Leweston School
School summary
A Catholic foundation dating back to 1891, Leweston School in Sherborne, Dorset, educates children across an unusually wide span, from the very early years through to sixth form. The school is co-educational and offers boarding alongside day places. With 562 pupils and a strikingly low pupil-to-teacher ratio of around six to one, classes are small and attention is close. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'good' overall and 'excellent' for pupils' personal development, with all compliance standards met.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
31%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
40%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
58%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- good
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 25 November 2025
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national benchmarks: 31% of GCSE entries reached grades 9-7 against a national average of 23%, while 40% of A-level grades were A*-A compared with 28% nationally. The sixth form is relatively small, with 84 pupils, and popular A-level choices range from Psychology and Mathematics to Geography, Biology and Physical Education. Alongside GCSE and A-level, the school offers BTEC qualifications, and around 31.6% of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a setting used to accommodating a range of needs.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · John Paget-Tomlinson
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 84
Popular A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships in Drama and Music point to genuine strength in the performing arts. On the sporting side, the school leans towards individual disciplines and pentathlon rather than the usual team-game emphasis. Spanish and French are taught, with Spanish among the most popular GCSE subjects.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1891
- Religious character
- Catholic
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 31.6%
- EHC plans
- 0.69%
Mobile phone policy
Prep school and years 7-11 discouraged from bringing mobile devices. Prep pupils must not have phones out during day. Years 7-9 keep mobiles in lockers until end of teaching day. Years 10-11 may use phones in common room at break/lunchtime. Years 12-13 restricted from phones in mobile-free zones.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £10,755 - £23,919
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £25,338 - £41,166
Schools nearby
Sherborne Boys
Sherborne, South West
Sherborne Preparatory School
Sherborne, South West
Sherborne School for Girls
Sherborne, South West
Chilton Bridge School
South West
Marchant Holliday School
Templecombe, South West
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, faith-rooted school where exceptionally low class sizes and strong results meet a wide age range and full boarding provision. It will suit families wanting individual attention and a Catholic ethos in a Dorset setting.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Leweston School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.