School profile Verified 18 August 2026

Dorset Private schools

Leweston School

Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6EN

Leweston School is a private secondary-stage school in Sherborne, 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
Compare Official website Map

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

Leweston Manor anchors a history that began in 1891, when the Religious of Christian Instruction founded St Antony's. Senior pupils moved to the manor in 1948, and full co-education followed in 2018. Prep, senior and Sixth Form pupils now share one Dorset campus across the age range from two to 19.

Music and drama have dedicated room to breathe here. The music school includes rehearsal, teaching and recording spaces for solo and ensemble work, while GCSE and A-level courses run alongside practical performance. Creative work is therefore embedded in the timetable rather than reserved for occasional productions.

The purpose-built Riding Academy supports coaching and competition in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Four boarding houses accommodate girls and boys from Year 4 to Sixth Form, bringing boarders and day pupils together for lessons, meals and activities. Sixth Form entry includes an interview and taster day; prospective boarders can also stay overnight, with full, weekly and flexi options available.

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 40.8 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 23.8% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Dorset and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Leweston School, Dorset, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
40.8
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
EBacc APS
3.42
EBacc entry
0%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Dorset and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Leweston School, Dorset, and England. 55 48.3 41.7 35 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

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
Head
Mr John Paget-Tomlinson
Pupil roll
577 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
Sherborne, Dorset
Postcode
DT9 6EN

School leadership

Head
Mr John Paget-Tomlinson

School contact

School phone
01963210691

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions phone
01963210691

Admissions

Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
2-19
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
£7,909 per term including VAT for Years 7-8
Boarding fees
Check school fees page
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

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

  1. Sixth Form scholarship application deadline

    10 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry: 2027.

  2. Sixth Form scholarship assessments

    Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (16+); entry: 2027.

  3. Year 9 scholarship application deadline

    5 January 2027

    Route: Year 9 (13+); entry: 2027.

  4. Year 9 scholarship assessments

    Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 January 2027

    Route: Year 9 (13+); entry: 2027.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
40.8 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 ?
3.42 EBacc APS
A-level results
23.8% AAB or better
A-level average points
36.75 A-level points per entry

Inspection

Standards met

Latest inspection: 25 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 25 November 2025. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

Nearby schools families also consider

Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.

Nearby schools with similar results

Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Leweston School handle admissions?

Leweston School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Leweston 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 Leweston School?

Sixth Form scholarship application deadline: 10 November 2026. Sixth Form scholarship assessments: Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November 2026. Year 9 scholarship application deadline: 5 January 2027. Year 9 scholarship assessments: Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 January 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Leweston School?

Leweston School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 25 November 2025.