Leweston School A GSG School
- Leweston School
Sherborne
Dorset
DT9 6EN - Head: Mr John Paget-Tomlinson; Mr Richard Thompson
- T 01963 211015
- F 01963 201786
- E [email protected]
- W www.leweston.co.uk/
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 0 to 18.
- Read about the best schools in Dorset
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Dorset
- Pupils: 578; sixth formers: 96 (63 girls; 33 boys)
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Fees: Day £10,416 - £23,166; Boarding £24,540 - £39,870 pa (last updated on 12/02/2025)
- Open days: Leweston welcomes families for bespoke, personal visits during term time. Meet the Head, staff and students on a normal teaching day.
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Roughly 400 pupils in the senior school. Its size means all are closely monitored and benefit from small classes (about 14 for GCSE and five for less popular A level subjects). Head of boarding told us, ‘I want it to be a warm, fun, safe place.’ Small details such as being allowed out mid-week for a family celebration or cosy evening movies at the weekends. Fees significantly lower than nearby boarding schools and very significantly lower than those closer to London. This may mean that...
What the school says...
Situated just outside Sherborne in 46 acres of beautiful parkland, and only two-and-a-half hours drive from London, Leweston School offers a co-educational prep, senior school and sixth form.
Leweston offers a disciplined, creative and inspirational environment in which all are encouraged to reach their full potential. Full and weekly boarding options are available as well as a range of attractive scholarships and bursaries.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on pastoral care at Leweston. The school is entirely committed to providing an environment that inspires warmth, confidence, creativity and personal development in all its pupils, whether they attend Leweston as a day pupil or boarder. The headmaster is passionate about understanding pupils’ emotional and academic needs and recognising that these will change during their journey with Leweston.
Leweston offers all the advantages of both the traditional and modern in education with excellent facilities, particularly in the sciences, art, design, technology and sport. It is one of only seven GB Pentathlon Training Hubs in the country and supports athletes up to international level. The school is also opening an equestrian centre which will offer livery and riding lessons to pupils.
Leweston is known as an open and friendly environment where pupils are welcomed and appreciated as individuals. The school regards itself as an extended ‘family’ which supports and challenges everyone to be the best they can be. ...Read more
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Other features
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.
Sports
Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.
Fencing
Shooting
Sailing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2020, John Paget-Tomlinson. Previously deputy head (academic) at Portsmouth High School GDST having progressed through several roles at Churcher’s College, Hampshire. His continued passion for history (read history and philosophy at Reading followed by a master’s in war studies at King’s College London) is immediately evident from his large office. Bookshelves groan with historical tomes (another few thousand are in his house); antique maps and flags adorn the walls and there’s even a pith helmet perched on an antique filing cabinet. But Mr Paget Tomlinson is no lofty, removed academic, as confirmed by parent opinion, ‘He doesn’t have a big ego. It’s not about him, it’s about the students.’ His priority as head is to know and be known by all. On arrival, he moved his office from the backwaters of the main...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
|
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
|
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
Y |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryanston Prep | 2024 | 1 | 1 x drama | |
| Port Regis | 2024 | 2 | 1 | Drama Scholarship(1) |
| Sherborne Preparatory School | 2024 | 2 | 1 | Music Scholarship |
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