Dean Close St John's
School summary
A small prep school for boys and girls aged 4 to 13, Dean Close St John's pairs a strikingly low pupil-to-teacher ratio of around seven to one with full boarding provision. With just 129 pupils on roll, classes are intimate and pupils are well known to their teachers. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded its highest grade of "excellent" for both education and personal development, while compliance requirements were fully met. The school sits in Chepstow, Gloucestershire, in the South West.
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.
Free month · No payment needed
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 14 June 2023
Teaching & academics
The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged the quality of education "excellent", and the generous staffing ratio of roughly seven pupils per teacher allows for close attention through the prep years. Around 14 per cent of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting individual needs are identified and addressed within a small setting. Academic scholarships are offered alongside awards for sport and art.
Head · Tom Rainer
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships in sport and art point to genuine strengths beyond the classroom, and the school's full boarding provision lends itself to a busy life outside lessons. The ISI's top mark for personal development reflects a rounded approach to pupil wellbeing and character.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 13.95%
- EHC plans
- 0.78%
Mobile phone policy
No phones permitted in school
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £9,900 - £21,000
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £25,500
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Up to 100 per cent in very few cases
Schools nearby
Aurora Hedgeway School
Pilning, South West
Tockington Manor School
Bristol, South West
Aurora Severnside School
Gloucestershire, South West
OneSchoolGlobal Bristol Campus
Gloucestershire, South West
Grace Garden School
South West
Talocher School
Monmouth, Wales
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A close-knit prep school where small numbers and excellent inspection results go hand in hand, with boarding and generous bursaries that can reach 100 per cent in rare cases.
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.
Free month · No payment needed
Dean Close St John's 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.