Basic Information & Location
Dauntsey’s School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school in Wiltshire, the South-West region of England. It is set in an estate of more than 150 acres. The centre of London is less than 100 miles away. The Rail-Air link at Reading (only 30 minutes from Pewsey, a nearby station) provides direct connections with Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. The school was founded in 1542 and was moved to its current site in 1895. In the Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection carried out in 2012, the school was judged to be ‘Excellent’, which is the highest available grade. Dauntsey’s School is the alma mater of the famous Hong Kong singer Eason Chan. It is a popular option for Hong Kong students indeed. There a lot Hong Kong people studying in Dauntsey’s School. The ranking of the school is high as the area is surrounded by prestigious schools and the school can be selective on student admission because of their fame.
Academic Development
Dauntsey’s School is a school with a Christian ethos. The community is giving pupils and staff every opportunity to fulfil their potential and to achieve their aspirations, both academic and otherwise. The school is having excellent academic reputation and long tradition of university and examination success, especially on science. In 2017, 76.2% of A levels grades are A*-B while 71.2% of all subjects examined at GCSE were awarded A or A* grades. Vast majority of the school’s 2017 leavers were able to take up their first choice of university. Over 70% of places are at Russell group or The Times top 15 universities. Many leavers become pharmacists after graduation. The school provides a planned careers guidance programme since third form to make sure all students can choose a career that suits them best. All pupils are guided in their selection of a suitable university course through and are encouraged to consult House staff, teachers and the Senior Careers Adviser at any time about their ideas and plans.
Pastoral Care & Boarding
There are five boarding houses at Dauntsey’s School; one for the Lower School (pupils aged 11-14) and four for the Upper School (14-18). For Upper School, two boarding houses are for boys (Mercers and Fitzmaurice) and two are for girls (Evans and Jeanne). Boarders can enjoy a wide selection of in-house and inter-house events and activities. Entertainment within houses can range from quiz nights, BBQs, fancy dress parties, restaurant meals, cinema and theatre visits to wellie throwing and talent shows. Being the headmaster, Mr Mark Lascelles always talks to his students. He wishes the students in Dauntsey’s can show the best of themselves, to take care of their fellow and will never be afraid of trying new things.
Extracurricular & personal development
The school offers a huge range of extra-curricular activities to stimulate the interests of pupils in their free time. The options include: Debating, Chess Club, Wildlife, Art, Handicraft, Dance, and Movie-making. Apart from the traditional sporting activities and clubs, there are also many sports clubs which cater for more unusual choices: Archery, Trampolining, Street Dance, Cheerleading, Fencing, Lacrosse, Equestrian and Judo Clubs. Outdoor activities, trips and overseas expedition will also be organized. Tuition on a wide range of orchestral instruments is available and the majority of pupils learn to play at least one instrument.
The school has invested significantly in the sports facilities, including eight rugby/football pitches, two AstroTurf hockey pitches, seven all-weather netball/tennis courts, an athletics track and a seven-hole golf course. There are indoor facilities as well, such as swimming pool and sports hall. The Art School, Design center and the music department provide students with facilities and opportunities to develop their creativity.
