Private schools in Dorset (2026)
20 fee-paying schools, 13 taking boarders, listed by A level results where the school publishes them, then by name.
| School | Ages | A level |
|---|---|---|
| Canford School Merley · Co-ed · Boarding · Anglican/Church of England | 13–18 | A- |
| Talbot Heath School Bournemouth · Boys · Boarding · Church of England | 2–19 | B |
| Sherborne School for Girls Sherborne · Girls · Boarding · Church of England | 11–19 | B |
| Bryanston School Bryanston · Co-ed · Boarding · Church of England | 3–18 | B |
| Sherborne School Sherborne · Boys · Boarding · Christian | 13–19 | B- |
| Leweston School Leweston · Co-ed · Boarding · Catholic | 2–19 | B- |
| Bournemouth Collegiate School Bournemouth · Co-ed · Boarding · Christian | 11–19 | B- |
| Clayesmore School Iwerne Minster · Co-ed · Boarding | 2–19 | C+ |
| Kings Bournemouth Bournemouth · Co-ed · Boarding | 14–25 | C+ |
| Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum · Co-ed · Boarding · Christian | 13–19 | D+ |
| Bournemouth Collegiate Preparatory School Poole · Co-ed · Day · Christian | 2–11 | — |
| Castle Court School Dorset · Co-ed · Day · Christian | 2–13 | — |
| Dumpton School Wimborne Minster · Co-ed · Day | 2–13 | — |
| Hanford School Blandford Forum · Girls · Boarding | 7–13 | — |
| Park School Bournemouth · Co-ed · Day | 0–11 | — |
| Port Regis Preparatory School Motcombe · Co-ed · Boarding · Church of England | 2–13 | — |
| Sherborne Preparatory School Sherborne · Co-ed · Boarding | 3–14 | — |
| St Martin's School Bournemouth · Co-ed · Day · Church of England | 3–11 | — |
| Sunninghill Preparatory School Dorchester (Dorset) · Co-ed · Day | 0–13 | — |
| Yarrells Preparatory School Upton (Dorset) · Co-ed · Day | 0–11 | — |
Not a ranking. Fee-paying schools do not sit the same tests as state schools: many take IGCSEs, which the government's GCSE tables leave out, so we list them by their average A level grade where they report it (Department for Education 16 to 18 results) and then by name. Many fee-paying schools do not report A levels, so a dash does not mean poor results. Fee income per pupil is the school's income from fees in its latest Charity Commission accounts divided by its pupils: a guide to cost, not the fee list, and only shown where the charity runs that one school. Inspections: Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted.
Questions
What are the best private schools in Dorset?
By average A level grade: Canford School (A-), Talbot Heath School (B), Sherborne School for Girls (B). Not every school publishes A levels, so look at inspection reports and visit too.
How many private schools are there in Dorset?
20 mainstream fee-paying schools, 13 of them taking boarders.
How much do private schools in Dorset cost?
As a guide, the Independent Schools Council's 2026 census puts the average day school fee in South West at £5,525 a term (about £19,900 a year with VAT) and the average boarding fee at £14,794 a term, before VAT. Individual schools charge more or less than this, and more for older pupils: each school's website gives its fee list.
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