Ages 
Parents bust a gut to get their children in here because of the small size, co-curricular, exceptional pastoral care and ticket to senior school. Lots too are drawn by the Christian ethos, though the school welcomes all faiths and none. ‘Less intimidating than other local offerings,’ feel some.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 320 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- Church of England/Evangelical
- Fees
- Day £12,000 - £28,155; Boarding £29,010 - £37,170 pa
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Head
Mr P J Moss
Since 2015, Paddy Moss, BA in geography and economics (SOAS), QTS (Canterbury Christ Church University) via on-the-job training at a prep in Deal. Much of his teaching career has been spent in Kenya, with a stint at St Andrew’s Eastbourne in between
Entrance
From 2+ into pre-prep via taster day. From year 3 into prep by maths and English papers, interview and school report. At year 7, school grows by a third, with all newcomers at this stage guaranteed a place in the senior school. Admissions team
- Open days
- October, March and May
Exit
Five per cent leave after year 6, usually for grammars, with similar numbers exiting after year 8 for other independents including single-sex boarding schools. The rest over the road to the senior school at 13+, with no need to sit the tests that
Latest results
There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.
Teaching & learning
Learning support & SEN
Boarders
A quarter board, the majority British, mainly Forces families (often with siblings in the senior school). A third are from years 3-5, the rest from years 6-8. No weekly, a few flexi. Accommodation is in three Regency houses with live-in houseparents
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Dean Close Preparatory School is a mobile free zone, and they should not be brought into school unless permission has been granted by the deputy head. In such circumstances phones should be handed in to the day house at the beginning of the day and collected before the journey home. Boarders must leave their mobile phones in their house during the day but are allowed access once school is over.
Pupils
Money matters
- Fee information
- Day £12,000 - £28,155; Boarding £29,010 - £37,170 pa
Our view
Parents say the school is not ‘the most academic locally’, but that’s precisely why they like it. ‘That’s not to say it isn’t academically robust – it absolutely is – but it’s not overly pressurised, and the holistic approach means classroom teaching
The last word
Parents bust a gut to get their children in here because of the small size, co-curricular, exceptional pastoral care and ticket to senior school. Lots too are drawn by the Christian ethos, though the school welcomes all faiths and none. ‘Less
