OUR SCHOOL

Bryden cultivates well rounded individuals by fostering a love of learning, nurturing diverse talents and building character and tenacity within a happy and supportive environment.

Head's Message

Dear Bryden Community,

There’s always tomorrow … until tomorrow becomes today and we are not quite ready …

Hello, My name is Via Fick, Head of Bryden Country School. We are about to go into week 6 of Term 1 2025. Where did the days fly? We hadn’t got round to updating the website … we were busy rolling out all the to dos of a new school year; and now suddenly, a video that was meant to just be for Bryden parents has gone across the country and out of our borders.

So here I am quickly introducing myself and asking that if you see this video and the circulating petition that you stand with us … because tomorrow is never a guarantee and all we have is the present moment.

We have been in this beautiful spot surrounded by msasa trees and grassland for 42 years. Our peace was disturbed when I was visited by a group who informed me that Bryden would soon be in the middle of a cement factory and an expansive limestone quarry mine. They have already begun clearing the site even though I only spoke to the EIA team 3 days ago.

Please help us in our hour of need and add your voice to the outcry by signing this petition and standing with us, because as Martin Luther King Jnr said, “We die when we refuse to stand up for right, we die when we refuse to stand for truth, we die when we refuse to stand for justice.”

Our Bryden motto is “Tenacity” … not letting go, not giving up. Together we can. Your voice matters.

Thank you.

“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why.

But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going, because they were holding on to something. That there is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

PETITION

https://forms.gle/DzSs54kXFNXHiPf78

Values

Respect
Responsibility
Collaboration
Community
Integrity
Kindness

THE BRYDEN TEAM

STAFF DIRECTORY

We have a committed team who strive to help each pupil fulfill their potential by fostering a love of learning and nurturing each pupil's diverse talents.

Mrs Via Fick

Head

Mrs Helen Meyer

Bursar

Mr Tafadzwa Jesseniah

Deputy Head

Discipline, Parent Liason

Mr Troy Wellbeloved

Estate Manager

Mr Mike Roper

Deputy Head

Academics, Culture

The Teachers

OUR HISTORY

Over forty years ago, the aim of Bryden was to create a school for the community by the community, one that would feel like family. Forty years later, and those two concepts are still at the core of Bryden.

History

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

September 1981: In the beginning… a group of local farmers and Chegutu businessmen met to discuss the possibilities of creating a school.

A sight was chosen – Lambourne Farm (22ha) which was donated by Mr & Mrs Black on condition that the school be named after Mr Black’s great great grandmother, Jane Bryden.

May 1982: Foundations were dug, materials were delivered and buildings went up at a rapid pace.

The school officially opened on 27 January 1983 with Mr Pete Sinclair as headmaster and 70 children.

As part of their classes, each pupil was involved in the planting of trees and plants around the school which were all kindly donated by the Keevils of Dodhill Nursery.

Come and see how far we have come…

Alumni

Our Bryden Alumni have distinguished themselves around the world, making their mark in Education, Hospitality, Sports, Finance, Music and Science. We enjoy hearing how their past at Bryden is part of the reason for their present success.