Stonar School
School summary
Equestrianism sets Stonar apart: this small Wiltshire independent offers dedicated riding and equestrian scholarships, an unusual draw among co-educational boarding schools. Founded in 1895, it takes pupils from age 2 through to 19, with both day and boarding places available. With around 440 pupils and a generous pupil-to-teacher ratio of about eight to one, classes are small and individual attention is built in. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, and found it fully compliant. Around 18% of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a school comfortable with 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
29%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
35%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
41%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 20 January 2026
Teaching & academics
At GCSE, 29% of grades reach 9-7, ahead of the national average of 23%, and the curriculum spans the sciences, humanities, languages and creative and practical subjects. A-level results are more mixed: 35% of entries earn A*-A, above the national average of 28%, but 41% reach A*-B against a national figure of 55%. The sixth form is small at around 70 pupils, and BTEC and the EPQ sit alongside A-levels, offering routes beyond the purely academic.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Matthew Way
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 70
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport runs through school life, with rugby, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis all on offer, and riding is a genuine specialism backed by equestrian scholarships. French and Spanish feature as modern languages, and creative subjects such as drama, photography and fine art are well represented.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1895
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 17.74%
- EHC plans
- 0.89%
Mobile phone policy
Prep school pupils not permitted to have mobile devices without express permission. Senior school pupils (years 7-11) must not use mobile devices during school day (8am-6pm), at sports fixtures or on school trips. Tablets accessing mobile data not permitted.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £12,930 - £25,080
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £38,745 - £50,265
Schools nearby
Emmaus School
Trowbridge, South West
Heywood Prep
Corsham, South West
Melksham House School
Melksham, South West
Hambling View Independent School
Bath, South West
Monkton Combe School
Bath, South West
King Edward's Junior & Pre-Prep (Bath)
Bath, 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, nurturing boarding school where horse-mad pupils will feel particularly at home. Strong GCSE results and tiny classes appeal, though families should weigh the more uneven A-level picture.
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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Stonar School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.