Our HistoryFrom a rich history to a bright future

Bridewell Royal Hospital, our charitable foundation, was established in 1553 after the young King Edward VI gifted a palace in the City of London to care for and educate children. This historic mission – to deliver a kind, holistic, purposeful, and accessible education – remains our philosophy today.

Barrow Hills, an independent preparatory school established in 1950, merged with Bridewell Royal Hospital in 2016. This formalised a long-standing, positive, relationship between the two charitable schools and enabled closer collaboration, the sharing of resources and an educational path for children through our family of schools.

This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Barrow Hills and approach the 475th anniversary of Bridewell. As we look ahead, we are guided by a remarkable legacy of transforming young lives for the better.