Sunningdale School A GSG School
- Sunningdale School
Dry Arch Road
Sunningdale
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 9PY - Head: Mr T Dawson
- T 01344 620159
- F 01344 873304
- E [email protected]
- W www.sunningdaleschool.co.uk
- An independent school for boys aged from 7 to 13.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Windsor and Maidenhead
- Pupils: 110
- Religion: Church of England/Christian
- Fees: Day £20,520; Boarding £26,250 pa
- Open days: October & May
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Shelves reassuringly weighted in favour of fiction, wooden blocks with school number marking borrowings, one per boy. And if you want to borrow two books? ‘Two?’ asked Mr Dawson, experiencing mild Beadle-like moment. ‘Why would anyone want to read more than one at a time?’ It’s the hallmark of a school with a strong sense of its own place in the world, conventional yet not in thrall to crowd mentality. Parents universally thrilled by restricted presence of i-anythings out of lessons, and tactical use within. ‘Really important because children become so addicted to these games...'
What the school says...
Sunningdale is a small school with a unique family atmosphere which means the boys feel happy and secure and as a result are able to achieve their full potential. Our aim is to find each boy's strengths and give him the opportunity to shine in different areas of school life. Our academic record speaks for itself, with scholarships won on a regular basis. The structure of our forms means that boys move through the school at their own pace, challenged or supported where necessary. Three quarters of boys play at least one musical instrument; the chapel choir sings on Sundays and occasionally at Old Boys' weddings. There is a pipe band which plays on Sports Day and at other events. We produce a musical each year in which every boy takes part. The art department puts on a large annual exhibition and regularly wins awards at senior schools. We have a good reputation on the sports field and one of the benefits of being a small school is that almost all the boys get to represent the school in a team. This does wonders for their self confidence. Weekends are packed with activities to keep the boys stimulated and entertained. ...Read more
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2005, Tom Dawson MA PGCE - and recent distinction in grade 1 piano (40s). Previously taught at Harrow before taking over the shop (school is fully owned by the Dawson family) inheriting headship ‘because I’m the boy,’ he jokes (slightly).
Family-run is understatement and a half. Wife Elisabeth, fellow modern languages graduate, is highly organised director of studies, garnering almost as much praise as husband. ‘Lovely’, ‘kind’ and their ilk crop up in conversation with parents with Swiss railway regularity.
Amy, a jolly Dawson sister, one of three (others educationally occupied elsewhere) runs high-quality art department and masterminds school productions, more fulfilling than previous career as mural painter (only so many David Beckhams you can glorify on child’s bedroom wall without spot of existentialist angst)....
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Special Education Needs
At Sunningdale we test all the boys' reading and spelling ability each September. If a boy requires extra help he has one to one tuition with our SENCO.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| 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 |
Leavers' destinations
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charterhouse | 2019 | 4 | 1 | Academic Scholarship |
| Eton College | 2019 | 2 | ||
| Sherborne School | 2019 | 2 | ||
| Winchester College | 2019 | 2 |
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