Dean Close School
Dean Close School
Org 1: HMC
Shelburne Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 6HE
Telephone: 01242 258000
Motto: Verbum Dei Lucerna
Age Range: Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 13, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Full Boarding, Flexi/Occasional Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: GCSE, A Level
Scholarships Tick: Academic, All-Rounder, Art, Drama, DT, Music, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Choral, Organ
Bursaries and discounts: Local resident bursary, Clergy discount, HM forces discount
Scholarships and Bursaries – Further Details
•Scholarships are offered at 13+ (Year 9 entry) and for 16+ (Sixth Form entry) and are for Academic, Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music and Sport. In addition, there are also special Scholarships known as Foundation Scholarships for (13+ and 16+) and the Colin Cocks Award (for 13+). Full details are published in the Scholarship booklet.
•16+ Sixth Form Scholarships and Ordinary Entry assessments are held in mid-November
•13+ Sixth Form Scholarship assessments are held in January.
Sitting on a beautifully landscaped 50-acre site in the Regency town of Cheltenham, Dean Close School is an attractive mixture of old, traditional buildings and modern, hi-tech facilities. The School was opened in 1886 in memory of Francis Close, Rector of Cheltenham 1826–55 and later Dean of Carlisle, and has been co-educational since 1967. Dean Close is a Christian school which believes that education is as much about building character and relationships as it is about gaining knowledge. Dean Close Preparatory School was established in 1949.
Admission and Withdrawal. Admission to the Senior School at 13 is through Common Entrance or direct entrance tests in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning. Sixth Form: examination and interview, 6 grade 6s minimum at GCSE. We advise pupils to have at least an A in the subjects they wish to study at A Level. Prospectus and application forms are available from the Registrar who is also happy to arrange a visit at a time to suit. There is a non-returnable registration fee of £100 and a deposit is payable one year before entry. One term’s notice is required before a pupil is withdrawn from the School.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Boarding £16,627, International Boarding £18,273, Flexi Boarding £13,060–£15,694, Day £11,222. Fees include VAT.
Term of Entry. We prefer to accept pupils in September but will make exceptions at any time of year, even in the middle of a term, if a good reason exists.
Scholarships and Bursaries. The School offers scholarships, exhibitions and bursaries at age 13 and for entry into the Sixth Form. The six areas of talent which are recognised are academic, music, sport, drama, art and design technology. The size of award is set according to performance. Dean Close Preparatory School also offers scholarships at ages 7 and 11.
Academic: The 13+ ISEB Common Scholarship Examination, for which specimen papers are available from the ISEB, is held annually at the school in February. Candidates for academic scholarships from state schools should contact the Admissions team. The Sixth Form Scholarship examination takes place in November.
Music (including Choral and Organ) and Drama Scholarships are based on audition, interviews and exam (Drama). Individual specialist tuition is free to all scholars and exhibitioners.
Art and Design Technology Scholarships may be awarded, based on portfolio, drawing / technical test and interview.
Sports Scholarships are awarded to reflect all-round sporting ability and commitment. Assessment by conditioning tests, skills tests in two or more sports and interviews.
Means-tested bursaries for sons and daughters of clergy and missionaries. Automatic discounts, known as Thierry Awards, are offered to parents serving in HM Armed Forces on a scale according to rank. Foundation Bursaries for families in the locality unable otherwise to benefit from a Dean Close education.
Number and Organisation. There are 490 in the Senior School (13–18). The Sixth Form comprises approximately 40% of the School. There are ten Houses: three for boy boarders (one Sixth Form only), three for girl boarders (one Sixth Form only) two day houses for boys and two day houses for girls. Houseparents take immediate responsibility for pupils’ work, careers, applications for universities and further education. A tutorial system ensures that all pupils have a member of the teaching staff who takes a particular interest in them, both academically and pastorally. There is a Futures department giving advice on careers, university programmes and choices on leaving school. The Preparatory School (2–13) has approximately 453 pupils of whom 222 are girls.
Work. In the lower part of the School, pupils are set rather than streamed; included in the timetable is a Creative Studies course introducing pupils to a wide range of artistic and creative subjects, embracing Art, Drama, Music, PDT and Physical Education. The language centre, music school, art school, sports hall, modern laboratories, IT Suite, electronics and creative workshops combine excellent teaching and leisure facilities which are available both in timetabled and extra-curricular time. Much of the accommodation has been built in the last twenty years and is modern and purpose-built. A professional 550-seat theatre houses an ambitious programme of productions. There is also an open-air theatre. As well as several orchestras, wind band, many ensembles and the Chapel Choir, the School has a Choral Society which performs a major work at least once a year. The Strings Department is headed up by the internationally renowned Carducci Quartet. Tuition in any number of musical instruments is available as an extra. Free tuition is provided for music award holders and high-grade musicians. The theatre also affords first-class concert facilities.
Religious Education. The teaching and Chapel services are in accordance with the Church of England and the School’s strong Evangelical tradition is maintained. The Chaplain prepares members of the School for confirmation each year. Most services are in the School Chapel.
Games. The School has a 25m indoor swimming pool and a £3m sports hall, both used year round. There are two international standard AstroTurf pitches, a large number of tennis courts and grass pitches for rugby, cricket and athletics. Hockey, rugby, cricket, netball, athletics, tennis, and cross-country are the main sports.
Health. The School has three qualified Sisters with Assistants and visiting Doctors. There is a surgery and a medical centre.
Outside Activities. There is a huge range of clubs, activities and societies, from climbing to creative writing, salsa dancing to Warhammer, theatre tech to horse riding. A very active Combined Cadet Force with RN and Army sections trains every Wednesday afternoon and some pursue Bronze and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There is an active outward bound club and a large Community Action group gets involved with projects on a local, national and international level, particularly with a link school in Uganda.
Charitable status. Dean Close School is a Registered Charity, number 1086829. It exists to provide education for children.
Governors & Staff:
President of Council of Members: The Lord Ribeiro, CBE
Board of Trustees:
Revd M Allen, BA
Mr S Bullingham MSC, BSc
Mrs K A Carden, BA MPhil
Brig Matthew Cansdale BA
Mrs H S L Daltry, BA
Mr S Holliday MA
Mr M Hughes, BSc
Mrs F L Knight BA
AVM R Lock, CBE, BSc
Mr G McDonald, B Comm B Acc
Mr F J Shaw MA, MSc, CEng, CSci
Mr M P Smith MA
Mr M Smith, MA, MBA, ACIB
Visiting Trustee: Bishop of Gloucester
The Trustees are elected by the Members of Council and oversee the overall governance of the School. They carry a substantial burden of financial and legal responsibility on an entirely voluntary basis and the School is greatly indebted to them.
Warden: Mrs Emma Taylor, MA Oxon, PGCE
Headmaster: B J Salisbury, MEd, PGCE
Deputy Headmaster: A S Hall, BA HMS, MA
Deputy Head Pastoral: Mrs J A Davis, MA, PGCE
Deputy Head Academic: J A Hole, MA
Director of International Pupils: Mrs R J Vest, BA, PGCE, MAELT
Bursar: A P Bowcher, MBA, FCIB, DipFS
Chaplain: Revd J C Ash, BA
Preparatory School:
(see entry in IAPS section)
Headmaster: P Moss, BA
Deputy Head Operations: J Harris, BA, PGCE
Academic Director: J Gould
Pre-Preparatory School:
(see entry in IAPS section)
Head: J E Cowling, BA, PGCE
Early Years Foundation Stage Coordinator: Miss A Moorhouse, BEd
Director of Admissions: Mrs R Chaplain, BSc
Registrar, Pre-Preparatory: Lesley Miller
Head of Admissions, Preparatory: Mrs K Fergusson
Head of Admissions, Senior: Mrs K Serjeant, BA