About the school
Clayesmore is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Iwerne Minster, near Blandford Forum, Dorset. Its admissions process includes registration, a visit, references, and English and Maths assessments for applicants to Years 6, 7 and 8.
| School type | Independent (fee-paying) · Co-educational |
|---|---|
| Age range | Reception to 18 |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Headteacher | Rob Lane |
| Sixth form | Yes |
| Fees | Year 9 to Year 13: £11,890.80 per term day fee (inc VAT); £16,503.60 per term boarding fee (inc VAT). Registration fee: £180 UK. |
📅 Open days: Upcoming Open Days: Saturday 19 September 2026; Sixth Form Open Evening: Friday 2 October 2026; Saturday 6 March 2027; Saturday 24 April 2027. Upcoming Experience Days include Year 9 Experience Day – Monday 5 October 2026.
Entrance exam
| Exam board / format | Bespoke test |
|---|---|
| Delivery | To be confirmed |
| Subjects tested | English, Maths |
📄 Free Clayesmore School practice papers (PDF)
Admissions & catchment
| Catchment | Open to all — no catchment requirement |
|---|---|
| Detail | The pages describe Clayesmore as an independent school and give no catchment-based admissions rule. A 5% fee discount is offered for the eldest sibling on roll and 10% for each subsequent sibling attending concurrently; means-tested bursaries and military fee support are also available. |
Key dates
| Registration opens | To be confirmed |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | To be confirmed |
| Typical exam date | To be confirmed |
Prospective Year 7 and Year 9 pupils can attend Experience Days; an upcoming Year 9 Experience Day is listed for 2026-10-05. Open Days are listed for 2026-09-19, 2026-10-02 (Sixth Form Open Evening), 2027-03-06 and 2027-04-24.
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