Dean Close School is a co-educational day and boarding school which provides continuity of education from age 2+ to 18. The School was established in 1886, and is set in 50 acres of parkland in the centre of Cheltenham.
Dean Close School
Head's Welcome
On arriving at Dean Close as a Deputy Headmaster in 2009, the first thing that struck me was how this School strives to be the best it can be at whatever it does, creating an incredible sense of community through all the support that staff and pupils offer to each other. That year, the School was celebrating some superb academic results, a renowned performance of Les Misérablesand winning the U18 National Schools’ Hockey Final. All this and more from a School with only 500 pupils is quite something.
When I walk around the corridors, as I often do, I am constantly struck by the inspiring culture of learning, both inside and outside the classroom, which seems to sweep everyone along. But most importantly to me, Dean Close is a really happy, caring School and a fun place to be and I would urge you to come and visit us to experience our famous welcome.
Dean Close School is renowned for focusing on individual development. Small classes, excellent learning facilities plus a 550-seater professional theatre, amphitheatre, 2 floodlit astro-turfs, 25m indoor pool, climbing wall, indoor rifle range, dance studio and fully equipped gymnasium all help to nurture each child’s strengths and talents. With around 300 pupils in the Prep School and 500 in the Senior School, Dean Close is small enough to allow everyone to know one another and to feel valued. It also allows everyone to get fully involved in the life of the School. However, it is large enough to have an extremely strong boarding community, vibrant and exciting creative arts, impressive academic results and great sports achievements across all ages.
Visitors to Dean Close regularly comment on the atmosphere, saying how warm and friendly they find it, and we believe that this positive environment can be attributed directly to the Christian heart and principles of the School.
Dean Close School was built on an Evangelical Christian foundation of the Church of England, and this is still very much lived out in who we are and what we do as a School.
The ethos of Dean Close encourages independent thinking and the self-confidence to challenge the status quo. It challenges selfishness and promotes respect for others, service to the School and wider community and the development of healthy and positive relationships.