MixedIndependentBoarding

Leweston School

Sherborne, Dorset, South West · DT9 6EN

A Catholic independent school in Sherborne, Dorset, Leweston has educated pupils since 1891 and today takes children right through from nursery to sixth form, with boarding available. Around 562 pupils are on roll, and one of its most striking features is an exceptionally low pupil-to-teacher ratio of about six to one, which points to a great deal of individual attention. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school good in its most recent inspection, while singling out pupils' personal development as excellent. Roughly a third of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a school used to working closely with a range of learning needs.

562

Pupils

good

ISI

£23,919

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 0-18
Pupils: 562
Pupil:teacher ratio: 6
Location: Sherborne, Dorset, South West
Website: http://www.leweston.co.uk
Telephone: 01963 210691

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Headmaster John Paget-Tomlinson

Latest results

Attainment 8

40.8

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

31%

A-level A*-A

40%

A-level A*-B

58%

Teaching & academics

At GCSE, 31 per cent of grades fall in the 9-7 range, and the school's Attainment 8 score of 40.8 sits below the national average of 46.9. At A-level, 40 per cent of entries reach A*-A and 58 per cent A*-B, with Psychology, PE, Mathematics, Geography and Biology among the most popular choices. Alongside GCSEs and A-levels, BTEC qualifications are offered, and languages on the curriculum include Spanish and French.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 84

Popular A-level subjects

PsychologyPhysical EducationMathematicsGeographyBiology

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelBTEC

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 31.6%
EHC plans: 0.69%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

DramaMusic

Languages

SpanishFrench

Popular GCSE subjects

SpanishReligious StudiesPhysicsMusicGeographyEnglish LiteratureEnglish Language

Sport

Main sports

PentathalonIndividual sports

Beyond the classroom

Sport leans towards individual disciplines, with pentathlon a notable strength. Scholarships are available in Drama and Music, reflecting an interest in the performing arts.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1891
Religious character: Catholic
Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

Prep school and years 7-11 discouraged from bringing mobile devices. Prep pupils must not have phones out during day. Years 7-9 keep mobiles in lockers until end of teaching day. Years 10-11 may use phones in common room at break/lunchtime. Years 12-13 restricted from phones in mobile-free zones.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £10,755 - £23,919
Boarding fees (per year): £25,338 - £41,166

Inspection reports

ISI rating: good
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 25 November 2025

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

Leweston suits families drawn to a small, nurturing Catholic setting where personal development is rated highly and class sizes are genuinely tiny. Parents weighing this should look carefully at the GCSE attainment figures alongside the school's clear pastoral strengths.

The Passmate verdict