C o - e d u c a t i o n a l | F u l l B o a r d i n g | A g e 7 - 1 8

CHELTENHAM

CLOSEDEANDC

SCHOOLS

I am at homeDean Close School, Cheltenham | Founded 1886

Known as the ‘Western Gateway’ to England’s stunning Cotswolds,Cheltenham is one of Britain’s most handsome Regency spa towns.Complete with historic buildings, fine parks, shops and open spacesthat host beautiful walks along the Cotswold Way, visitors gatherfrom all around the world to visit one of England’s most elegant destinations.

Just a short walk from Dean Close School lies the heart of Cheltenham town:Montpellier Gardens, blooming with flowers and fountains including a statue of thefamous English composer, Gustav Holst. The picturesque gardens are home to theCotswolds’ most talked about festivals including jazz, literature, food/drink, design,science, music and performing arts. The Cheltenham Festival also stands as the pinnacle of horse racing, the main hurdles event being the Festival Gold Cup whichtakes place in March of each year. Many restaurants, cafes, galleries, high streetshops as well as local boutique brands line the streets of Cheltenham town centre,most of which neighbour one of the most popular venues in Cheltenham, the Everyman Theatre. The Victorian building, with its innately ornate auditorium, hostsmusical events and productions from all around the world, including spectacular touring productions from London’s West End.Surrounded by gloriously green countryside, Cheltenham lies at the foot of thehighest point in the Cotswolds, Cleeve Hill. There lies a spectacular viewing pointover Gloucestershire where you can see notable landmarks such as the MalvernHills, historic churches, Cheltenham Racecourse and the home of the British Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ), making it the perfect picnicspot or stop off point. These pathways also meander into nearby Cotswold townsand villages including Winchcombe, home to the great 15th century Sudeley Castle and Gardens.

Welcome toCheltenham Spa

Dean Close School is set in 50 beautiful acres, on theedge of Cheltenham town, and all pupils from age 2-18, are educated and housed on one enclosed site.We are well known for many things but at the heartof the School lies our Christian ethos. The ethos isnot measured by formal activities or events, but by

our overwhelming commitment to each individual.With around 500 pupils, the School is small enough to allow everyone to know and be known; it allows everyone to get fully involved in the life of the School. One thing that you notice is thatDean Close pupils (Decanians) tend to be busy, managing their academic commitments alongside a wide range of co-curricular activities and social events. The pupils are looked after by a combination of a very strong House system and excellent coachingby their tutors.Dean Close is made up of a combination of a very strong boardingand flexi-boarding community combined with a significant number of day pupils. The needs of these different groups are met via a sixday a week boarding school with a day of rest and activities on theseventh. With a strong culture of learning and curiosity, confirmed by impressive academic results and high standards of behaviour, we arerightly proud of the achievements of our pupils in the classroom.Outside of the classroom you will see a vibrant and exciting creativearts programme, a remarkable sporting reputation, an outward looking Community Action programme and an eclectic mix of tripsand activities to challenge our wide variety of pupils.Kindness, curiosity, respect, resilience, service and integrity flow out of Dean Close and are embedded in all we do from studying the latest scientific developments to creating beautiful art; from debating political matters of the day to playing sport at the highestlevel. Decanians leave school equipped for a changing world andready to lead and serve wherever they are called.

Bradley Salisbury Headmaster

Welcomefrom the Head

Determined

Sporting development is enriched by thebreadth of top-level coaches, many of whomhave played or coached at professional or international level. It is a privilege to witnessthe individuals within the various programmes excelling across a variety ofsports. They have proved to be fantastic ambassadors for the School at all levels; bethat in rugby, hockey, netball, fencing, equestrian, biathle or tennis to name but a few. It is fantastic to see so many challenging themselves to achieve theirgoals in their chosen discipline.

Creative

Art is a vital and thriving subject at DeanClose where dedicated students often excelbeyond their own expectations. Pupils areencouraged to be ambitious and independent in their creative responses and opportunities are available to work witha wide range of media and techniques, including ceramics, painting, printmaking,photography and IT, with a Fine Art emphasis.

The Art School is a fantastic purpose-builtfacility which offers excellent studio spacesand designated work areas for seniors. Theintegrated BonBernard gallery plays host to external and internal exhibitions throughoutthe year and has even showcased work byPicasso and David Hockney in recent years.

Passionate

Music is vibrant at Dean Close and this is reflected in the large number of vocal,chamber and orchestral groups. These include Orchestra, Sinfonia, Choral Society,Chapel Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band andChamber Choir, as well as many chamber ensembles and rock bands. Since January2011 the School has been fortunate to havethe world-renowned Carducci Quartet asQuartet-in- Residence, teaching individuallessons and coaching chamber groups on aweekly basis.

Dean Close at a glance

Academic

The main purpose of the curriculum is to offer a challenging and balanced academiceducation, equipping our pupils for the opportunities and demands of their futurelives. We aim to stretch the minds of the most able pupils while ensuring that thoseof more moderate ability obtain the necessary qualifications and the greatest intellectual satisfaction of which they are capable. The Director of Studies advisespupils on subject choices at all stages of their progression through the School.

A committed common room uses a range of teaching styles to deliver a broad-basedcurriculum, with most pupils sitting 9 or 10 GCSEs. Alongside core subjects, there is agenuine breadth of choice from Design Technology to Greek and from Physics toSpanish to Drama. Almost one hundred per cent of pupils achieve six or more GCSEs.

Class sizes average between 15-20 with a maximum of 12 at Sixth Form. All classrooms, laboratories, library facilities and seminar rooms are fitted to the veryhighest standards with state-of-the-art technology. Coupled with an excellent teaching staff, this is what accounts for the 98 percent of pupils who obtain universityplaces each year.

Boarding is very popular at Dean Close, with over half theSenior School and a third of all Prep School children living at School. Pupils come from a variety of backgrounds including Services families, expats, international pupils and some families from the local

area who value the benefits of independence and self-confidencethat boarding brings.A warm, family atmosphere means that every child feels happy and secure in being able to approach any other member of the community, confident that he or she will be treated as an individual.As a consequence, children grow up with a respect for others and a sense of responsibility for themselves, others and for their environment.All pupils, boarding and day, belong to a house which is run by aHousemaster or Housemistress, but join together for the vast majority of their time whether in study, sport, mealtimes or social occasions, forging strong friendships throughout the School whichoften last a lifetime.All Houses sit within the School grounds with the own kitchen facilities, SKY TV, internet access and a common room. Weekends are full of activities including films, sports, discos, outings and outdoor pursuits.

Home away from home

Dean Close ValuesThe School is defined by its values. They are both enduringand pervasive; all our activities and decisions are made withreference to them, and all of our community should knowand understand them.Dean Close is willing to say in public what it believes. Making a difference both as individuals and as an institutionis central to the Dean Close ethos.

Respect - give and receive due regard

Kindness - care without conditions

Service - proactively meet a need

Resilience - develop grit

Curiosity - desire to know

Integrity - be consistently truthful in words and deeds

I have lived in the UAE for over 11years and studied at Dubai Collegebefore joining Dean Close for SixthForm in September 2017. I studyMaths, Further Maths, Physics andEconomics and hope to study Economics, with UCAS applicationsto Cambridge, Warwick and Exeter. I am a School Prefect and am involved in musical activities such as Chapel Choir and playing thedrums as well as playing footballand basketball during games sessions and afternoon activities.The best bit about being a boarder is the comradery of the House andthe strong bonds you create withthose that you live with.

I came to Dean Close School tostudy A Levels in 2013, having completed my secondary schoolstudies at Jumeriah English Speaking School, Dubai. Whilst atDean Close, I enjoyed studyingMusic, Geography and Psychology. I loved participating in all the musical ensembles; in particular the Chapel Choir and the Orchestra.For me what I enjoyed most aboutDean Close was being part of such aclose knit School community, whereeveryone knew everyone. I have justgraduated from Bath Spa Universityand achieved a 2:1 in Music. I will be studying for my PGCE next September and I am gaining workexperience by teaching piano at primary schools in the UK.

My parents and I made the decisionto move to Dean Close as my fatherwas employed in Dubai. Dean Closewas our first choice of school as myfamily had all previously attendedand there was a strong boardingcommunity. Although it seemeddaunting at first to make such alifestyle change, I was soon thoroughly involved in the whole experience and made memories andgood friends. I very much enjoyedmy A level subjects and attained thegrades for my first-choice university,the University of Leeds. Dean Closeprovided me with a variety of experiences that allowed me to fulfiland learn skills I didn’t realise I hadbefore. I look back on my time atDean Close with great fondness.

After I moved to the UAE, my wifeand I chose Dean Close for ourdaughter Pip who was keen to stayand board in the UK near our familyhome. It was not a difficult decisionsince I am an Old Decanian and afterwe were all shown around theSchool, it was clear that a lot of improvements had been made tothe physical fabric of the Schoolwhilst the pastoral and friendlyethos remained. We were verypleased with the family style of Fawley House and were reassuredthat Pip would be well looked afterwhilst we were in the UAE.

Pip Speed (Fawley 2016) Tom Speed (Brook 1978)

Benjamin Avery (Gate 2019) Helen Avery (Fawley 2015)

London

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Manchester

Cardiff

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Edinburgh

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Plymouth

CHELTENHAM

Dean Close School is situated in the South West of England in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, which is close to the picturesque Cotswolds. It is easily reached from Junction 11 of the M5 motorway via the A40, or from the nearby Cheltenham Spa Railway Station. The nearest international airports are Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff which are all about one hour away by car or Heathrow which is one and a half hours. The School sits on the largest plot of privately owned land in Cheltenham, just on the outskirts of the Regency town. The Senior School is located on Shelburne Road, and for SatNav purposes, visitors should enter the postcode GL51 6HE. Visitors should come through the iron gates into our Visitors’ car park located at the front of School.

Located in the heart of the Cotswolds

CHELTENHAM

CLOSEDEANDC

SCHOOLS

www.deanclose.org.ukScan the code to go straight to our admissions page

01242 258044registrar@deanclose.org.uk