Why Choose Us?

Pastoral care at Dean Close is more than a framework—it’s the foundation of everything we do. Recognised with award-winning pastoral initiatives, we ensure that every pupil feels supported academically, emotionally, and socially. Our Pastoral Hub provides a welcoming space for pupils to seek guidance, while full-time counsellors and pastoral specialists are always on hand. Whether through one-to-one mentoring, peer support networks, or our deeply embedded values, we nurture resilience, confidence, and well-being at every stage of school life.

With just 500 pupils in the Senior School, Dean Close offers the best of both worlds—big-school ambition with small-school warmth. Every child is truly known, their individual talents recognised and their aspirations nurtured. As part of the Cheltenham Education Partnership, we extend our sense of community beyond our own walls, collaborating with other leading schools to enrich the educational experience for all.

Education at Dean Close stretches far beyond the curriculum. Our exceptional co-curricular programme fuels passion and curiosity, from Field Days focusing on service and leadership to dynamic personal development initiatives. We are pioneers in AI education, preparing pupils for a rapidly evolving world through our annual AI Week, where innovation is embraced with integrity. Whether mastering technology, excelling in the arts, or developing leadership skills, pupils are equipped for the future in a way that is both meaningful and forward-thinking.

Dean Close is more than a school—it’s a home. Our boarding houses are warm, welcoming environments where dedicated house parents create a genuine sense of belonging. A full weekend programme ensures a balance of adventure, enrichment, and downtime, while strong friendships and house traditions make boarding a transformative experience that lasts a lifetime.

Dean Close Sixth Form is designed to challenge, inspire, and prepare. Alongside academic excellence, pupils benefit from the NEXUS programme, which equips them with essential life skills, from financial literacy to mastering professional and social communication. Our career development programme offers mock interviews, workplace experience, and tailored guidance, ensuring pupils step into their futures with confidence. With an expanded curriculum, leadership training, adventure sports, and personal mentorship, every pupil is empowered to take their next steps with ambition and purpose.

Our teachers are more than educators—they are mentors, role models, and champions of every pupil’s success. With a deep passion for their subjects and an unwavering commitment to pastoral care, they go beyond delivering lessons to nurture curiosity, character, and confidence. Small class sizes and personalised support ensure that no pupil is overlooked, fostering an environment where every child is challenged, encouraged, and empowered.

These values are woven into the fabric of Dean Close. We encourage our pupils to flourish academically and personally, to approach challenges with courage, to make a meaningful contribution to their communities, and to foster a culture of love and respect. More than just an ethos, these values shape the experiences, friendships, and futures of every Dean Close pupil.

Not all about Chapel, but some of it is. Not all about major calendar events, but some of it is. Not just for Christians, but some of it is. The Dean Close Christian ethos has been in our purpose from the foundation of the school. It informs every aspect of our curriculum, co-curriculum and pastoral care giving a sense of purpose and hope. The ethos seeks to demonstrate all that it means to be human, provides opportunities to ask questions and to learn how to disagree well. We seek to support every individual and family, welcome a wide variety of expressions of faith and none as we explore what it means to live life in all its fullness. There is a rise in interest in spirituality in the West and an increased openness to seeking examples of how to live, including that of Jesus Christ. Dean Close is a place where this is central to who we are.