Dean Close School
School summary
Founded in 1886, Dean Close School is a co-educational independent school in Cheltenham with a Church of England, evangelical character at its heart. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it the top grade of "excellent" for both education and personal development, while compliance standards were fully met. With around 520 pupils, including a sizeable sixth form of 213, it remains a medium-sized school where boarding sits alongside day places. A notably high proportion of pupils, around a quarter, receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a setting attentive to a broad range of learning needs.
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
51%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
34%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
66%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 6 February 2024
Teaching & academics
Results are solid rather than stellar: just over half of GCSE grades reached 9-7, while at A-level a third were graded A*-A and two-thirds A*-B. The sciences are popular at both stages, with Maths, Biology and Chemistry prominent in the sixth form alongside Geography, English Literature and Business Studies. Languages run beyond the usual, offering French, Spanish and Chinese, and the EPQ is available for those wanting to stretch independent study.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmistress · Ali Harber
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 213
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a clear strength, with hockey, rugby, netball and cricket forming the backbone of school life. Scholarships in sport, art and music point to genuine breadth beyond the classroom, and the boarding community supports a fuller programme of activity.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1886
- Religious character
- Church of England/Evangelical
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 26.65%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £35,100
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £40,875 - £52,050
Healthy means-tested bursary system, including one for Forces families
Schools nearby
Dean Close Preparatory School
Cheltenham, South West
Dean Close Airthrie
CHELTENHAM, South West
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham, South West
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham, South West
Cheltenham College Preparatory School
Cheltenham, South West
The Richard Pate School
Cheltenham, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A well-rounded Cheltenham school with a strong Christian ethos, real sporting and creative pull, and a means-tested bursary scheme that includes support for Forces families.
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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Dean Close School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.