[2] On 15 August 1552, Edward VI issued letters patent in Ely allowing the "Mayors, Bailiffs, Burgesses and Commonality of Bedford" to establish a grammar school in the town.

[5] However, the school grew little over the next century and a half[6] due to incompetent headmasters and a lack of funding; it also grew little in social standing as compared to schools such as Winchester, Westminster, or Eton, this may also be partially attributed to its location in Bedford and lack of architecturally attractive estate.

[8] Following its foundation, Bedford School expanded greatly, increasing its head count and restoring its buildings.

[9] Around 1810, headmaster John Brereton restarted boarding at Bedford, although the school still primarily taught day students.

[10] During Brereton's tenure, Bedford took on many characteristics of Victorian public schools, including fagging, and compulsory Christianity.

Almost all pupil records were saved but books, furniture and the large collection of portraits of former headmasters were lost.

It is significant as the last architectural accomplishment of George Frederick Bodley, a prominent Victorian architect who worked in the Gothic Revival style.

Most significantly, the ceiling was restored to its former Bodlian watercolour design, the original having been painted over in the 1960s due to deterioration.

The Charles Piazzi Smyth Observatory and the Wolfson Planetarium were opened in May 2002 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The telescope has a hydrogen alpha filter, which enables the observer to view the magnetic plasma flow around the sun.

Boys attending Bedford School during the inspection were praised for having "respect for others", having a good "understanding of right and wrong", showing "kindness and sensitivity" and demonstrating "responsibility for others".

[18] Academic attainment across the school was strong, with boys making "rapid" progress in all curriculum areas whilst developing a wide range of learning skills, including independence of thought and the ability to clearly communicate.

Boys of all ages across the school, from Preparatory to Sixth Form, were found to be achieving strongly in key areas such as Language and Communication, as well as Numeracy and Mathematics.

Bromham – The day house is on Burnaby Road at the main entrance to the school, next to the Rice Building.

Paulo Pontine – The day house occupies a single storey ground floor area beneath the Art Department towards the south of the school estate.

[citation needed] Bedford School recognises individual achievement in various fields by the awarding of 'colours', at the discretion of the appropriate master, to boys in the Fifth Form and above.

There are five types of colours: Academic, Arts, Headmaster's, House, and Sports (Major and Minor).

In 2007, the BBC recorded the school's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for transmission on Christmas Day of that year on BBC Radio under the direction of Andrew Morris, Director of Music at Bedford School between 1979 and 2011.They also recorded A CD entitled "A Bedford Christmas" in 2018.

Rowing with the Bedford School Boat Club takes place on the River Ouse throughout the year.

Other popular Bedford School sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cross-country running, fencing, fives, football, golf, rifle shooting, sailing, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo and weight training.