Education
School Guide
A curated guide to standout schools across the West Country — independent, Montessori and state.
84 schools
Truro High School For Girls
Truro
A values-driven, future-focused education that balances strong academics with an emphasis on well-being, pastoral care, and holistic education.
View schoolPolwhele House School
Truro
A co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 2–14 in Truro, Cornwall.
View schoolSt Joseph's School
Launceston
A co-ed day school for children aged 4–16 years in Launceston, Cornwall.
View schoolSt Piran's School
Hayle
An independent co-educational day school for pupils aged 4–16 in Hayle, Cornwall.
View schoolTruro School Preparatory School
Truro
An independent day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3–11 in Truro, Cornwall.
View schoolBlundell's School
Tiverton
A co-ed nursery, prep and senior school set in 90 acres, with a distinguished 400 year history steeped in traditional values and modern teaching.
View schoolExeter School
Exeter
Highly regarded for its academics, this selective co-ed day school has a brilliant extracurricular offering set in 25 acres of prime city postcode.
View schoolMount Kelly School
Tavistock
A co-ed school set across 160 acres on the edge of Dartmoor, combining 145+ years of history with standout sport and outdoor learning.
View schoolTrinity School
Teignmouth
A warm, friendly, family-oriented school, highly rated for its individual approach. A hidden gem in South Devon.
View schoolWest Buckland School
Barnstaple
A nurturing co-ed day and boarding school in bucolic North Devon with acres of coast and countryside on its doorstep.
View schoolSt John's School
Sidmouth
A small international day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2–16. Non-selective and non-denominational, known for a strong family feel.
View schoolBryanston School
nr Blandford Forum
A co-educational full boarding school with a reputation for innovation, individualism and creativity in glorious Dorset countryside.
View schoolCanford School
Wimborne
A boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 13–18, leading the way academically in the region.
View schoolCastle Court Prep
Wimborne
Academic but not hot-housey, this co-ed day school sits in an idyllic rural setting on the Dorset/Hampshire border.
View schoolDumpton School
Wimborne
An excellent co-ed prep that delivers academically without sacrificing the fun of childhood, with impressive outdoor learning.
View schoolLeweston School
nr Sherborne
An unpretentious, friendly co-ed school offering great all-round education with outstanding music and sports.
View schoolMilton Abbey School
nr Blandford Forum
A tailor-made approach to learning with one of the widest ranges of traditional and vocational courses, in a blissfully bucolic setting.
View schoolPort Regis
nr Shaftesbury
One of the great prep schools for 2–13 year olds, with outstanding facilities, results – and lots of fun.
View schoolSunninghill Prep
Dorchester
A small co-ed prep not far from the Jurassic Coast, strong academically, musically and in water sports – especially sailing.
View schoolBournemouth Collegiate Prep School
Poole
A co-ed day and boarding school for 2 to 11 years.
View schoolBournemouth Collegiate Senior School
Bournemouth
A co-ed day and boarding school for 11 to 16 year olds.
View schoolBryanston Prep
nr Blandford Forum
A small rural prep with a nurturing family feel, individualised learning in an idyllic countryside environment – with access to Bryanston senior school resources.
View schoolClayesmore Prep School
nr Blandford Forum
A co-ed day and boarding school with a real family feel and an innovative Saturday activities LEX programme in idyllic surroundings.
View schoolClayesmore Senior School
nr Blandford Forum
Set in bucolic countryside with an innovative LEX programme – there's a lot more to Clayesmore than its stunning setting.
View schoolHanford School
nr Blandford Forum
A quintessentially English girls day and boarding school offering a true idyll of childhood with ponies, traditions and a strong family feel.
View schoolKing's College
Bournemouth
An independent day school and 6th form college for 14 years and above.
View schoolPark School
Bournemouth
A small and vibrant family-focused nursery and school for boys and girls from 3 months to 11 years.
View schoolSherborne Boys
Sherborne
A boarding and day school for boys aged 13–18 in Sherborne.
View schoolSherborne Girls
Sherborne
A dynamic girls' boarding and day school for 11–18s in a rural market town with a cosmopolitan outlook.
View schoolBadminton School
Bristol
A dynamic day and boarding school for girls aged 3–18, balancing intellectual firepower with common courtesy and strong pastoral support.
View schoolClifton College Preparatory School
Bristol
A super creative, stimulating all-round education for boys and girls in a school with a liberal ethos and strong community.
View schoolClifton College Upper School
Bristol
A top co-ed day and boarding school for 13–18 year olds combining a liberal outlook with quirky public school traditions.
View schoolDownside School
nr Bath
A Catholic co-ed day and boarding school for 11–18 year olds with Benedictine values, steeped in history and tradition.
View schoolKing Edward's School
Bath
A co-ed day school for children aged 3–18 years in Bath.
View schoolKing's College Taunton
Taunton
A co-ed day and boarding school for children aged 13–18 years old in Taunton, Somerset.
View schoolKingswood Prep School and Nursery
Bath
Children can be children at this co-ed prep and nursery with Scandi-style facilities set in 100-acres of parklands overlooking the city.
View schoolKingswood School
Bath
Founded by John Wesley, this school offers good all-round education with excellent results and pastoral care to match.
View schoolMonkton Combe Prep School
Bath
A prep with nursery/kindergarten where ambitious teaching meets a gentle pastoral setting – they keep alpacas and design their own racing cars.
View schoolMonkton Combe School
Bath
A co-ed day and boarding school where failure is valued, pupils write their own school reports and personal development is as important as the excellent academics.
View schoolPerrott Hill School
nr Crewkerne
A small co-ed prep school with personality that preserves all that's precious about childhood but offers education without compromise.
View schoolRoyal High Bath, GDST
Bath
Inclusive, girl-centred education, super strong on science, maths and languages, with chic facilities to boot.
View schoolRoyal High Prep School GDST
Bath
A caring, family-based all-girls prep school and nursery in Bath, with its own skills-based holistic curriculum.
View schoolSidcot Junior School
Winscombe
This independent day school for boys and girls aged 3–11, founded on Quaker principles, is inclusive, unpretentious, grounded – and fun.
View schoolSidcot School
Winscombe
A Quaker school that values independent thinkers of all abilities – progressive, outward-looking and non-religious-requirement.
View schoolTaunton School
Taunton
A school for the 21st century that wears its 175+ years history lightly, embraces difference, and excels at a whole-person educational experience.
View schoolThe Paragon School
Bath
A family-orientated, nurturing Prep, Pre-prep and Pre-school with wonderful woodland activities and excellent art, music and sports.
View schoolWellington School
Wellington
An academic curriculum, innovative sport, successful drama, ace art and music – a genuine all-rounder independent school for 3–18 year olds.
View schoolTruro Montessori School
Truro
A well-established Montessori nursery and primary school in the heart of Truro, offering child-led learning for ages 2–11 in a nurturing environment.
View schoolExeter Montessori School
Exeter
A popular Montessori nursery and primary serving Exeter, following the authentic Montessori method with mixed-age classes and a focus on independence and curiosity.
View schoolDorset Montessori School
Blandford Forum
A small and welcoming Montessori school in rural Dorset for children aged 2–11, emphasising self-directed learning, practical life skills and outdoor education.
View schoolBath Montessori School
Bath
An AMI-affiliated Montessori school in Bath offering nursery and primary education for ages 2–12, with a strong focus on the prepared environment and intrinsic motivation.
View schoolTaunton Montessori
Taunton
A Montessori nursery and early years setting in Taunton offering authentic Montessori learning for children from birth to age 6.
View schoolCam Valley Montessori
Lower Peasedown, nr Bath
A primary Montessori setting for children aged 6–12 in a beautiful rural Cam Valley barn near Bath. Child-centred learning with strong emphasis on independence and outdoor education.
View schoolFairfield Montessori School
Glastonbury
An Ofsted Good-rated Montessori day nursery in the heart of Glastonbury, welcoming children from 3 months to 8 years. Large outdoor area and strong community links.
View schoolOaks Montessori
Gidleigh, Dartmoor
A beautiful Montessori school for children aged 3–12 set on Dartmoor, Devon. Small classes, child-led learning, and a strong connection to the natural environment.
View schoolMaria Montessori School
Exeter
A registered Montessori school in Exeter for children aged 3–7, providing the classic Montessori Children's House programme within a calm and carefully prepared environment.
View schoolChrysalis Montessori Nursery
nr Poole / Bournemouth
An Ofsted Good-rated independent Montessori nursery in a lovely wooded setting near Poole and Bournemouth, offering loving care and authentic Montessori education.
View schoolThe Montessori Preschool at Christchurch
Christchurch
A Montessori-principles preschool in Christchurch, Dorset, focusing on building independence, confidence and a love of learning through hands-on, child-led activities.
View schoolPenrice Academy
St Austell
Cornwall's top-ranked state secondary, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A large and well-regarded comprehensive with strong GCSE results and an impressive EBacc entry rate.
View schoolThe Roseland Academy
Tregony
A smaller Outstanding-rated comprehensive serving the Roseland Peninsula, known for its close community feel and strong academic outcomes.
View schoolRedruth School
Redruth
One of Cornwall's larger comprehensives, rated Good by Ofsted with a broad curriculum and strong pastoral support.
View schoolPenryn College
Penryn
A Good-rated academy in Penryn with consistently strong GCSE outcomes and a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.
View schoolColyton Grammar School
Colyton
Devon's only fully selective grammar school, consistently among the best-performing state schools in England with outstanding GCSE and A-level results.
View schoolUffculme School
Uffculme
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted and ranked among Devon's very best comprehensives, with exceptionally high GCSE results for a non-selective school.
View schoolThe King's School
Ottery St Mary
An Outstanding-rated 11–18 comprehensive consistently praised for its academic standards, culture and community spirit.
View schoolTorquay Girls' Grammar School
Torquay
An Outstanding girls' grammar school with exceptional GCSE results — 94% achieving 5+ strong passes — and an extremely high EBacc entry rate.
View schoolDevonport High School for Boys
Plymouth
Plymouth's prestigious boys' grammar school, with top-tier academic results and a long history of excellent outcomes at GCSE and A-level.
View schoolDevonport High School for Girls
Plymouth
A highly selective girls' grammar school in Plymouth with strong exam performance and an outstanding all-round education.
View schoolSt Peter's Church of England Aided School
Exeter
A popular and high-performing Church of England comprehensive in Exeter, known for strong results and excellent pastoral care.
View schoolBournemouth School
Bournemouth
A highly selective boys' grammar school and the top-ranked state secondary in Bournemouth, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with exceptional GCSE and A-level results.
View schoolBournemouth School for Girls
Bournemouth
Rated Outstanding in every category by Ofsted (2024). A selective girls' grammar school described as 'a joyous and exceptional school' where pupils truly flourish.
View schoolThe Thomas Hardye School
Dorchester
Dorset's top-ranked comprehensive and the region's largest sixth form, rated Outstanding. Exceptionally high EBacc entry rates and strong academic results.
View schoolLytchett Minster School
Poole
A Good-rated 11–19 comprehensive near Poole with consistently strong GCSE results and a broad, well-supported sixth form.
View schoolThe Gryphon School
Sherborne
A large and well-regarded Good-rated comprehensive in Sherborne, offering a wide curriculum and strong results across GCSE and A-levels.
View schoolFerndown Upper School
Ferndown
A Good-rated upper school for ages 13–19, strong across both academic and vocational pathways with a thriving sixth form.
View schoolBeaminster School
Beaminster
A small, friendly comprehensive in Beaminster for pupils aged 11–18, known for its close community feel and strong pastoral care.
View schoolThe Castle School
Taunton
Somerset's highest-ranked state secondary, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. A popular and well-regarded 11–19 comprehensive known for strong results and community ethos.
View schoolHayesfield Girls School
Bath
A Good-rated girls' comprehensive in Bath with outstanding GCSE results — 68% achieving 5+ strong passes — and one of the highest EBacc entry rates in Somerset.
View schoolNorton Hill Academy
Midsomer Norton
A large Good-rated 11–18 comprehensive with strong GCSE results and excellent EBacc performance. One of Somerset's best-performing non-selective schools.
View schoolHans Price Academy
Weston-super-Mare
A Good-rated academy in Weston-super-Mare with a broad curriculum, committed teaching and a supportive learning environment.
View schoolAnsford Academy
Castle Cary
A secondary academy in Castle Cary serving pupils aged 11–18, with a strong community ethos and a broad curriculum.
View schoolCrispin School
Street
A popular comprehensive in Street for pupils aged 11–16, known for its supportive environment and good range of subjects.
View schoolHuish Episcopi Academy
Langport
A well-regarded 11–18 academy in Langport with a strong sixth form, broad curriculum and active community presence.
View schoolStanchester Academy
Stoke sub Hamdon
A secondary academy serving South Somerset, offering a broad and balanced curriculum for pupils aged 11–16.
View school