Clayesmore School

Combined Co-Education School in Blandford Forum, Dorset
Clayesmore School image 1
Celebrating our Thinkers, Makers, Players and Creators.”

Clayesmore is located in the beautiful village of Iwerne Minster, Dorset and is surrounded by glorious countryside, whilst being only a short drive from Dorset's impressive Jurassic coastline. The landscape provides a vast playground for activities in the fresh air, and our pupils relish opportunities for hiking in the countryside and sailing on the coast!


We are a warm, inclusive family school with a bucket load of ambition. At the heart of things is a rigorous academic programme and strong pastoral support (as you would expect) but our magic sauce is our ability to work with our pupils to uncover and develop their individual talents and passions. Everyone is celebrated, and we want pupils to achieve beyond their own expectations in whichever field makes them tick! The diversity of our destinations list is testament to this, and we see pupils head off to Parsons in Paris, Music Conservatoires, Oxford or Agricultural College. We are proud of every journey our pupils take.


We don't stand still very long at Clayesmore, and in recent years we have been shaping a bold and ambitious weekend programme called LEX which is a ‘more than extra’-curricular initiative of supercharged short courses, day events, experiences and collaborations. The programme is designed to push pupils outside their comfort zone, try new things and realise new perspectives! It also helps develop emotional and social intelligence too. We have a strong community of military families at Clayesmore, and with the Prep and Senior boarding houses on the same site, siblings are able to see and spend time with one another, providing important family time whilst at school.

Clayesmore School Logo
Head Mrs Jo Thomson
School Type Combined co-education school
Junior Age Range 2 - 13
Senior Age Range 13 - 18
Academic GCSE: Yes
Alevel: Yes
Int'l Baccalaureate: No
Vocational BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Hospitality
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in IT
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma Performing Arts or Production Arts
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Travel & Tourism
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Music Technology
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Total Students 680
Youngest Boarder 7
Int'l Students 45