Why Leweston?
A PROVEN RECORD IN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Leweston achieves some of the best results in the region and excellent university and higher education outcomes.
In 2022 85% of all pupils achieved at least two grades 7 to 9 in their GCSE results we also saw significantly more than double the number of 9s. Meanwhile, at A Level just over half of all grades were A*.
In past five years Leweston’s leavers have gone onto 51 different university destinations, 56% of them Russell Group, however what is most important is to find the right pathway for each student to allow them to make their own impact on the world.
OUTSTANDING VALUE-ADDED
Leweston has occupied a top 10 position for value-added for many years. The value-added measure uses baseline tests to indicate what students are likely to achieve and, through dedicated support and teaching, demonstrates where pupils achieve above expectation.
Read more in our blog about What is Value Added?
A THROUGH-SCHOOL EDUCATING ALL AGES
Leweston welcomes pupils ranging in age from three months to eighteen years. The advantages of a through-school, one campus option are many; pupils of all ages can access a range of facilities often unavailable to individual year groups and, whilst the Nursery, Prep and Senior Schools are zoned appropriately, the common spaces such as Chapel, Dining Room and Music School are used by all students. This familiarity with the site, staff and routines allows for secure but gentle transition between the different educational stages, with teachers working together to ensure continuity of pastoral and academic support.
The school can forge longer term relationships with pupils and parents who benefit from the logistical advantage of having the whole family on one site. For any students looking to convert from day to boarding they are doing so in an environment that is already familiar and with House Parents who will already be known to them.
Read more in our blog about the advantages of through-schools.
A FAMILY-FOCUSED COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Leweston recognises the challenges facing busy families providing practical solutions to support them. All students are welcome on site from 8.00am to 6.00pm with evening activities and supervised prep sessions for day pupils. For boarders there is a full range of flexible options. With no Saturday school families can spend precious weekend time together but a busy programme is in place for those in school. Buses run across Somerset and Dorset and are charged on a per trip basis to provide maximum flexibility and weekly boarders are welcome to use them on Mondays and Fridays.
The School’s Catholic tradition has instilled in its ethos the importance of service to others, which is reflected in the buddy scheme in the Prep, peer mentoring in the Senior School, Sixth Form Community Service and the whole School charity programme. Every year the students raise thousands of pounds for charities of their own choice in the UK and abroad. This combined with a House system that links the Prep and Senior schools, forms strong bonds across the year groups providing pupils with a community of good friends.
A FOCUS ON OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Recognised for its focus on health and well-being, Leweston makes the most of its rural location. Our accredited Forest School provides weekly lessons for all Nursery and Prep pupils, one day a term in the Prep is spent on an outdoor curriculum. The thriving Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in the Senior School supports students at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Leweston’s outstanding record in Cross-Country is helped, in part, by the availability of a challenging campus course. Over 40 staff and pupils turn up weekly for the Friday lunchtime run.
This passion for the outdoors is increasingly reflected in the students care for the environment. The student-led Environment Committee has taken Leweston from a standing start in 2018 to an Eco-Schools Silver Award, awarded in May 2019 and in 2018 the Prep School was awarded Silver Green Tree Award by the Woodland Trust.
Read more in our blog about the positives of outdoor school.
A FLEXIBLE, INDIVIDUALISED APPROACH
We believe that the education of a child is a three-way relationship between academic staff, parents and pupils creating an environment where pupils can learn and grow. Every student is encouraged to try the different opportunities open to them and supported to achieve more than they thought possible. The School has an inclusive approach which encourages everyone into the music, drama and sports programme; every member of Prep 6, Year 7 and Year 8 perform in the choir, any pupil who wants to play a sports match will have the opportunity and all pupils from Prep 3 to Year 9 will take part in drama productions.
From Reception to Year 13 class teachers and tutors work closely with their pupils monitoring progress and encouraging self-reflection and development. At GCSE and A Level, as far as possible, the timetable is built around individual choices rather than option blocks.
A WIDE-RANGING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME
With an extensive lunch-time, after-school and weekend programme covering creative arts, sports, global citizenship and academic enrichment, options are on offer for all ages. The offer changes every term to incorporate new and seasonal opportunities and pupils are encouraged to contribute ideas for future plans.
The senior academic enrichment programme is open to all pupils who wish to participate, not just Scholars and AGT students. For younger years there is Rhetoric group with the Head’s Essay Society in Sixth Form. The regular programme of Leweston Lectures for pupils and parents brings speakers into the school to talk on topics as diverse as black holes, entrepreneurship, the Royal Navy, ethical education and the Large Hadron Collider.
During the Summer Term a whole-school Activities Week provides leadership, team building and communication activities as well as the opportunity to take part in academic trips and have fun.
A PENTATHLON GB TALENT HUB
Since September 2016, Leweston has been an active part of Pentathlon GB’s Talent Pathway programme. In the same year the school was awarded Pentathlon Academy status making it one of only nine such academies in the country. In 2020 the school became a designated Pentathlon Talent Hub.
Leweston’s GB coaches provide the full range of sports in Modern Pentathlon and develops athletes of all abilities from beginner to elite with dedicated training and mentoring programmes. The School has produced multiple National and European title holders and GB team members.
A BEAUTIFUL AND INSPIRING LOCATION
With extensive grounds surrounding a beautiful Georgian Manor House, Leweston provides a location which, whilst being safe, is close to a town with good transport links to London and South West airports. Within the 46 acre estate sits our swimming pool, a full-sized all weather pitch, a walled garden play area, Enchanted Wood Forest School, tennis courts as well as a wealth of historical features including work by Thomas Mawson and George Sherringham.
NSEA SOUTH WEST EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONS
Leweston has a thriving equestrian team supported by the school’s own Equestrian Manager and is gaining a reputation as a serious competitor in equestrian sport. The school is current NSEA South West Regional Points League Champion, a title which the team has held for the past six years. During the 2019/20 season the team accumulated the highest number of points nationally for the second year running.
Pupils compete in show jumping, dressage and JWS and Leweston is an NSEA affiliated school hosting its own Inter-Schools RPL and Grass Roots Show jumping Competition. Pupils are also invited to regular training sessions with Emma Fisher, British Eventing Team Coach for Young Riders.
In September 2020 riding lessons, offered at a local equestrian centre, were added to the school’s activities programme.
