Iwerne Minster, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8PH
10 reasons to choose Clayesmore Preparatory School
Top line
Clayesmore Preparatory School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 84. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Blandford Forum and one of the 3 best primary schools for 7 miles.
School fundamentals
Clayesmore Preparatory School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 8 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 3 for the 30% of pupils who board. All are full boarders. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the prep school to Clayesmore School, an all-through school to age 18, and is a member of the Inspired Learning Group. Clayesmore Preparatory School fees range from £5,782 (Rec) to £7,389 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees are £11,298 per term. Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Clayesmore Preparatory School has one class per year rising to two and an average class size of 13 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
90% of Clayesmore Prep pupils move up to the senior school at the end of Year 8.
The Clayesmore Preparatory School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHE, reasoning, French, Latin. There are skill development sessions in reasoning, well-being, philosophy, teamwork and leadership, study, presentation, project, and personal finance. Attitudes to Learning delivered as ‘The Clayesmore Compass’; communication, consideration, creativity and courage. The school offers each child a handful of extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
The LEX programme is a coordinated extra-curricular programme, after school and weekends, which extends the curriculum with activities for ‘academic curiosity’, the arts, outdoor challenge, enterprise and future skills, and service. There are also regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips from Year 3, often as part of LEX.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music and languages throughout, for art, DT and computing from Year 3 and for all subjects from Year 5. The school has an accredited Gifted & Talented programme and a CReSTeD recognised dyslexia facility.
Sport at Clayesmore Preparatory School
3 games sessions per week, with matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays. School offers over 15 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at Clayesmore Preparatory School
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is part of the English and extra curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class and two-thirds take extra-curricular instrument lessons. 2 choirs (the Chapel Choir tours), orchestra and several instrument ensembles. The school is one of the top 50 UK prep schools for the breadth of its creative and performing arts extra-curriculum.
Wraparound care
School day runs from 8.10am to 5.30pm. Minibus service for day pupils and possibly occasional boarding.
Find another school near Clayesmore Preparatory School
Hanford School (3.5 miles); Bryanston Knighton House (5.1 miles); Port Regis Preparatory School (7.2 miles).
Wardour Catholic Primary School, Tisbury (11.1 miles); Horsington Church School (18.7 miles); Broad Chalke Church of England Primary School (18.8 miles).
Clayesmore School (0 miles); Bryanston School (8.3 miles).
Gillingham School (10.1 miles); Allenbourn Middle School (15.9 miles); Parkstone Grammar School (19.2 miles).