Clayesmore School
School summary
Set in the Dorset countryside near Blandford Forum, Clayesmore is a small, mixed Church of England boarding and day school founded in 1896. With fewer than 500 pupils across the senior years and around 154 in the sixth form, it offers an intimate setting where pupils are unlikely to be lost in the crowd. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'good' overall, and singled out personal development as 'excellent', with all compliance standards met. Both day and boarding places are available, with entry possible at 11.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
33%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
27%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
56%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- good
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 11 November 2025
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national benchmarks at GCSE, where 33% of grades reached 9-7 against a national average of 23%. At A-level the picture is broadly in line with national figures, with 27% of grades at A*-A and 56% at A*-B. Alongside GCSEs and A-levels, the school offers BTEC and the EPQ, giving pupils some flexibility in how they study, and popular subjects span the sciences, humanities, languages and creative and vocational fields such as Photography and Product Design.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Acting head · Mrs Nicola Jones
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 154
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a clear strength, with rugby, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis among the main games, and dedicated swimming and sport scholarships on offer. The arts and performance are also well supported, reflected in scholarships for art, performing arts and technical drama. The breadth of award routes, from all-rounder to academic, suggests a school keen to recognise different kinds of talent.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1896
- Religious character
- C of E
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 0%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Year 9-11: Yondr pouches used during the school day, which can be unlocked at 5.15pm. At designated times in the evening and before published bedtimes, phones are taken in. Sixth form: mobile phones allowed in the sixth form common room and in private during the day in dorms, but must not be seen around the school site and must be silent during lessons and SPS. Boarders in year 12 hand in phones before 10.30pm on weeknights and Sundays, until at least the February half term when houseparents will relax these rules if the student has taken responsibility for their phone use.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £35,672
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £49,510
Schools nearby
Hanford Prep
Child Okeford, Blandford Forum, Dorset, South West
The Forum School
Blandford Forum, South West
Bryanston Prep
Durweston, Blandford Forum, Dorset, South West
Bryanston School
Blandford Forum, South West
Coombe House School
Shaftesbury, South West
Sandroyd School
Salisbury, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small Dorset boarding school where personal development earns top marks and pupils get room to shine. Best suited to families wanting an all-round, supportive education rather than a high-pressure academic hothouse.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Clayesmore School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.