Clayesmore Preparatory School, Blandford Forum

Clayesmore Preparatory School
Iwerne Minster
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 8PH
Head: Mr Dunlop
T 01747 813155
F 01747 811692
E prepadmissions@clayesmore.com
W www.clayesmore.com
A mainstream independent school for pupils aged from 3 to 13 with a linked senior school
Boarding: Yes
Local authority: Dorset
Pupils: 224
Religion: Church of England
Fees: Day £7,350 - £18,750; Boarding £17,670 - £25,110 pa
Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
ISI report: View the ISI report
Linked schools: Clayesmore School

What The Good Schools Guide says..

House system provides basis for keen competition (including music) in many areas of school life culminating in annual sports day. ‘It’s cool to be a musician,’ say pupils, most of whom have individual lessons: best reach grade 6/7 level as well as national children’s orchestras. Pupils get out and about: whether it is theatre visits, year 5 pupils experiencing living history in period homes or reception class down at the farm to meet the animals. Pre-prep housed in purpose-built, timber-clad classrooms: delightful sylvan setting with bird watching and pond dipping in Zen garden...

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What the school says...

Clayesmore is a thriving, forward-looking boarding and day school, filled with warmth. We aim to develop the unique gifts of every pupil, encourage a life-long love of learning and build their confidence to adapt to an ever-changing world. Small classes and individual attention ensure speedy progress while opportunities for sport, music and drama, coupled with endless activities, mean the days your child spends at Clayesmore really could prove some of the happiest of their lives.

The Nursery and Pre-Prep share a self-contained home, nestled snugly among trees on Clayesmore's beautiful campus, where little ones learn and develop through play while trying a host of activities.

Clayesmore Senior School has been deemed excellent across the board following a recent Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection. Academic results for a mixed ability school are impressive and the highly-regarded learning support department offers individual attention, exam strategies and effective study skills. Add to the mix some welcoming boarding accommodation, nurturing pastoral care and boundless opportunities to shine, it's clear that Clayesmore offers a winning combination.

Clayesmore's all-through provision means that pupils can make a worry-free step up to senior school and siblings can be together. It is a flourishing school offering excitement, opportunity and a confidence-boosting family atmosphere. ...Read more

What the parents say...

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All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2014, William Dunlop, previously head of first year at Kingston Grammar School. He is a former pupil at Clayesmore Pre-Prep. English degree from Liverpool, then did officer training at Sandhurst and joined the army. Married to Celia, also a teacher; they have two young children at the school.

Entrance

Taster day, report from previous school and informal assessment (educational psychologist's report sometimes required). Like the senior school, a mainstream school, with a cracking learning support team: ‘will take any child we can develop educationally’. Highly praised by CReSTed for its success with dyslexic children. Admissions ramp up dramatically at year 7 (mainly transfers from local primaries). Nursery takes from rising 3s upwards and majority continue through school.

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Special Education Needs

Clayesmore Preparatory School has an excellent reputation for its provision of support for dyslexic pupils. Our Learning Support Department ensures that pupils have effective and targeted teaching, either individually or in very small groups, to meet their specific needs. Pupils are withdrawn at carefully selected times during the school day to attend their specialist lessons. They may also benefit from the support given by LS Teaching Assistants, who work alongside the teachers in some mainstream lessons. All Learning Support Tutors are fully qualified teachers with additional qualifications in teaching pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties. Mainstream teachers are empathetic with the needs and difficulties of some of the children in the mainstream classes and differentiate accordingly. The school is registered with CReSTeD. Nov 09.

Condition	Provision for in school

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers
Aspergers Syndrome [archived]
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders [archived]
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia	Y
Delicate Medical Problems [archived]
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Epilepsy [archived]
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
Not Applicable
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

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