Gloucestershire is home to some of the most prestigious and historic independent schools in the country, with impressive academic performance and pastoral care, not to mention first-class facilities.
SoGlos’s comprehensive independent schools guide spans some truly exceptional institutions for children aged from two to 18, whether you’re considering a co-educational or single-sex school; day or boarding; pre-preparatory, preparatory, senior or Sixth Form.
What is an independent school?
In the UK, independent school is another term for 'private school' — these schools charge fees to attend, instead of being funded by the government and do not have to follow the national curriculum.
Cheltenham independent schools
Cheltenham Ladies' College
About Cheltenham Ladies' College
The world-renowned Cheltenham Ladies’ College has been educating girls from across the globe for more than 160 years. The boarding and day school welcomes girls from 11 through to 18 to its diverse community of over 850 students. By creating an educational environment that’s supportive, challenging, innovative and creative, CLC helps pupils achieve success both inside and outside the classroom.
The independent school consistently achieves outstanding results in GCSE, A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations; with the school being named the South West Independent School of the Decade in 2021.
Class sizes are small and encourage active participation, while expert teaching and regular feedback help pupils realise their full potential. Pupils can also benefit from the extensive range of co-curricular activities, from music clubs and creative societies to sports.
Highlights
Pupils are invited to pursue a broad and varied curriculum, with engineering, enterprise and technology; language acquisition; and philosophical enquiry offered alongside the core subjects of maths; English language and literature; sciences; and modern languages.
Cheltenham Ladies’ College students benefit from a state-of-the-art Health and Fitness Centre, complete with two sports halls; a 58-station fitness gym with free weights and spin area; multi-purpose activity and dance studio; squash courts; swimming pool; and climbing wall, too.
The school is also opening its brand-new Sixth Form Centre in autumn 2026, designed to 'provide innovative learning spaces, that prepare students for university, work and life'.
Cheltenham Ladies' College results
In 2025, Cheltenham Ladies' College saw 35 per cent of A Level pupils achieve an A*; 70 per cent of pupils achieve A* to A; 87 per cent of pupils achieve A* to B; and 96 per cent of pupils achieve A* to C.
At GCSE, 74 per cent of pupils achieved grades 9/8/A*; 88 per cent achieved 9 to 7/A* to A; and 99 per cent achieved 9 to 4/A* to C.
While 52 per cent of International Baccalaureate pupils achieved 40+, with the average points achieved being 38.9.
How much does Cheltenham Ladies' College cost?
Fees cost £20,100 for boarding and £12,660 for day pupils in the Lower and Upper College per term; and for those joining CLC at Sixth Form, fees are £22,290 for boarding and £14,340 for day pupils per term.
Cheltenham Ladies' College offers a bursary scheme, The Beale Awards, offering up to 100 per cent fee support on a means-tested basis, with pro-rated assistance towards additional costs such as uniforms and co-curricular activities.
Which famous people went to Cheltenham Ladies' College?
Actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas; scientist Dame Mary Archer; artist Bridget Riley; politician Amber Rudd; fashion designer Amanda Wakeley; the first female chief of MI6, Blaise Metreweli; and author Robin Stevens.
Get in touch
Address: Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP
Telephone: 01242 520691
Email: enquiries@cheltladiescollege.org
Website: cheltladiescollege.org
Social media: facebook.com/CheltLadiesColl or instagram.com/cheltladiescoll.
The Richard Pate School
About The Richard Pate School
The Richard Pate School is a co-educational independent day school for three to 11 year olds, with approximately 300 pupils across its Nursery, Prep and Junior departments. It teaches all national curriculum foundation subjects, with a strong special educational needs provision.
Set on an idyllic, semi-rural campus in Leckhampton, the school benefits from 11 and a half acres of space and impressive educational facilities, with plenty of opportunities to explore the natural world through its adventure playground and beautiful woodland area.
Celebrating each individual student’s strengths and attributes, the school also works closely with parents to help them choose the right onward destination for their child, with a large percentage of pupils progressing to achieve places and scholarships at leading grammar and independent schools.
Highlights
The Richard Pate School has invested in its specialist facilities over the years, which include an art studio, science laboratory, music centre and all-weather, floodlit astro pitch — allowing teachers to offer a broad and varied education to its pupils.
The school also has a diverse programme of extracurricular activities to help children develop their passions. From programming and ukulele to competitive sport, sessions operate during lunch and after school.
While its academic offering appeals to families seeking an enriching education, The Richard Pate School prides itself on its sense of community, above all. There’s a great family atmosphere between pupils, teachers and parents, as children are taught to value and respect themselves and others in a supportive educational environment.
How much does The Richard Pate School cost?
Per term, fees start at £3,978 for reception, with an increase in price per year group. Current fees for Year 6 pupils per term are £5,721. Fees are inclusive of equipment, school lunches and swimming lessons.
Breakfast club and after school care provisions are also available from 7.45am until 5.30pm, with breakfast club costing £6.50 per session and after school care costing £11 per session. Breakfast and a light tea is included for all children.
Children can be dropped off early for playground supervision for no extra charge, from 8.15am for juniors and 8.30am for prep pupils; while a late room operates until 4pm for all children, also at no extra cost to parents.
Which famous people went to The Richard Pate School?
Double Olympic gold medallist and rower Alex Gregory MBE; children’s author Vivian French; Amy Weaver, the youngest female trainer in UK horse racing history; Jon Foster, BAFTA award-winning writer and children’s animation author; and Ben Powell, jazz violinist.
Get in touch
Address: Southern Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 9RP
Telephone: 01242 522086
Email: admissions@richardpate.co.uk
Website: richardpate.co.uk
Social media: instagram.com/richardpate_school and facebook.com/richardpateschool
Dean Close School
About Dean Close School
Established in 1886, Dean Close School offers an outstanding all-through education for day and boarding pupils aged two to 18, underpinned by a strong Christian ethos. Located in the heart of Regency Cheltenham and deeply rooted in the local community, the school is set within 50 acres of picturesque grounds, featuring a blend of original Victorian buildings and modern, purpose-built facilities including boarding houses, sports amenities and a theatre, all on one campus.
The school aims to give pupils the very best preparation, not only for their exams, but for life beyond them, equipping them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Academic ambition is balanced with a strong pastoral focus, ensuring each pupil is supported to develop both confidence and character.
Highlights
Dean Close has just welcomed its new head, Ali Harber, who brings a wealth of experience and a thoughtful approach to school leadership.
Describing itself as 'academically ambitious without being oppressive', Dean Close achieves consistently strong GCSE and A Level results with pupils going on to leading universities including Oxford and Princeton.
But its emphasis isn't solely on exams, with a wide ranging co-curricular programme that spans drama productions and orchestral concerts to engagement with emerging technologies and a structured exploration of AI.
Sport is an integral part of life at Dean Close, with participation encouraged across all year groups. The school's hockey teams are a regular fixture in national finals; its netball programme recently qualified for the national finals; and the school unveiled its brand-new all-weather cricket practice facility in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to outstanding sporting facilities and opportunities for its young people.
In Sixth Form, its unique NEXUS programme runs alongside A Levels to 'connect academic study with leadership development, super-curricular exploration and tailored preparation for university, apprenticeships and careers', helping to bridge the gap between school and adult life.
Pastoral care is also extremely important, with pupils' happiness and wellbeing at the heart of the school. Its house system provides mentorship across year groups; each pupil has their own 'key person' to support them; and pupils in Dean Close Prep School have access to The Wellbeing Hub – an award-winning online platform offering a proactive approach to mental health and wellbeing, with expert resources for pupils, staff and parents.
Dean Close School results
In 2024, 94 per cent of pupils achieved GCSE grades 9 to 4; 51 per cent achieved grades 9 to 7; and 32 per cent achieved grades 9 to 8.
While at A Level, 66 per cent of pupils achieved A* to B; and 34 per cent achieved grades A* to A.
How much does Dean Close School cost?
Per term, full-day fees for the 2026-27 academic year range from £4,150 a term for pre-prep pupils starting in Reception; from £5,600 per term for preparatory school pupils starting in Year 3; and from £12,150 per term for senior school pupils and sixth formers in Years 9 to 13.
Dean Close also offers boarding, flexi boarding and international boarding options.
Which famous people went to Dean Close School?
Rolling Stones founding member, Brian Jones; artist Francis Bacon; actors Hugh Quarshie and Will Merrick; composer John Metcalfe; lexicographer and former editor-in-chief of the Oxford English Dictionary, John Simpson; and former president of the Royal College of Surgeons, Baron Bernard Ribeiro.
Get in touch
Address: Dean Close Pre-Preparatory and Preparatory Schools are on Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6QS; Dean Close Senior School is on Shelburne Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6HE
Telephone: 01242 258000
Email: For Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School, email preprepadmissions@deanclose.org.uk; for Dean Close Preparatory School, email dcpsregistrar@deanclose.org.uk; and for Dean Close Senior School, email registrar@deanclose.org.uk
Website: deanclose.org.uk
Social media: facebook.com/DeanCloseSchool and instagram.com/DeanCloseSchool
Gloucester independent schools
The King's School Gloucester
About The King's School Gloucester
The King’s School Gloucester is an independent, all-through day school for girls and boys aged three to 18, which benefits from an impressive location and a special relationship with Gloucester Cathedral, located next door. Founded in 1541 by King Henry VIII as one of only seven cathedral schools, the institution welcomes children of all faiths and of none to its Pre-school, Junior and Senior Schools and Sixth Form.
Its inspiring campus blends historic buildings with state-of-the art facilities and the school fosters a pupil-centred environment, where students benefit from small class sizes, excellent pastoral care and a broad range of academic subjects, allowing each pupil to reach their full potential. It instils a lifelong love of learning with stimulating and engaging lessons, while encouraging pupils to pursue their own passions through a wide range of co-curricular activities spanning sports, music, languages and performing arts lessons and clubs.
Highlights
King's scholarships and bursaries recognise and reward pupils who show exceptional talent in academic performance, sporting, musical, dramatic or artistic abilities and provide a significant reduction in school fees. They run annually, offering entry into Years 7, 9 and 12.
This includes its prestigious King's School Choristers experience, where talented singers aged six to eight can audition to become members of the Gloucester Cathedral choir and receive a substantial discount on school fees during their time as a chorister, performing at cathedral services throughout the year and taking part in events like the Three Choirs Festival.
The King's School Gloucester results
King's achieves consistently excellent academic results at GCSE, A level and BTEC, with pupils going on to study at prestigious universities including Oxford.
The school was rated 'Excellent' in its most recent ISI inspection, achieving the highest possible results for both pupil achievement and pupil personal development – and has received glowing praise from the Good Schools Guide.
On top of excellent academic performance, King's also excels in sports, with its first XV rugby team winning the National Continental Tyres Schools Vase at Twickenham; its first VII netball team winning the Collegiate Netball 7s Plate final; and its first XI cricket team winning the Cathedral Cup and being crowned Southwest Regional Champions in the 2024/25 season.
How much does The King's School Gloucester cost?
The King's School Gloucester has frozen its fees for the 2025/26 academic year – per term, Junior School fees range from £3,725 for Reception up to £6,600 in Year 6. Senior school fees range from £7,685 in Year 7 up to £9,050 in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13.
The King's School Gloucester also offers a sibling discount from five to 25 per cent for children from the same family whilst they are all in attendance at the school.
King's also offers music lessons, LAMDA Speech and Drama lessons and English as a Foreign Language lessons for an additional cost, ranging from £11.50 to £38.50 per lesson.
Which famous people went to The King's School Gloucester?
Actor Simon Pegg; BBC Breakfast presenter, Charlie Stayt; conductor with the English National Opera, Edward Gardner; rugby player, John Brain; and SLG founder Miles Dunkley.
Get in touch
Address: Pitt Street, Gloucester, GL1 2BG
Telephone: 01452 337337
Email: admissions@thekingsschool.co.uk
Website: thekingsschool.co.uk
Social media: instagram.com/kingsschoolglos or facebook.com/KingsSchoolGlos.
Independent schools beyond the border
Dean Close St John's
About Dean Close St John's
Set in beautiful surroundings on the Gloucestershire-Monmouthshire border in Tutshill, Dean Close St John’s, part of the Dean Close family, provides co-educational schooling for children aged three to 13.
Offering day, full and flexible boarding, the independent school overlooks the historic Chepstow Castle and has around 130 pupils on its roll.
Highlights
Recognised for its family-feel environment, it takes pride in delivering outstanding academic and pastoral care. With flexible wraparound services as part of the school day from 7.30am to 5.50pm; a daily bus service for pick-up and drop-off; and options for part-time and full-time boarding for one, two, three or four night packages, which are available for both ad-hoc or regular bookings, it aims to support the diverse needs of busy families.
The school offers small classes for more personalised learning; excellent pastoral care; a strong academic reputation; an exceptional outdoor learning curriculum; and smooth progression into Dean Close Senior School in Cheltenham at age 13.
Dean Close St John's results
Dean Close St John’s has received the highest rating of excellent in the ISI’s Educational Quality Inspection, with the inspectors praising the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements and the quality of pupils’ personal development.
How much does Dean Close St John's cost?
Kindergarten fees, for children aged three and four, are priced at £3,800 a term, if full time, and pro-rata for part time.
For pre-prep, fees start at £3,300 for reception and £3,750 for years 1 and 2.
And for prep school, fees are priced at £5,600 per term for year 3, up to £7,000 for year 8, with flexi-boarding starting at £55 per night for an ad-hoc booking and from £565 per term for one night's board per week.
All fees include Wraparound care from 7.55am to 5.50pm; freshly prepared breakfast and hot meals for lunch; snacks, fruit and water throughout the day; forest School visits with specialist forest school leaders; swimming classes; trips and visits; and after-school clubs.
For pupils attending after-school wraparound care who wish to stay for supper, this is priced at £5.80 and is served at 6pm.
Address: Tutshill, Chepstow, Gloucestershire, NP16 7LE
Telephone number: 01291 635382 or 07469 140 449
Email: admissions@deanclosestjohns.org.uk
Website: deanclosestjohns.org.uk
Social media: facebook.com/deanclosestjohns or instagram.com/dcsj_official
Tockington Manor School
About Tockington Manor School
An independent co-educational nursery and preparatory school for children aged two to 13, Tockington Manor School in South Gloucestershire prides itself on upholding traditional family values and allowing 'children to be children' for as long as possible.
Housed in the beautiful 18th century Tockington Manor and set in 28 acres of countryside, just north of Bristol, the school offers a breadth and depth in education boasting an excellent success rate in its Common Entrance exams, with a high percentage of its pupils winning academic, design and technology and sports scholarships to the country's top senior schools, too.
The academic experience at Tockington is enhanced by additional childcare that aligns with modern day family life, offering all families extended hours from breakfast until after supper.
Highlights
Pupils at Tockington benefit from access to its extensive sports facilities, which include a 25m heated indoor swimming pool; dual all-weather astroturf pitch; club standard cricket wicket with modern pavilion; numerous rugby and football pitches; and 2.5km of cross-country running trails and running track.
Children are encouraged to embrace the outdoors throughout their school lives, with things like forest school, 'wellie walks' around the grounds, creative activities and wildlife investigations helping to inspire learning and encourage a love of nature.
The school also has a proud tradition of performing arts, including through private music lessons, music technology and dance, while pupils who have starred in its drama productions have even gone on to land roles in the West End.
Its art, design and technology provision covers everything from classical art study to textiles and bridge building; and it has an extensive offering of extracurricular activities, with everything from yoga and ballet, to computing and debating.
Tockington Manor School results
The school boasts an impressive 100 per cent success rate for Year 8 leavers gaining entry to their first choice senior schools. In sports, 2025 saw the school become national champions in both touch rugby and IAPS Swimming.
How much does Tockington Manor School cost?
Fees for 2025-26 start at £4,860 per year for Reception through to Year 2; while Year 3 costs £6,570; Year 4 costs £6,960; and Year 5 through to Year 8 costs £7,500 per year.
Get in touch
Address: Tockington Manor School, Washingpool Hill Road, Tockington, BS32 4NY
Telephone number: 01454 613229
Email: admin@tockingtonmanorschool.com
Website: tockingtonmanorschool.com
Social media: facebook.com/tockingtonmanorschool and instagram.com/tockingtonmanorschool.
