Dean Close Preparatory School
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

Dean Close Preparatory School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 7 to 13, set within 50 acres of parkland in the heart of Cheltenham. The school shares its site with senior and pre-preparatory schools as part of the Dean Close Foundation, a registered charity. Boarding provision is offered across three houses, with one mixed house for younger pupils and separate houses for older boys and girls. Founded in 1886, the school is rooted in an Evangelical Christian ethos and places community, respect, relationships, and service at the centre of school life. It aims to offer every pupil a well-rounded education that balances academic achievement with the discovery and development of individual talents, whilst encouraging independent thinking and self-confidence. The school welcomes day pupils, the majority of whom live within 20 miles of Cheltenham, alongside boarders from the UK and a range of other countries. Support is available for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, those for whom English is an additional language, and those with particular strengths in areas such as sport, music, art, design technology, and drama. Dean Close Prep is also a member of the Choir Schools' Association, as the Schola Cantorum of Tewkesbury Abbey is educated at the school.

Mobile free zone. Phones should not be brought into school unless permission granted by deputy head. When permitted, phones are handed in at the beginning of the day. Boarders must leave mobile phones in their house during the day but are allowed access once school is over.