An independent boarding school in Dorset that blends nearly a century and a half of Catholic tradition with progressive educational approaches and regional leadership in equestrian sports.
About the School
Leweston School occupies 50 acres of countryside three miles from historic Sherborne, in the heart of ancient Wessex. Founded by a Belgian religious order in 1891, it has been housed since 1948 in Leweston Manor—an architectural ensemble spanning medieval buildings to an 18th-century Palladian mansion with Art Deco interiors. Today the school serves several hundred pupils from infancy through age 18, who follow a continuous educational journey from nursery to sixth form. This seamless progression across a single campus allows children to grow within familiar surroundings while gradually building academic depth.
Achievements
In 2025, over a third of GCSE results reached top grades 9–7, with students exceeding baseline predictions by one or two grades through personalized teaching. At A Level over the past three years, more than a third of graduates earned at least one A or A—double the national average. Meanwhile, the equestrian team has won the regional NSEA league for seven consecutive years and topped the national points table for two. Musical ensembles regularly give professional concerts, while athletes reach regional and national ESAA finals.
Other achievements:
- Seven 2025 graduates scored 14 A grades and 5 A grades at A Level
- Status as one of nine national training centres for Pentathlon GB
- Award-winning junior choir Cantemus and prestigious senior Schola Cantorum
Studies at Leweston School
Learning unfolds across four stages that span childhood and adolescence. Leweston School has opted out of national SATs testing at primary level, choosing deep exploration of a broad curriculum over exam coaching. Even younger classes engage in interdisciplinary thematic projects that weave English and mathematics with other subjects around provocative topics like “Utopia and Dystopia.” This approach cultivates critical thinking and helps pupils draw connections between disciplines, preparing them for more rigorous academic work in later years.
Stages:
- Nursery (0–4 years) — early years provision
- Prep School (5–11 years, Reception — Prep 6) — primary with internal assessment
- Senior School (11–16 years, Years 7–11) — middle school with GCSE preparation
- Sixth Form (16–18 years, Years 12–13) — A Level study
Extracurricular Life
Leweston School offers dozens of clubs and activities within an extended day running from 8:00 to 17:45—ranging from academic societies to sports, arts, and music. Athletic life encompasses hockey for boys and girls, netball, rugby, tennis, swimming, athletics, cross-country, and more. Musical life includes the junior Cantemus choir, the prestigious senior Schola Cantorum for pupils from Year 9 onwards, orchestras, ensembles, and a jazz band. The school also serves as a national modern pentathlon training centre, developing athletes across all five disciplines.
Additional opportunities:
- Drama productions and theatre clubs
- Choral ensemble with professional concerts
- Regular team progression to regional and national ESAA finals
- Equestrian sport with seven-year regional league leadership
Boarding
Leweston School provides four boarding formats—from occasional stays to full seven-day boarding with weekend activities. Four houses sit within the main building, each with its own character: Martha House for girls in Years 4–8, Cecilia House for Years 9–10, Eleanor House for senior girls, and Antony House for boys aged 8–18. The day begins at 7:00 and includes two evening activity sessions alongside supervised homework time, while weekends bring excursions, sports matches, and social events like bowling and cinema for those remaining on campus.
