A warm welcome
There is a quality that is easier to feel than it is to describe that strikes a family on their first visit to Clayesmore. The campus is impressive, the facilities are excellent, but it is the atmosphere that stays with you: ambitious, warm, and genuinely alive.
Clayesmore was founded on the belief that education should be about the whole child and that conviction has never left us. We call it ‘Inclusive Excellence’ and it is at the heart of everything we do: aspiration and care are not in tension here, they are the same thing. Every pupil is known and supported and, with excellence and ambition at our core, every pupil is challenged to reach beyond what they thought possible.
We are one of the few schools in the country that offers a complete journey from Nursery all the way through to Sixth Form, for day pupils and boarders alike. That continuity gives children something valuable: the confidence that comes from being truly known over many years. Each stage feels distinct but remains part of the whole and our 62 acres of North Dorset countryside give that journey a setting unlike almost anywhere else.
In the classroom, on the sports field, in the boarding house and on the stage we ensure that every pupil finds their version of excellence. They leave us knowing who they are, well-prepared for life beyond the school gates and with confidence and character. Whether they head off to Oxbridge, a university in the UK or abroad, to an apprenticeship, the military, the world of business or to inherit the family farm, they have the qualifications, habits and aptitudes needed to thrive in the modern world.
Individualised teaching and learning, high quality pastoral care, a rich co-curricular life and fantastic facilities combine to form a unique experience. Central to all of this is our LEX programme. Delivered on Saturday mornings over five years, it builds the skills, confidence and self-knowledge that no timetable of lessons alone can provide. It is distinctive, it is ours, and the pupils love it.
Choosing a school is a significant decision, and the fit matters more than any ranking. I would encourage you to come and see us, to walk around the campus, meet the staff, and spend time with the pupils. That visit will tell you everything a brochure cannot.
I very much look forward to welcoming you.
Rob Lane
Head