Milton Abbey School
Milton Abbey School
Org 1: The Society of Heads
Milton Abbas, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0BZ
Telephone: 01258 880484
Age Range: Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Full Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), BTEC, GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, All-Rounder, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Football
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award, Local resident bursary, HM forces discount, Sibling discount
At Milton Abbey, we recognise that every child learns differently. Our purposefully small school size, coupled with an extensive range of subjects, puts us in a unique position to recognise and respond to these differences, giving every child the chance to thrive.
We tailor each pupil’s education to make the most of their individual skills and talents in a way which nurtures and cultivates their natural abilities so that they can achieve their best possible results, both inside and outside the classroom.
Our school promotes individuality and the pursuit of personal strengths and preferences. Care, guidance and carefully targeted support is available wherever required, resulting in greater confidence and enhanced self-esteem.
We inspire pride in pupils’ individual work, whether in sport, academia, the creative arts or in our range of outdoor and practical subjects. Milton Abbey offers parallel learning pathways to a common destination, giving pupils the opportunity to study GCSEs and A Levels, alongside the widest range of vocational subjects in the independent school sector.
Our small size allows for a great involvement in school life, huge opportunity for pupils to represent the school and to master a chosen subject or activity. Lasting and fulfilling friendships are forged, and everyone has the chance to get to know one another. Class sizes are very small – even by independent schools' standards – so no one is overlooked or left behind.
Organisation. Milton Abbey is proud of its full-boarding status and the comprehensive co-curricular and recreational programmes this allows.
Curriculum. An innovative ‘carousel curriculum’ allows joining Third Form pupils to study core subjects throughout the year, while sampling a huge range of courses usually only available as GCSEs or BTECs. This helps them make informed course choices for study in later years. The Sixth Form provides a wide range of academic, technical and vocational courses including traditional A Levels, BTECs and top-up GCSEs.
Situation. Stunning countryside surroundings offer space, yet safety and security, providing an inspirational setting for learning.
Facilities. The Abbey is the School Chapel, and the dining room, the Abbot’s Hall, dates back to the medieval era. Alongside a mansion house, modern facilities include boarding houses, a music school, art studio, fashion studio and creative media suite, a 370-seat theatre, plus a farm and stables. Sporting facilities include all-weather pitches, an indoor pool, cricket nets and golf course.
Admissions. Most pupils join the School at age 13 in the Third Form (Year 9). The School gives quick and unconditional offers to prospective pupils, after they undertake an individual Admissions Visit. This provides clarity and certainty for families. Students seeking to join the Sixth Form are judged on individual merit and suitability for their chosen courses.
Offers are dependent on a satisfactory current school reference, including CAT4 or equivalent cognitive test scores, and an interview with the Head or Deputy Head. Offers are not dependent on Common Entrance results, however all applicants receiving an offer must maintain high levels of effort and application at their current school.
Prospective pupils with Special Educational Needs will be assessed by the Head of Learning Development, to make sure that the School can offer them the correct level of support.
Fees per term (2023–2024). Lower School: Boarding £16,545, Day £8,690.
Supplement for Sixth Form entrants. £500 per term
Charitable status. The Council of Milton Abbey School Limited is a Registered Charity, number 306318.
Governors & Staff:
Chair of Governors: Ian G Bromilow, MSc, PhD
Visitor: Revd Canon C W Mitchell-Innes, MA
Head: James Watson, MA Hons, FCA, PGCE
Senior Deputy Head: Chris Barnes, BA Hons
Deputy Head (Academic & Head of Sixth Form): Josh Bradbury, BA Hons, MA, PhD, PGCE
Deputy Head (Co-Curricular): Will Fraser, MA, MEd
Deputy Head (Development & Admissions): Claudia Hindle, MA, PGCE, MEd
Director of Finance: Stephen Lane, BSc, ACA
SENDCo & Lead Practitioner: Laura Kleiser
Head of Operations: Tracey Edwards
Head of Marketing & Events: Nick Cloke
ICT Manager: Brendan Picknell
Milton Abbey Association (Alumni) Manager: Hugo Mieville, BA, MA, PG Dip