Clayesmore School is a forward-looking British boarding school with an unusual culture. Parents often describe us as England’s best-kept secret when it comes to schools. The atmosphere is friendly and forward-looking and child-centred. We have pupils from age 8 – 18 on the same site (usually in different buildings) so we are a great place for families.

Our most able students go on to the best universities in the world but we have other students who find work more difficult. About 20% of our students are dyslexic and we learned, 25 years ago, that if we teach dyslexics well then everyone benefits. This means our teachers use technology helpfully, a lot of the lessons are visual and active, we work on memory and revision, and we don’t let our teachers just stand at the front of the room and talk!

The friendliness is also found outside the classroom: students regularly have friends in different house and different age groups. Our commitment to listening to students and parents is very strong, and this can be seen in many areas of our work. For example, our theatre is almost entirely run by a student committee (carefully overseen by a teacher). And it becomes like a vibrant, democratic, collaborative theatre company. We rehearse our plays 3 days one week and perform them the next, which the students love.

We are child-centred in our curriculum too: up to GCSE all students are required to study only English, Maths and Science – no one is required to do History, Geography or a Language, though most do – and some take two languages. Students can do as many or as few creative / artistic subjects as they wish, too. In Year 12 and Year 13, students usually study 3 subjects and some take 4.

We offer about 15 A Levels and 6 Level 3 BTECs. 95% of our applicants in recent years have gone to their first choice of university. Others have signed up for impressive apprenticeships or gone directly to work. We are delighted that about 7 former students are currently studying at Oxford, but we are always very pleased for those who want to go on to other universities, often with high levels of specialism.
Our younger pupils, in Years 3 to 6, and in Years 7 to 8, are taught mostly in their own divisions with specialist staff. There is a strong focus on Maths, Literacy and all-round development. We have a pioneering Attitudes to Learning scheme in place which seeks systematically to help younger children become effective learners.

Pastoral care is exceptional, and widely recognised as such. The houseparents take the day-to-day lead on this. But every member of staff is involved in pastoral care – and teachers new to the school are often astonished to see what this means in practice. It’s quite unlike anything they have experienced elsewhere. Our meetings are invariably about pupils and how we can better help individuals.

The setting of the school is very rural – in a beautiful, traditional Dorset village. There is only one shop within walking distance, but with Amazon deliveries and our regular Sunday outings students never seem to mind and over a short time come to love the setting. Our food is varied and very much liked by the students – they have a committee who regularly meets with the chef – and our catering is all done in-house, and not contracted out.

The school is an exceptional place with an extraordinary, forward-looking, optimistic culture – which needs to be experienced. Do book your visit!