Ages 
Leweston feels like a savvy parent’s choice, offering a broad, all-through education and heaps of opportunity at a cost that feels like very good value compared to similar schools. Its small size and low-key Catholicism create a supportive family atmosphere where pupils can thrive. Leweston’s motto is ‘Rejoice and Do Well’ and the school can certainly rejoice in the fact that it does well, very well.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 578 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 96 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- Catholic
- Fees
- Day £10,416 - £23,166; Boarding £24,540 - £39,870 pa
- Local authority
- Dorset
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headmaster
Mr John Paget-Tomlinson; Mr Richard Thompson
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
Entrance
Admission is selective at all ages and, as the school has grown in popularity, there are waiting lists for certain year groups. For pre-prep and prep, pupils attend a taster day and complete an informal literacy and numeracy assessment followed by
- Open days
- Leweston welcomes families for bespoke, personal visits during term time. Meet the Head, staff and students on a normal teaching day.
Exit
Very few leave at the end of prep: most head on to the senior school. Approximately a third leave after GCSEs. University choices are varied, including Exeter, UCL, Cardiff and Reading. Also supports students with international applications and de
Latest results
In 2024, 40 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 30 per cent A*/A at A level (51 per cent A*-B). In 2023, 42 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 46 per cent A*/A at A level (61 per cent A*-B).
% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)
What is this?
Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.
Teaching & learning
Prep school is close to senior school with pre-prep being in one building and the prep located in the new Padua Hall. Pre-prep is one form entry, increasing to two by year 4 and all with class sizes of less than 20. Teaching is engaging, one paren
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Two SENCOs (one in prep and one in senior school) both of whom work four days a week. Very clear system whereby a student is assessed and then grouped according to support needs. Band one includes in-class provisions and group intervention session
Arts & extracurricular
Art is popular and facilities are impressive for school’s size. The quality of the drawing on display was notable and seemingly little restriction on the media: one student had even been allowed to spray their own Banksy-esque piece on the wall of
Sport
Sport is a cornerstone of Leweston. Like so much of the school, it’s approached with a sense of inclusivity - fixtures are for all, not the rarefied few. Individual sports are popular. In pentathalon, eight pupils recently qualified to represent T
Boarders
Boarding grows in popularity as pupils progress through the school. Officially available from year 4 but in reality, a handful board in year 6 with it steadily increasing from year 8. Full, weekly and flexi all on offer with the popularity of one
Ethos & heritage
The school started life in 1891 as St Anthony’s, a girls’ boarding school run by nuns. Moved to its current site, a Palladian manor house, in 1948. Leweston may only be three miles from the town of Sherborne, but its 46-acre site is tucked away do
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
One sixth former who joined from a local school said, ‘I can’t put into words how good the behaviour is here.’ Our tour supported her opinion – we met friendly, unaffected pupils right from the pre-prep to year 13. The head of pastoral labels hims
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 Prep School and years 7 to 11 are encouraged not to bring mobile devices into school unless necessary for their journey or they are boarders. Prep pupils must not have their phones out during the day. If a student needs to contact home they are welcome to do so at reception. Years 7 to 9 must keep mobiles in their lockers prior to morning registration through to the end of the teaching day. Years 10 and 11 may use their phones in their common room at break and lunchtime. Students in Years 12 and 13 are not to use phones in the school’s mobile free zones.
Pupils & parents
Vast majority of parents are dual income: farmers, doctors, nurses and other professions resulting in grounded children who ‘don’t expect too much’ according to one teacher. Naturally, therefore, the wrap around care is important – children can be
Money matters
Fees significantly lower than nearby boarding schools and very significantly lower than those closer to London. This may mean that the facilities are not as swanky as others but if you want a school that prioritises spending on teachers and ethos,
- Fee information
- Day £10,416 - £23,166; Boarding £24,540 - £39,870 pa
The last word
Leweston feels like a savvy parent’s choice, offering a broad, all-through education and heaps of opportunity at a cost that feels like very good value compared to similar schools. Its small size and low-key Catholicism create a supportive family
