bruern abbey about us

About Us

Bruern Abbey is an inclusive and ambitious mainstream, independent school for neurodiverse pupils. The school is based across two sites.

Our Prep School in Chesterton, Oxfordshire for pupils in Years 4 to 8, preparing them for Common Entrance and entry to senior schools.

Our Senior School in Chilton, Buckinghamshire for pupils in Years 9 to 11, preparing them for GCSE and life at sixth form, college and the world of work.

From September 2026, we are pleased to be welcoming girls to Bruern Abbey Prep School, followed by our Senior School in September 2027. You can read about our move to co-education here.

Both schools offer an inspiring setting, the prep school is housed in a late Victorian, Italianate house with in excess of 20 acres of grounds including mixed woodland and specimen trees; the senior school has at its centre Chilton House, a Georgian Manor based on William Winde’s Buckingham House (later Buckingham Palace) with expansive views across the Vale of Aylesbury.

At both schools, we offer weekly boarding (Monday to Friday) as well as day places and flexi-boarding. Many families arrive at Bruern having not previously considered boarding. Initially, pupils board out of geographical necessity. After a little while, though, they end up thoroughly enjoying their boarding experience. Our pastoral care is exceptional. Staff are patient, caring and trained to support all of our pupils. We firmly believe that happiness and the ability to make significant academic progress are intertwined.

Speak with our experienced admissions team on what we can offer you and your child.

In our most recent inspection, the Independent Schools Inspectorate noted a significant strength in our provision, you can view it here.

Awarded a ‘significant strength’ in ‘developing pupils’ literacy and language across the school and across subjects.
ISI, 2024

We believe school isn’t just about what goes on in the classroom. We look to provide a range of opportunities for our pupils to ensure their enjoyment of school and well-rounded development. Pupils play in competitive sports fixtures, take part in various activities, (from clay-pigeon shooting to cooking, forest school to yoga) and travel on school trips in the UK and abroad.

Bruern's Move to Co-Education

Beginning in September 2026, Bruern Abbey will take an exciting step forward as we begin welcoming girls into our Prep School in Oxfordshire. This marks the start of our transition to a fully co-educational environment, with our Senior School in Buckinghamshire set to welcome girls from September 2027. Learn more here