South West Schools Guide

Home to some of the UK’s best country preps, forward-thinking seniors and academically and pastorally tip-top all-through schools, families thinking about moving to the South West – encompassing the counties of Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Cornwall – have pick of the bunch. Read our reviews, watch our videos and use our search tools to find the perfect school in the region for your child. 

Where to begin?

One of the defining features of the South West is open space (there’s the scenic Cotswolds, the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, the rolling Devon moors and some of Britain’s best beaches), but the region is certainly no backwater – and easily reachable from all corners of the country. Find out why location matters, and then read our insider reviews to compare and contrast schools in the south-west of England and across the rest of the UK.


Main image: Truro School. Above: Port Regis School
  • Map view
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Alphabetical
Distance from London
Offers boarding
All-through


Badminton School
Bristol
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Beechen Cliff School
Bath
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol
Brymore Academy
Bridgwater
Canford
Wimborne
Chard Prep School
Chard
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College
Clifton
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Cricklade Manor Prep School
Cricklade
Dauntsey's
Devizes
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Exeter Pre-Prep School
Exeter
Exeter School
Exeter
Godolphin
Salisbury
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
King's Bruton
Bruton
King's College - Taunton
Taunton
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Kingswood School
Bath
Marlborough College
Marlborough
Millfield
Street
Monkton Senior School
Bath
Mount Kelly
Tavistock
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Plymouth College
Plymouth
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol
Clifton
Rendcomb College
Cirencester
Richard Huish College
Taunton
Sexey's School
Bruton
Shaftesbury School
Shaftesbury
Sherborne Girls
Sherborne
Sherborne School
Sherborne
Sidcot School
Winscombe
Springmead School
Frome
St Mary's Calne
Calne
St Piran's Senior School
Hayle
Sunninghill Prep School
Dorchester
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
Taunton School
Taunton
The King's School - Gloucester
Gloucester
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
West Buckland School
Barnstaple


Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Marlborough College
Marlborough
Cricklade Manor Prep School
Cricklade
Godolphin
Salisbury
St Mary's Calne
Calne
Dauntsey's
Devizes
Rendcomb College
Cirencester
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Canford
Wimborne
Shaftesbury School
Shaftesbury
Springmead School
Frome
The King's School - Gloucester
Gloucester
Monkton Senior School
Bath
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Beechen Cliff School
Bath
Kingswood School
Bath
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum
King's Bruton
Bruton
Sexey's School
Bruton
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol
Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol
Clifton
Badminton School
Bristol
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Clifton College
Clifton
Sherborne School
Sherborne
Sherborne Girls
Sherborne
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Sunninghill Prep School
Dorchester
Millfield
Street
Sidcot School
Winscombe
Brymore Academy
Bridgwater
Chard Prep School
Chard
Richard Huish College
Taunton
King's College - Taunton
Taunton
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
Taunton School
Taunton
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Exeter School
Exeter
Exeter Pre-Prep School
Exeter
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
West Buckland School
Barnstaple
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Mount Kelly
Tavistock
Plymouth College
Plymouth
St Piran's Senior School
Hayle


Badminton School
Bristol
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Beechen Cliff School
Bath
Brymore Academy
Bridgwater
Canford
Wimborne
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College
Clifton
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Dauntsey's
Devizes
Godolphin
Salisbury
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
King's Bruton
Bruton
King's College - Taunton
Taunton
Kingswood School
Bath
Marlborough College
Marlborough
Millfield
Street
Monkton Senior School
Bath
Mount Kelly
Tavistock
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Plymouth College
Plymouth
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Rendcomb College
Cirencester
Richard Huish College
Taunton
Sexey's School
Bruton
Shaftesbury School
Shaftesbury
Sherborne Girls
Sherborne
Sherborne School
Sherborne
Sidcot School
Winscombe
St Mary's Calne
Calne
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
Taunton School
Taunton
West Buckland School
Barnstaple


Badminton School
Bristol
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clayesmore School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College
Clifton
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Exeter Pre-Prep School
Exeter
Exeter School
Exeter
King's College - Taunton
Taunton
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Kingswood School
Bath
Monkton Senior School
Bath
Mount Kelly
Tavistock
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Plymouth College
Plymouth
Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol
Clifton
Sidcot School
Winscombe
St Piran's Senior School
Hayle
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
Taunton School
Taunton
The King's School - Gloucester
Gloucester
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
West Buckland School
Barnstaple


Sign up today!
Deciding between the schools in the South West can be difficult. If you’re considering a school in the area, sign up today for full access to our expert reviews and begin the journey to choosing the best school for you and your child. Alternatively, why not contact our advisory team for tailored guidance and support on South West England private schools?

Frequently asked questions:

Which is the best private school for my child in the south-west of England?

When choosing the best school, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some pupils may thrive in weekly boarding schools, while others might prefer the consistency of full boarding at an all-through school. Finding the best school in the South West of England is all about considering what works best for your child and your family specifically. We would recommend attending open days as part of this process to gather an insight into the school ethos, location, and suitability.

Which notable alumni have attended a school in the south-west of England?
Private schools in the south-west of England have been responsible for educating plenty of famous alumni across various professions, including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, cook and television personality Mary Berry, lead singer in the band Coldplay Chris Martin and renowned actor and director Laurence Olivier.




Sign up today!
Deciding between the schools in the South West can be difficult. If you’re considering a school in the area, sign up today for full access to our expert reviews and begin the journey to choosing the best school for you and your child. Alternatively, why not contact our advisory team for tailored guidance and support on South West England private schools?

Frequently asked questions:

Which is the best private school for my child in the south-west of England?

When choosing the best school, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some pupils may thrive in weekly boarding schools, while others might prefer the consistency of full boarding at an all-through school. Finding the best school in the South West of England is all about considering what works best for your child and your family specifically. We would recommend attending open days as part of this process to gather an insight into the school ethos, location, and suitability.

Which notable alumni have attended a school in the south-west of England?
Private schools in the south-west of England have been responsible for educating plenty of famous alumni across various professions, including Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, cook and television personality Mary Berry, lead singer in the band Coldplay Chris Martin and renowned actor and director Laurence Olivier.



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