Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of school is Dauntsey's?
Dauntsey's is an independent, fully co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11-18. Entry is at 11, 13 or 16.
Where is Dauntsey's?
It is situated on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, five miles south of the Market Town of Devizes and 25 miles from Salisbury, Swindon and Bath. There are excellent road and rail links to London and Heathrow.
What are the School's strengths?
This is for others to judge, but one view comes from the Good Schools Guide (2009):
Excellent academic results and steadily improving facilities. Now on the map big-time and worrying the heebiejeebies out of bigger name schools in the area. Friendly,
down to earth, independent education with absolutely no snobbishness or arrogance. Fab. (More?)
The 2006 Inspection Report on Dauntsey's stated:
Among its strengths are the outsanding quality of its leadership and management, its hard-working, dedicated staff, the educational experience it provides, both in the
classroom and in its extra-curricular programme, its warm and supportive atmosphere in which the very high standard of pastoral care is promoted, and the very high quality of its
facilities, which are attractive and well maintained ... it is clear that the school offers outstanding value.
Entry to the School
What are the entry requirements for Dauntsey's?
Entry at 11+ is by entrance examination, interview and school report. At 13+, entry is by Common Entrance (average of 60%), or appropriate alternative, and interview. Entry at 16+ is with a minimum of six GCSE passes, three at grade A and three at grade B, and school report.
What Scholarships are offered and when are the examinations held?
At 11+ there are Boarding and Day Scholarships which are awarded following the Entrance Examination in mid-January. At 13+ Scholarships are offered exclusively to boarders; these include both academic and other specialist awards and take place in February. At 16+ Boarding and Day Awards are offered through examinations and interviews in November.(More?)
When can we visit the School?
There are two Open Mornings each year in May and October and, for younger boarders, we hold Boarding Open Evenings at The Manor each term. The Registrar is happy to welcome families at other times by arrangement. (More?)
What is the policy on siblings being offered places?
Dauntsey's is a family school and welcomes applications from siblings.
How many new pupils are admitted each year?
At 11+ some 80 children join Dauntsey's. At 13+, there is an approximate intake of 40 pupils, mainly boarders, from prep or state schools. At 16+, between 35 and 40 pupils join us from a wide variety of secondary schools.
How are new pupils helped to settle in?
Dauntsey's is well known for being a friendly school; few pupils have a problem settling in. There is an Induction Day for all pupils and a wide system of support, including a buddy system. All pupils have a tutor, offering advice and support, throughout their time here.
What are the daily transport arrangements?
Most day pupils travel to and from School by bus. This transport network serves most of the county and buses start at Andover, Chippenham, Etchilhampton, Hungerford, Melksham, Swindon, Salisbury, Burbage, Trowbridge, Amesbury and Tisbury.
Academic
What is the School's academic policy?
The academic life of the School is vibrant, stimulating and energetic; we aim to encourage independent minds and a desire for individual achievement. Breadth and challenge are the key elements of the School's curriculum, which is taught by subject specialists. (More?)
What are the class sizes?
Pupils in First to Third Forms are taught in groups of around 20, Fourth and Fifth Form in groups of around 16 and in the Sixth Form a typical class numbers 10.
Which subjects are streamed and when?
There is mixed-ability teaching in all subjects apart from Mathematics, and, to a lesser extent, English.
What is the IT provision?
There are approximately 500 networked computers across the site, and all classrooms are equipped with the latest technology. Each pupil has an individual account and can access the internet, School intranet and the e-mail system. The boarding houses are networked and provide the opportunity for laptop connection.
What provision is offered to gifted and talented pupils?
There is a wide-ranging and challenging Gifted and Talented programme, organised by a team of staff responsible for ensuring that the brightest pupils are properly challenged, both in and out of the classroom. (More?)
What help is provided for pupils with specific learning difficulties?
Pupils identified with specific learning difficulties receive learning support through extra lessons, organised to ensure minimum disruption to timetables.
Does the School offer the International Baccalaureate?
No. Our policy is to encourage breadth, but also to allow pupils a completely free choice of GCSE and A Level subjects; thus each one can tailor the curriculum to suit his or her
own needs, abilities and interests. We do not feel that the IB allows such flexibility; however, we do supplement our A Level curriculum with some important elements of the
IB, including the Extended Essay and a course in Critical Thinking. There is no evidence that candidates offered the IB are in any way advantaged over those with A Levels
when applying to universities. (More?)
Where do leavers go?
Most pupils go on to their first choice of university to follow a wide variety of courses. The majority of pupils secure places at top universities, including around ten each
year gaining places at Oxford or Cambridge. (More?)
Is there a programme of careers advice?
Yes. All pupils are introduced to the programme in the Third Form and this increases in the Fourth Form with a timetabled lesson. Fifth Form pupils undertake various
psychometric tests which form the basis of more formal careers discussions and A Level choices. There is a full-time specialist Careers Adviser and an Oxbridge Co-ordinator;
together they offer advice on all aspects of university admissions, entry to Oxford and Cambridge and GAP years. This service is available to Old Dauntseians as well as current
pupils. (More?)
Pastoral
What is the pastoral care system?
The School provides outstanding pastoral care and welfare, which results in happy and confident pupils*. Every pupil is allocated to a House with Housemasters and Housemistresses responsible for the overall welfare of their pupils, and HouseTutors supporting and monitoring the academic and social progress of a small group of tutees within each House. The House Staff are supported by the School Chaplain and Counsellors; in addition there is a Pupil Listening Service. Dauntsey's was identified by Ofsted as an 'Outstanding Boarding School' in 2007/2008.
What are the Chapel arrangements?
A Christian ethos underpins the whole life of the School. There is a full-time Chaplain who leads both Sunday and weekday services as well as a weekly service of Holy
Communion. The Chaplain is there to support pupils from all faiths and those of no faith.
How would you describe the School's approach to discipline?
'Firm but fair', underpinned by thoughtfulness and consideration for others.
What is the School's approach to bullying?
The School has a widely published and clear anti-bullying policy and any incidents of bullying are dealt with swiftly and firmly. Pupils are encouraged to talk to their tutor,
the prefects and staff (including the School Counsellors) or members of the Pupil Listening Service if they have a problem,or if they know of others who are unhappy.
What happens when pupils are unwell?
The School has a 'world class' San (Good Schools Guide, 2009) with residential nursing staff providing 24 hour cover for all pupils.(More?)
What happens at weekends?
Saturday morning lessons are followed by a full sporting programme. All School facilities are open at the weekend and are supplemented by a variety of trips and activities. The Lower School boarders always have a full programme on a Sunday, but all boarding pupils are free to go home if they so wish.
How does the School communicate with parents?
Contact is regular and thorough via grades, newsletters, reports, receptions, emails and Parents' Meetings at the School. The website and intranet are particularly useful sources of information. A quick email or telephone call is usually enough to resolve a problem or to answer a query. Primary contact with parents is via the pupil's designated House Tutor or Housemaster or Housemistress.
Why is Dauntsey's co-educational?
Living and learning in a fully co-educational environment, especially from a young age, allows boys and girls to develop friendships based on mutual respect and trust. Dauntsey's was one of the first independent schools in the UK to go fully co-educational in 1976 and the ratio of boys to girls is approximately 50:50. There are five boarding houses and seven day houses. In the Lower School (pupils aged 11-13), the Houses are co-educational; in the Upper School (aged 14-18), they are single sex.
Extra-Curricular
What sports are offered?
The major sports for girls are hockey, netball, athletics and tennis; boys play rugby, hockey, cricket, athletics and tennis. There are teams at all levels and for differing abilities. A wide range of other opportunities are provided in such sports as soccer, basketball, badminton, swimming, judo, fencing, archery, trampolining, rifle shooting, squash, aerobics, yoga and water polo.(More?)
How does the School provide physical challenge and adventure?
All pupils in the Third Form undertake a programme of adventurous training (called Moonrakers) as part of the curriculum. This culminates in a week's residential outward bound
course in Wales. Thereafter they can choose from a wide variety of other opportunities such as ocean sailing on Jolie Brise, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, the Brecons Challenge, the Ten Tors, Triathlon training and diving with the Sub Aqua Club. Expeditions, at home and abroad, are organised by the Dauntsey's Expedition and Mountaineering Society (DEAMS).
What opportunities are there for pupils to develop leadership skills?
At all ages pupils act as buddies and mentors and are asked to help new pupils settle into the School. Within houses and sports teams, and in other activities such as Young Enterprise and DEAMS, pupils are encouraged to take on a variety of different responsibilities. All Lower Sixth pupils help run the Lower School Houses on a rota basis: one week is spent in a day house, the second week living with the Lower School boarders at the Manor. About a third of the Upper Sixth year group are invited to be school prefects.
What are the opportunities for Drama?
Drama is a major strength of the School and large numbers of pupils are involved both on stage and behind the scenes. A variety of productions is staged annually both in the Memorial Hall and in the more intimate Annabel's Studio. The School has developed an enviable reputation for its musical productions in recent years; indeed, since 2002 the School has premiered Les Misérables, Blood Brothers, Just So, The Witches of Eastwick, Evita and Chicago. (More?)
What are the opportunities for Music?
Music is an important and popular aspect of the School. As well as being a taught subject, over 500 individual music lessons take place each week. There are usually over 70
concerts each year. These range from informal evenings of chamber music to rock band extravaganzas, as well as more formal choral and orchestral concerts and major
performances such as Verdi's Requiem. (More?)
What sort of Clubs and Societies are on offer?
Dauntsey's prides itself on the huge range of Clubs and Societies that exist to provide enrichment and breadth to the academic curriculum. There are over 100 extracurricular,
academic, sports and music clubs on offer. From Mountaineering to Mandarin, Fly-fishing to Fencing and Potions to Pottery, there is something to stimulate the interest of every pupil. All clubs are run by enthusiastic members of staff and many of these clubs have been started at the direct request of pupils. (More?)
General
You say you are a day and a boarding school - how do the two integrate?
Dauntsey's has a thriving boarding community, which makes up some 50% of pupil numbers in the Upper School (approximately 40% before the boarding intake at Third
Form). The pastoral system is structured into day or boarding houses and regular inter-house competitions, sporting or otherwise, foster a healthy but friendly rivalry. In all other
aspects of school life, the boarders and day pupils are fully integrated. Boarders often make friends with local pupils, and equally day pupils benefit from the many events and
opportunities on offer beyond the School day.
Do you offer flexi-boarding?
No. We provide a strong, cohesive home environment for our boarding pupils which would be weakened if a number of pupils were allowed to join on a bed and breakfast basis.
That said, boarders are allowed to go home or stay with friends at the weekend, with parental permission. They may also invite day pupils into the common rooms in their house
during the daytime and at weekends. Junior boarders at the Manor may invite their day pupil friends for occasional Saturday night sleepovers.
Are there many overseas pupils, and how do they integrate?
Out of a roll of some 800 pupils, approximately 10% of pupils are from overseas. At the time of writing, there are pupils from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, the Czech Republic, USA, Canada and Australia. The overseas pupils are fully integrated into all aspects of life at Dauntsey's and they often comment on how easy they find it to settle into the School. The International Society supports the overseas pupils by organising social trips and events, and these are often open to non-overseas pupils too.
What are the recent building developments and what are future building plans?
Since 2006, Dauntsey's has invested over £5 million in providing a newly built girls' boarding house as well as in the upgrading, extension and refurbishment of existing boarding facilities. In autumn 2008 the School was pleased to officially open the second all weather Astroturf pitch and an extensive landscaping project will soon provide three further rugby pitches, a new cricket square and athletics arena. Future plans include the relocation of the senior girls' day houses to purpose-built accommodation, as well as a Performing Arts Centre.
Are there exeats?
In addition to the normal half term holidays, there are two short exeats at the end of September and the end of November in the long autumn term.
What is the food like?
The food is excellent and there is a wide choice at every meal including vegetarian options and a salad bar. Pupils are consulted frequently to ensure that their views are heard.
Will there be any extras on the bill?
The published fees are all-inclusive, and items such as stationery and textbooks are included. School transport, public examination fees and individual lessons, such as those offered in Music, are charged as extras. Nearly all clubs and societies are offered free of charge.
How does the School integrate with the local community?
Very well indeed. Dauntsey's is proud of its strong links within both the local and wider community and fosters such relationships through a number of enterprising programmes
including weekly Sports Coaching in ten local primary schools, Voluntary Service and Charitable Giving. Nearly all of the excellent lectures and school productions are open to the wider community, as are some of the School's facilities, when not in use by our pupils.