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What it's like

Founded in 1928, it lies in a magnificent 400 acre estate just outside Blandford Forum, bordering a 2½ mile stretch of the Stour in one of the most beautiful parts of England. The main building is a palatial country house in red brick banded with Portland stone, designed by Shaw and completed in 1897. Fine facilities include art and technology buildings, a purpose-built theatre and an open-air Greek theatre, an award-winning science and maths centre and a new creative centre (with dance studio, ceramics and textiles workshops and professional kitchen for extra-curricular cookery). Originally a boys' school, it has been fully co-educational since the mid-seventies. Academic standards are high and examination results are very good. There is much emphasis on creativity and on developing self-discipline, self-motivation, self-organisation and finding out how to find out on your own. There is a very friendly atmosphere and pupils have considerable support from personal tutor, teachers and pastoral staff. Music, art and drama are all very strong. Sport is compulsory for virtually everyone and high standards are attained. The school has its own riding stables and there is sailing in Poole harbour. Many pupils are involved in local community activities, adventure training and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 13-18; 659 pupils, 100 day (60 boys, 40 girls), 559 boarding (319 boys, 240 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth form entry, 40 points at GCSE. No special skills or religious requirements. Small state school entry at 13; 15% to sixth form.

Scholarships & bursaries

Generous number of scholarships (approx. 30 pa), value up to 25% fees, which may be supplemented by means-tested bursaries: academic, art, design and technology, ICT, music, sport and all-rounder. Parents expected to buy textbooks.

Parents

40+% in industry or commerce; 22+% are doctors, lawyers etc; 8+% in the armed services; 6+% in theatre, media and music. Up to 40% live within 30 miles; 8+% live overseas.

Head & staff

Head: Sarah Thomas, in post from 2005. Educated at Birkenhead High and at Oxford University (greats) and King's College London (education). Previously Deputy Head at Uppingham, Head of Sixth at Sevenoaks. Teaching staff: 84 full time, 23 part time. Annual turnover 18%.

Exam results

GCSE: 130 pupils in upper fifth; 98% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 125 in upper sixth; 80% passed in 4+ subjects, 19% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 363.

University & college entrance

95% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (75% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 39% took courses in arts, 15% in science, 6% in engineering/technology, 22% in social sciences, 11% in vocational subjects and 7% in combined subjects.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 18 GCSE subjects, 22+ AS/A-level. Every pupil has (and meets weekly) a personal tutor. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 7% take maths/science only at A-level; 46% arts/humanities; 47% both. Key skills, optional, are integrated. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level; also GCSE Italian in sixth form. Exchanges can be arranged. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 150 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with email and (filtered) internet access. Many pupils have their own laptops. Most pupils take an IT related-subject (functional skills level 2, and ICT at GCSE, AS/A-level ae offered).

The arts

Music: Over 60% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. 2 full orchestras, string chamber orchestra, concert band, dance band, 6 choirs and many smaller informal ensembles and bands. Many musical events. Drama: Drama offered. A-level theatre studies and LAMDA exams taken. Some 15 pa plays produced; 12 pa professional musical/dramatic performances in the school. Art and design: On average, 70 take GCSE, 30 A-level. Sculpture, pottery, photography, print-making and textiles. Pupils regularly accepted at art colleges.

Sports & activities

Sport: Pupils must choose from a range including rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, rowing, athletics, netball, swimming, canoeing, lacrosse, cross-country, squash, badminton, fencing, riding, sailing. A-level sport studies may be taken. Pupils regularly represent county in eg rugby, hockey, athletics. Activities: Pupils take bronze and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Community service and Adventure Training programme. Up to 80 clubs including chess, film, bell ringing, jazz.

School life

Uniform: School dress code but no uniform. Houses and prefects: Prefects, head boy and girl, heads of houses and house prefects. Religion: Church of England school. Religious worship encouraged but not compulsory. Social: Visits to France, Italy, Spain, Greece; skiing trips. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop. Alcohol allowed for the upper sixth.

Discipline

Overseen centrally by the Head, punishments are administered by pastoral and tutorial staff and can lead ultimately to suspension or expulsion.

Boarding

Upper sixth have own study bedroom, lower sixth share in 2s; remainder in rooms of about 4. Single-sex houses of 55, divided by age group. Sanatorium with resident qualified nurse. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook some own food. Visits to local town allowed - any age, twice a week on average.

Former pupils

Sir Terence Conran (product designer); Jasper Conran (fashion designer); Lucien Freud, Howard Hodgkin (artists); Fred Sanger OM (molecular biologist, winner of two Nobel prizes); Sir John Eliot Gardner, Mark Wigglesworth (conductors); Mark Elder CBE (Musical Director of the Halle); Philip de Glanville (rugby player), Ben Fogle (TV presenter), Emilia Fox (actress).