Dauntsey’s School Review: Ranking, Fees And More
Dauntsey’s School, nestled in the picturesque countryside of Wiltshire, England, stands as a beacon of academic excellence and holistic development. Established in the late 16th century, this esteemed co-educational independent school seamlessly blends its rich heritage with innovative educational practices. With its expansive campus and state-of-the-art facilities, Dauntsey’s provides a nurturing environment that fosters both intellectual curiosity and personal growth, ensuring its students are well-prepared to thrive in the modern world. Read our full guide below.
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Table of Contents
Summary Of School
- Type of school: co-educational boarding & day school
- Age range: 11-18
- Pupils: 860; sixth formers: 280
- Fees: £9,100 – £17,380 per term
- 2024 A-Level Results: 41% A*-A
- 2024 GCSE Results: 64% 9-7
Dauntsey's School Overview
Dauntsey’s School was founded in 1542. It was one of the first independent schools in the UK to go fully co-educational in 1976. The school provides a great environment for aspiring mathematicians, scientists, and linguists. Outside of classes, drama is their strongest department and there is also the adventurous Moonrakers programme dedicated for Third Formers.
The school believes in developing respectful and trustworthy friendships between both genders from a young age. Dauntsey’s School also encourages independent development and achievements.
More than 75% of Dauntsey’s leavers enrol at one of TIMES’s top 15 universities or Russell Group universities. Additionally, there are around eight pupils each year who get into Oxbridge. The most popular course choices at the university level are science, medicine, and language.
Dauntsey's School Courses / Programmes
Dauntsey’s School offers A-Level and GCSE.
Pupils have twenty-six A-Level subjects to choose from. Students are advised to study three A-Level subjects and an option of either an A-Level subject or an additional qualification. The school offers options such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Maths for Science and the school’s new Leadership, Sports and Adventure (LSA) course.
Half of the Sixth Formers take Maths, two-thirds of the year group choose three science IGCSEs and the rest do dual award science. GCSE pupils are spoiled with new science labs for doing practicals. As a result, more than a third of the Sixth Form students at Dauntsey’s end up pursuing STEM subjects at the undergraduate level. Besides these two fields, pupils in linguistics, especially German and Spanish, and Literature are high achievers.
From the Third Form onwards, pupils can access the school’s careers counselling. Students typically consult the school counsellor about subject options for the I/GCSE syllabus, although the school also offers advice and guidance on A-Level courses, work experience, university applications, personal statements and more. Both Old Dauntseians and current pupils can access this service.
Dauntsey's School Application Deadline
For Sixth Form (16+) Entry in 2025
Registration deadline | 14 October 2024 |
Academic scholarship exams and ad hoc exams | 9 November 2024 |
Scholarship assessments | w/c 11 November 2024 |
Entry interviews | w/c 18 November 2024 |
Offers letter sent out | 1 December 2024 |
For Year 6 Entry in 2027
Registration deadline for boarding places | 14 October 2024 |
ISEB Common Pre-Test to be taken at schools | Autumn Term 2024 |
Taster Day and formal interviews at Dauntsey's | February 2025 |
Offers | March 2025 |
Scholarships and awards assessments take place | February 2027 |
For Year 7 Entry in 2026
Registration deadline for boarding places | 1 January 2025 |
ISEB Common Pre-Test to be taken at schools | Early Spring Term 2025 |
Taster Day and formal interviews at Dauntsey's | 11 March 2025 |
Offers made | March 2025 |
Scholarships and awards assessments take place | February 2026 |
Dauntsey's School Results And Rankings
In the 2024 GCSE examinations, 66% of students achieved 9-7 grade. In the 2024 A Level examinations, 41% of students scored A*-A, highlighting the great performance of this year’s cohort.
Dauntsey's School Fees
Fees and associated charges payable from 1 January 2025 are shown below (inclusive of VAT).
Parents are asked to note that the fees are calculated as an annual sum collected in three equal instalments at the beginning of each term in accordance with our terms and conditions.
- Day pupils £27,300 (£9,100 per term)
- Boarding pupils £45,150 (£15,050 per term)
- Flexi-boarding pupils (Year 7/8 only and subject to availability) – four nights per week £34,080 (£11,360 per term)
- International boarding pupils £52,140 (£17,380 per term) * see below
* The International Boarding Fee includes all EAL (English as an additional language) lessons, tuition and examination costs of the IELTS programme; four airport transfers per term, membership of the Dauntsey’s International Society and visa application support.
A 10% discount on boarding fees will apply for second and subsequent pupils from the same family attending Dauntsey’s together. Fees are subject to review each year.
Deposits
A £1,000 deposit is payable on acceptance of a place at Dauntsey’s. This deposit will be held by Dauntsey’s and deducted from the extras’ account at the end of the pupil’s final term. Any remaining deposit after deductions for extras will be refunded.
Fees may be paid direct by bank transfer or bankers drafts drawn on a UK bank for international pupils only.
For International Pupils a further deposit equal to one term’s fee for an International Boarding Pupil of £17,380 is also payable. The additional deposit will also be held by Dauntsey’s and will normally be credited without interest against the final payment of fees or other sums due to the school on leaving.
Payment of Fees
The school’s Terms and Conditions require fees to be paid in advance by the first day of each term. Fees not paid in full by the first day of term, or where payment is delayed, will normally attract a surcharge of 1.5% per month or part thereof.
Dauntsey's School Entry Requirements
Entrance examinations for international pupils include English, Maths and Science. Applicants can take it at their agent’s offices, their own school or British Council offices. Then they will attend interviews in person or via Skype in the same week.
For those who need language support, experienced English as an Additional Language (EAL) teaching staff will give them appropriate support individually at Dauntsey’s.
For 11+ (Year 7) entry
Selection is based on English comprehension and composition, Maths, and a verbal reasoning test in multiple-choice form. Prospective pupils can choose either day or boarding options.
Prospective pupils will take their own EAL exam and a Maths exam in January of the year of entry. They will then take an interview with a senior member of staff to evaluate their spoken English skills.
For 13+ (Year 9) and 14+ (Year 10) entry
Selection is based on the ISEB Common Pre-Test and interview, or the results of the school’s entrance exam. There are only boarding places available at Year 9 point of entry.
Applicants of Years 9-10 will need to take EAL, Maths and Science exams at their current schools or a British Council office. After that, they will have an interview via Microsoft Teams.
For Sixth Form entry
Selection is based on predicted grades, school references and an interview. There are both day and boarding places available.
Besides the usual EAL, Maths and General Paper exams and an interview, Sixth Form applicants also need to achieve Band 7 at the IELTS to enter top UK universities.
British pupils are expected to achieve a minimum of three A and three B grades at GCSE.
Dauntsey's School Reviews
“I’ve always felt I can rely on my tutor and House staff for support in academic and non-academic ways throughout my time here. I have also felt able to ask other members of staff who are not involved in my House for help too.”
“The school makes it cool to learn and we are taught to value others’ achievements too. The teachers are excellent, they are interested and interesting – and sometimes amazingly kind.”
“Everyone is friendly and supportive. There is a great sense of community and there are loads of people to turn to for help – I’ve certainly never felt lonely.”
“The visiting speakers broaden our knowledge and get us thinking well beyond what we need to cover for A levels. It’s a privilege to hear from leading minds – it makes you want to read more widely and get more involved.”
“For me, the winning factor at Dauntsey’s is the open, friendly and fun atmosphere in the school whenever I visit.”
Dauntsey's School Accommodation
The school provides their boarders with 5 spacious boarding houses, some with ensuite facilities. 11-14 year-old pupils stay at the co-educational Manor while senior pupils stay in single-sex boarding houses.
The communal area includes kitchens, a workspace, and a decent recreational area. Pupils from day houses share the same set of facilities, minus the bedrooms. Meanwhile, pupils from junior houses have their own on-site day centre.
Weekend life includes morning lessons, team sports and various activities such as going to the cinema at Salisbury, playing trampoline in a park, ice-skating or baking. Sixth Formers have the “17 Club” as a taster of a students’ union.
Dauntsey’s offers a 24-hours Medical Centre operated by registered nurses on the Main School Site. The Junior Boarding House also has a smaller Sanatorium run by registered nurses from 7-8.30 AM and 7-9 PM.
Dauntsey's School Student Services and Extracurricular Activities
Pastoral Care
Housemasters and Housemistresses of each House take care of the overall welfare of their pupils. Then there are House Tutors to support and monitor how their small group of tutees from each house grow academically and socially. There are also the School Chaplain and Counsellors and a Pupil Listening Service. Pupils are encouraged to seek immediate help with issues such as school bullying.
Extracurricular Activities – Music and Drama
Drama is the school’s major strength. There are at least 7 school productions each year, which are well-known for their high standards. Recent public showcases include famous pieces such as Les Misérables and Mamma Mia.
Music is a part of the curriculum. There are over 70 concerts, recitals, music competitions or master classes each year with opportunities for all kinds of interests.
Pupils can choose Dance as part of their curriculum from the First to Third Forms. There is an Annual Dance Show that involves over 200 pupils.
Sports
The girls mostly play hockey, netball, athletics, and tennis while the boys play rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics, and tennis. There are 740 team matches played each year.
The adventure spirit is well-encouraged in Dauntsey’s via a wide variety of adventurous pursuits. Moonrakers is an adventurous training programme especially incorporated in the Third Form’s curriculum. The pupils will live outward bound in Wales and choose an adventure from ocean sailing on Jolie Brise, the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Scheme, the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, the Brecons Challenge and Triathlon training.
Dauntsey's School Contact Information
Official website: https://www.dauntseys.org/
Phone call: 01380 814500.
Email: [email protected]
Location: West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 4HE
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