher taught me music technology lessons using Cubase, which was incredible. Those lessons really opened my eyes to music. Taking part in the school music competition and working with several different music teachers helped me develop skills in an area where I was not limited by my ADHD or dyslexia.
I am also grateful to the now deputy head who asked me to create video compilations on my laptop for open days; my maths teacher, whose patience helped me to make great progress; my French teacher, who persisted in teaching me French even though reading and writing in English were still difficult for me at the time; and my housemistress, who looked after me and helped me to settle into boarding when I joined. The list could go on, but all of the staff played a role in helping me become a more rounded person.
A huge part of the confidence and independence I developed came from the freedom the school offered. The combination of trips, clubs, teachers and the overall setup of the school gave me many of the life skills I still rely on today.
Looking back, Bruern prepared me extremely well for the next stage of life. There is a great deal of care in everything the school does. The chefs created wonderful formal dinners, and experiences such as Oyster Club allowed us to try new foods in a relaxed and social setting. The teachers worked tirelessly to help every pupil improve. When I arrived, my reading and writing were extremely limited, but they improved enormously during my time there.
Boarding also played a big role. Living alongside your friends is an incredible experience and having staff who live on site creates a supportive environment.
When I arrived at Bruern I struggled greatly with reading, writing and concentration. By the time I left, I understood how to manage myself and my learning. I may not always be the best speller, but I know how to work around my challenges through practice and technology. The teachers were experts at tailoring learning to each pupil, and the small class sizes allowed for a truly individual approach.
Specialist SEN lessons also helped develop my working, short-term and long-term memory, often through engaging and gamified activities.
Music was another memorable part of school life. I played three instruments (not always brilliantly) and even performed in the school band.
Only after leaving Bruern do you fully appreciate how much support the school provides. At Charterhouse I faced challenges with deadlines and written work, but because of what I had learned at Bruern I understood how to seek the help I needed and how to manage my own learning.
My advice to current pupils would simply be to embrace the opportunities around you. Bruern is a place where you can discover your creativity and your sense of adventure. Spend time in the DT workshop, explore the woods, ride your bike and try as many things as you can. The friendships you make will last a long time – I still go on holiday each year with four of my Bruern classmates.
