Port Regis School
Port Regis School is a co-ed boarding and day school in Shaftesbury, Dorset, educating pupils aged 2 - 13 and founded in 1881. Boarding fees are £13,800 - £16,280 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 7 - 13
- Ethos
- Unknown
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Port Regis
The story, ethos and character of Port Regis.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Unknown
- Head
- Mr Titus Mills
HEADMASTER'S WELCOME Founded in 1881, Port Regis is steeped in history and yet it remains a community that is, at its core, forward thinking and innovative in its approach to educating young children. Few other prep schools can provide the breadth of experience on offer at Port Regis.
It is renowned for its exceptional staff and academic credentials, as well as its first-class facilities set within 150 acres of stunning grounds in rural Dorset. These facilities (that eclipse many at senior schools) enable Port Regis to deliver an outstanding holistic education that inspires the head, the hand and the heart.
However, I believe it is the engagement of the heart, in education, that is foundational.
They nurture the character and moral values of their pupils. As a preparatory school, not only are we preparing girls and boys for life at senior school, but we're preparing them for the great adventure of life itself. So, it is entirely fitting Port Regis has a compelling motto: 'We seek higher things.' It seems to me that this gets to the heart of the matter.
Our passion is to help pupils hone an array of qualities - generosity and endeavour, courage and creativity, good manners and friendship. These things underpin a Port Regis education. These things propel Port Regians far in life. And an education such as this should not only be purposeful and stretching, but also great fun!
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Academics at Port Regis
What pupils study at Port Regis — and where it takes them.
At Port Regis, plenty of curriculum time is devoted to the critical core subjects in all year , leading to a challenging Common Entrance or academic scholarship level in Year 8. English and maths are taught by subject specialists from Year 5, while the amount of time dedicated to science increases as children progress through the school, from one hour a week in Year 3 up to three hours from Years 6-8.
Science lessons (again, delivered by specialists), in which we great emphasis on the practical as well as the theoretical, are taught in one of our three dedicated laboratories. WIDER CURRICULUM We are very proud of our international outlook, and our humanities teaching (geography, history, and religious studies) gives pupils further opportunities to explore the way the world works, with their studies ultimately leading to internally set papers at the end of Year 8.
Programmes offered
Where our leavers go
Recent leavers' destinations (from 2020 onwards) are: Bedales, Bryanston, Canford, Charterhouse, Clayesmore, Clifton College, Dauntsey's, Eton, Godolphin, Harrow, Kent College, King Edward's Bath, King's Bruton, King's Canterbury, Leweston, Marlborough, Malvern College, Millfield, Oundle, Radley, Royal Hospital School, Rugby, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls, St Edward's Oxford, St Mary's Calne, Stonar, Uppingham, Warminster, Winchester College.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Port Regis
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Port Regis.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 2, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
Boarding is at the heart of a Port Regis childhood and education. Paramount to this is the distinctively strong feeling of home. Boarding houses provide a warm and safe family environment with space and for children to flourish. Each house has a home-from-home atmosphere nurtured by dedicated houseparents, house mothers (matrons) and big 'brothers and sisters' (our wonderful gappies).
With our flexible and fun approach to boarding, it is no surprise that most of our pupils try boarding at some point - with almost 100% opting to board by their final year! They want to take advantage of the diverse range of activities on offer, both in the week and at the weekends; not to mention gaining a sense of independence as they get older.
A genuine home away from home
Mansion (for boys and girls aged 7-11) CREATING A HOME FROM HOMELocated over two floors of our Mansion building, junior boarding at Port Regis is a nurturing 'home from home' experience with all the ingredients to create a true family feel. The houses - Huxley (girls) and Talbot (boys) - create the perfect environment for young children to thrive.
From cosy sofas to table football, big screen TVs to quiet reading corners, these are spaces for children to treat as home. After a day of learning and fun, children sleep in comfortable, spacious dormitories. CARE AND SUPPORT AT EVERY LEVELOur dedicated houseparents (Dale and Pip Woolmer, Tom Murray and Karri Nicholson) and our housemothers, Rachel and Lia, provide all the care, time and individual attention that the children need, helping them look after themselves and their possessions.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Port Regis admissions
How children join Port Regis, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
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We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school Port Regis values its relationship with Agents and we rely entirely on there being transparency on both sides. We encourage new Agents to come and visit the School for a full tour and an opportunity to meet with the Headmaster.
Application procedure and entrance tests Registration Registration Form with a Fee of £150 Taster Day (UK Pupils) Including Entry Assessments (Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning) and Interview (International pupils will sit their Entry Assessments online and, once marked, may be invited for interview over Teams with the Headmaster) Offer Letter Confirmation Form with a Deposit of £1500 English levels required for entry to the school Our approach to training is one of immersion but additional and EAL lessons are allocated on arrival, following an initial assessment by the Head of EAL, Rebecca Liddington.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Port Regis fees & funding
What Port Regis costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Port Regis.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Port Regis against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Port Regis location & travel
Where Port Regis is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9QA, England Travel time to London by train Less than 2 hours Telephone +44 (0)1747 857 800 Website https://www. portregis. com/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
Bristol 43 80 2. Southampton 50 80 3. London Heathrow 123 155 4. London Gatwick 136 165 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Gillingham (Dorset) 4 8 2. Salisbury 22 40 Local accommodation ££££ The Newt in Somerset Bruton Somerset BA7 7NG reservations@thenewtinsomerset.
Inside Port Regis
Port Regis — frequently asked questions
Where is Port Regis?
How much are Port Regis boarding fees?
What ages does Port Regis take?
Is Port Regis co-educational?
When was Port Regis founded?
Does Port Regis require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Port Regis?
What qualifications does Port Regis offer?
Does Port Regis support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Port Regis have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Port Regis?
Does Port Regis have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Port Regis?
Does Port Regis accept international students?
How much does Port Regis cost?
What's included in Port Regis's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Port Regis?
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