Learning For Life

Welcome

 

Milton Abbey School is the only truly full boarding school in England offering the broadest possible selection of academic, vocational and sporting qualifications

25+

A Level and BTEC Courses

90%

Full Boarders

1:4

Teacher to Student Ratio

97%

Represent School in Sport

5

Boarding Houses

60+

Clubs and Activities

220

Pupils

180

Acres

WELCOME TO MILTON ABBEY SCHOOL

Pupils of Milton Abbey Independent School in Dorset working together on a project

LEARN
DIFFERENTLY

At Milton Abbey School, the curriculum is designed to fit the students, rather than the students to fit the curriculum.

Discover more

HEAD’S
Welcome

HEADMASTER

James Watson

Hello and thank you for visiting our website. I am incredibly grateful to be the 10th Headmaster of Milton Abbey School. Founded as a place of worship and learning by King Athelstan in 934 AD, Milton Abbey has a remarkable heritage that continues to inspire our purpose today.

 

The modern school was established in 1954 by a group of visionary educators who believed that schools should offer more than academic qualifications alone. In the aftermath of two World Wars, they sought to develop young people of character, combining scholarship with leadership, creativity, service and an appreciation of the natural world. They called this philosophy character education.

 

Supported by leading British companies including Rolls-Royce and the John Lewis Partnership, Milton Abbey was founded on the belief that education should prepare young people not only for university, but for meaningful careers and for rewarding lives.

 

Today, those ideals remain at the heart of our school. Set within one of England’s most beautiful campuses, we encourage every pupil to achieve academically while developing confidence, resilience and integrity. We hope you will find inspiration in what makes Milton Abbey different, and we look forward to welcoming you to our school.

While learning more about the Milton Abbey difference as you explore our website, it might help to know that we are:

 

    • A proudly charitable, independent, English ‘Public’ School
    • Co-educational, welcoming boys and girls from 13 to 18 years old
    • Located on the Dorset Riviera, in southern England, 2 hours from Heathrow Airport and 2.5 hours from London Waterloo station
    • Truly full boarding, with 90% of pupils staying for 3 or 6 week blocks, with 10% local day pupils

 

    • Small by choice, with 220 pupils and small class sizes allowing bespoke tuition and personal development
    • Academically aspirational for every pupil with consistently high performance for added value results at A-level, GCSE and BTEC
    • Committed to radical inclusivity, being renowned for our Learning Development Programme, which provides specialist support for dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia
    • A founding ideal to provide not just scholarship and sport, but also leadership, confidence, creativity, service, respect and an appreciation of the natural world. We call this ‘character’ education
    • Offering the broadest selection of qualifications in the independent sector, covering academic, vocational and sporting areas

     

    • Renowned for our nurturing pastoral provision, with five boarding houses with their distinct ‘home from home’ environments
    • We prioritise the great outdoors, promoting daily exercise for a ‘healthy body, healthy mind’, through sport, adventure and leisure activity
    • Our historic Grade 1 listed mansion and abbey is surrounded by 180 acres of beautiful countryside, forest and hills in a national ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’
    • Our Sport Every Day programme ensures coached sports sessions are available every day of the week, and that every student may choose their sport, from 32 available over the year
I am very pleased to be part of Milton Abbey School. I feel it has given me more opportunities than my last school, such as, helping out on the school farm, trying new subjects and sports, and participating in activities such as the Combined Cadet Force

– Fourth Form Pupil

Milton Abbey Latest