About Dauntsey's School
Dauntsey's School is a leading independent co-educational boarding and day school in West Lavington, Wiltshire. As an independent school, fees apply. Entry to Year 7 (11+) is via the school's own entrance examination and interview.
Dauntsey's School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 62.2%. A-Level A*–B: 74.6%.
About Admissions to Dauntsey’s School
Dauntsey’s School is a leading co‑educational independent day and boarding school in West Lavington, Wiltshire, founded in 1542. As an independent school, fees apply, and academic, music and sport scholarships and Head Master’s Awards are available.
Entry to Year 7 (First Form, 11+) is by Dauntsey’s own entrance assessment — a written paper in English and Mathematics and a multiple‑choice verbal reasoning test — together with an interview, held in mid‑January. You apply directly to the school (a registration fee applies); both day and boarding places are available.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Dauntsey's School
Dauntsey's School Admissions Criteria
Dauntsey's School is a leading independent co-educational boarding and day school in West Lavington, Wiltshire. As an independent school, fees apply. Entry to Year 7 (11+) is via the school's own entrance examination and interview.
- ✓Register with Dauntsey's School via their admissions office.
- ✓Sit the Year 7 entrance examination (English and Mathematics).
- ✓Attend an interview.
- ✓Scholarships and means-tested bursaries available.
Dauntsey's School Oversubscription Criteria
Dauntsey’s School is typically oversubscribed. Places are offered on the basis of performance in the entrance assessment and the school’s published admissions criteria. Offers are based on performance in Dauntsey’s School’s own entrance assessment together with the school’s admissions criteria.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the required standard in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Dauntsey's School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Dauntsey's School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | Mid-July 2025 (varies by school) |
| 📌 Dauntsey’s School’s entrance assessment Test | September 2025 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 School sends offers | From the school directly |
How to Apply to Dauntsey's School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child directly with Dauntsey’s School
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Wiltshire) when registration opens. Closes Mid-July 2025 (varies by school). A registration fee may apply for the entrance assessment — check with the school.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Dauntsey's School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in September 2025. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are communicated to parents by the school after the entrance assessment. You will receive the outcome of the school’s own assessment and an indication of whether your child has passed the required standard.
Step 5 — Submit Dauntsey’s School’s registration and admissions forms
List Dauntsey's School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your offer directly from Dauntsey’s School
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 2 March 2026. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Dauntsey's School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Dauntsey's School
Academic Performance at Dauntsey’s School
Dauntsey’s School is an academically strong independent school with consistently good GCSE and A‑Level results and a broad sixth‑form curriculum, with most leavers progressing to university.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Co‑curricular at Dauntsey’s School
- ✓Pastoral: a house and tutor structure focused on wellbeing.
- ✓Co‑curricular: a wide range of music, drama, clubs, societies and sport.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dauntsey’s School
Is Dauntsey's School state or independent?
Dauntsey's is an independent (fee-paying) co-educational day and boarding school in West Lavington, Wiltshire, founded in 1542.
How do I apply to Dauntsey's for Year 7?
You apply directly to the school and register for the 11+ assessment (a registration fee applies). Entry is by Dauntsey's own entrance assessment (English, Maths and verbal reasoning) plus an interview, in mid-January.
Are there scholarships or bursaries?
Yes - academic, music and sport awards and Head Master's Awards are available at 11+; fee remission for awards is capped (around 10% of fees), and bursaries are means-tested.
Does Dauntsey's offer boarding?
Yes - both day and boarding places are available from Year 7, with flexi-boarding options in the First and Second Form.
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