Ages 
Now fully embedded within the Dean Close Foundation, St John’s has a relaxed confidence about its offering. There are no big plans for change, just gradual improvements in facilities and a rolling review of academics. Pupils are charming, confidently saying hello as we walked through the corridors. Parents say, ‘Kind, compassionate little humans are being nurtured.’ A school very happy in its own skin.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 130 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £9,900 - £21,000; Boarding £25,500 pa
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire County Council
Headteacher
Head
Tom Rainer
Since September 2024, Tom Rainer, who started his career as a professional musician, playing the trumpet in numerous concert venues and West End shows. Was director of music in two preps before becoming assistant head at Aldro Preparatory School near
Entrance
Half of pupils hail from one of the Little Trees nurseries, also part of the Dean Close Foundation, the majority from the on-site Tutshill branch. Kindergarten is offered in pre-prep, offering pre-schoolers the more grown-up structure of school.
Exit
A quarter to Dean Close in 2024. Others to King’s Gloucester, Clifton College and Rougemont. Wycliffe School and Marlborough College also sometimes feature. Parents don’t feel that Dean Close is pushed, quite the opposite in fact, expressing that the
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Teaching & learning
Learning support & SEN
Boarders
The deputy head and his wife are new houseparents, looking after five full (all boys at the time of our visit) and, on average, five flexi boarders – rising to 10 on the regular activity weekends. There’s space for more in the recently renovated
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 No phones permitted in school.
Pupils
Money matters
11+ scholarships are available to both internal and external candidates with awards up to 20 per cent, many of which continue to year 13 at Dean Close senior school. Up to 100 per cent bursaries on application. Generous schemes for Forces families.
- Fee information
- Day £9,900 - £21,000; Boarding £25,500 pa
Our view
In 2015 the school became part of the Dean Close Foundation, an educational charity comprising a group of Cheltenham-based schools and nurseries, the exception being St John’s which is based in Tutshill, Gloucestershire, overlooking the market town
The last word
Now fully embedded within the Dean Close Foundation, St John’s has a relaxed confidence about its offering. There are no big plans for change, just gradual improvements in facilities and a rolling review of academics. Pupils are charming,
