Bryanston School
Same Dorset area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Clayesmore School is a private secondary-stage school in Blandford Forum, Dorset, with a published age range of 2-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 2-19 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
Clayesmore School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-19
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
A Waterhouse mansion, woodland, pitches, a lake and an outdoor classroom give Clayesmore a setting that is closely tied to the way pupils learn. The school moved to the Iwerne Minster estate in 1933, and the co-educational community now runs from nursery and pre-prep through Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form.
Senior pupils usually join at 13 or 14 for Year 9, with some Year 10 and Sixth Form entry. GCSE and A level study spans science, creative arts, sport, business and technology, while small Sixth Form classes support a more individual pattern of work. The Design Technology Centre, Cookery School, Art Department and Sports Centre bring practical subjects into the academic life of the school.
The co-curricular offer makes use of the estate and the pupils' own curiosity. Prep LEX includes survival skills, 3D printing, Japanese, design technology, horse riding and watersports. Music, drama, outdoor learning and residential trips continue that spirit, giving pupils different ways to develop independence, physical confidence and creative skill.
Joining begins with an enquiry and visit, followed by registration, current school information and time spent experiencing the school. Prep applicants may attend a Taster Day or boarding night; applicants for Years 6 to 11 complete English and mathematics assessments, while Sixth Form and scholarship candidates may have additional assessments. Full, weekly and flexi boarding are available.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 28.5 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 24.2% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Dorset and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 28.5
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 2.64
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Dorset and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 2-19
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nicola Jones (Acting Head)
- Pupil roll
- 414 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Iwerne Minster, Blandford Forum, Dorset
- Postcode
- DT11 8LL
- Area
- Dorset
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nicola Jones (Acting Head)
School contact
- School phone
- 01747813111
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01747813111
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- £11,890.80 per term including VAT for Years 9-13, 2026/27
- Boarding fees
- £16,503.60 per term including VAT for boarding in Years 9-13, 2026/27
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 28.5 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 2.64 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 24.2% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 34.79 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 11 November 2025
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspection - 2025 records an inspection beginning 11 November 2025. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
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Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Clayesmore School handle admissions?
Clayesmore School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Clayesmore School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Clayesmore School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Clayesmore School?
Clayesmore School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 11 November 2025.