How many private schools are there in Dorset?

21 independent schools are registered in Dorset with the Department for Education: 14 mainstream and 7 special schools.

Which private primary and prep schools are there in Dorset?

6 independent schools in Dorset take pupils up to 11 or 13, by their registered age ranges: Castle Court School, Dumpton School, Hanford School, Port Regis Preparatory School, Sunninghill Preparatory School and 1 more. 5 all-through schools also take primary-age pupils.

Which private senior schools are there in Dorset?

By their registered age ranges, 3 start at 11 or 13 (Milton Abbey School, Sherborne School and Sherborne School for Girls) and 5 run through from primary age.

Are there single-sex private schools in Dorset?

Yes, 3 of the 21 are single-sex according to the register.

Which private schools in Dorset take pupils to 18?

11 of them have a registered upper age of 18 or over. The table on this page shows each school's age range.

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Private schools in Dorset

21 fee-paying schools are registered in Dorset: 14 mainstream and 7 special. 3 are single-sex. 11 take pupils to 18. Of the mainstream schools, 6 take pupils up to 11 or 13, 5 run from primary age into the senior years and 3 start at 11 or 13. Everything below is the Department for Education's register as it stands; fees, entrance tests and inspection reports live on each school's own site.

21independent schools

14mainstream

7special schools

4,978pupils on roll, where reported

Weighing a state place instead? How far Dorset state schools admitted from, school by school →

Private primary and prep schools in Dorset

6 schools. Ages up to 11 or 13, from each school's registered age range.

School	Ages	Pupils	Faith	On roll	How full
Castle Court School BH21 3RF	Ages 2 to 13	Mixed	Christian	227	60% full
Dumpton School Wimborne, BH21 7AF	Ages 2 to 13	Mixed	Non-faith	338	91% full
Hanford School Blandford Forum, DT11 8HN	Ages 7 to 13	Girls	Non-faith	69	57% full
Port Regis Preparatory School Shaftesbury, SP7 9QA	Ages 2 to 13	Mixed	Church of England	305	68% full
Sunninghill Preparatory School Dorchester, DT1 1EB	Ages 2 to 13	Mixed	Non-faith	167	84% full
Yarrells Preparatory School Poole, BH16 5EU	Ages 0 to 11	Mixed	Non-faith	238	78% full

All-through private schools in Dorset

5 schools. From primary age into the senior years, from each school's registered age range.

School	Ages	Pupils	Faith	On roll	How full
Bryanston School Blandford Forum, DT11 0PX	Ages 3 to 18	Mixed	Church of England	776	85% full
Clayesmore School Blandford Forum, DT11 8LL	Ages 2 to 19	Mixed	Non-faith	414	64% full
Leweston School Sherborne, DT9 6EN	Ages 2 to 19	Mixed	Catholic	577	80% full
Ringwood Waldorf School BH24 2NN	Ages 2 to 19	Mixed	Non-faith	248	79% full
Sherborne Preparatory School DT9 3NY	Ages 3 to 14	Mixed	Non-faith	204	73% full

Private senior schools in Dorset

3 schools. Starting at 11 or 13, from each school's registered age range.

School	Ages	Pupils	Faith	On roll	How full
Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum, DT11 0BZ	Ages 13 to 19	Mixed	Christian	190	73% full
Sherborne School DT9 3AP	Ages 13 to 19	Boys	Christian	538	90% full
Sherborne School for Girls DT9 3QN	Ages 11 to 19	Girls	Church of England	456	89% full

Independent special schools in Dorset

7 schools. Registered as independent special schools.

School	Ages	Pupils	Faith	On roll	How full
Arbour House School DT4 7QF	Ages 6 to 18	Mixed	Non-faith	39	65% full
Aurora Beeches School Wimborne, BH21 5RT	Ages 11 to 16	Mixed	Non-faith	48	80% full
Graduately Developing Futures Dorset, BH16 6DA	Ages 6 to 14	Mixed	Non-faith	23	64% full
Kingfisher School Weymouth, DT4 0JH	Ages 6 to 16	Mixed	Non-faith	21	42% full
Sheiling School Ringwood, BH24 2EB	Ages 5 to 19	Mixed	Non-faith	43	78% full
The Forum School Blandford Forum, DT11 0QS	Ages 7 to 19	Mixed	Non-faith	31	47% full
The Luccombe Hub Blandford Forum, DT11 0BD	Ages 8 to 18	Mixed	Non-faith	26	87% full

Which of these are near an address

The schools guide measures each school from the postcode typed, so the answer is a list nearest first rather than a council. A district is wide, so check the address itself before counting on a distance.

What this list is, and is not

Source: the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register, which every school in England must keep current, refreshed here with each import. "How full" is pupils on roll against the school's stated capacity, where both are reported. The register carries no fees, no entrance requirements and no inspection grades for independent schools: those are on each school's own site and the Independent Schools Inspectorate's. A school missing here is not registered in Dorset, which for a school on a boundary can mean it is listed under the neighbouring council.

Choosing between a private place and a state one? The full property report puts every school near an address, state and independent, on one page with the house itself.