doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
W

Warminster School

United Kingdom, Warminster

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees £14,634 - 55,044
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 529
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1707
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme)
Taught languages French, Spanish, German
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Warminster School, founded in 1707, is a mixed, co-educational day and boarding school for ages 2–18, set on a spacious Wiltshire campus. The curriculum combines GCSEs in Years 10–11 with a Sixth Form that offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma alongside A Levels and Cambridge Technicals, plus the IB Career-related Programme for eligible pupils. The school maintains strong links with its historic past and community, including the Verlucian Community, launched in 2023 to strengthen school life for families, alumni, staff and parents. Facilities span indoor and outdoor spaces: extensive sports fields with an all-weather Astro, a large indoor sports hall, a gym, and a 400m track; the forest is used for Forest School on the Longleat Estate. The Wessex Science Centre houses advanced labs; co-curricular programme includes Duke of Edinburgh, Combined Cadet Force, drama and performing arts ensembles, music, and language exchanges. The campus supports pupils with language and enrichment opportunities.

Warminster School, Church Street, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8PJ, United Kingdom

The Essentials

Warminster School has 529 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Warminster School is located in Warminster, Wiltshire, England, in a peaceful rural setting on the edge of Salisbury Plain.

Stages
Prep School and Senior School; ages 3 to 18.

Type
Co-educational

Additional learning support
The Learning Support Department provides targeted literacy, numeracy and study-skills programmes, with in-class support across core subjects. It coordinates access arrangements for eligible pupils in line with JCQ, IB and CIE criteria, and offers Speech and Language Therapy by an external practitioner.

Country affiliation
England, United Kingdom

Religious affiliation
Christian foundation

Bus service
Minibus service with multiple routes (maps and routes information available for planning).
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Warminster provides boarding in multiple houses. Stratton is a co‑educational Sixth Form boarding house with completely separate sleeping wings for girls and boys and communal living areas, supervised by a residential team. St Boniface houses intermediate boys and offers facilities including a modern kitchen, two common rooms, a computer room and a laundry, with rooms ranging from four‑bed dormitories to singles and modern bathroom/shower facilities with Wi‑Fi. St Monica House houses junior girls and boys (Year 3–Year 8) with an Ivy annex for Ivy girls and separate wings, plus spacious common areas, computer facilities and a kitchen space. Ivy House is a girls' boarding house with a dedicated Matron and house staff; boarding life includes regular social activities and trips. The houses are supported by a team of house staff, resident tutors and teaching staff to provide pastoral care and a sense of community.

Uniform Requirement
Senior Years 7–11 uniform for girls includes: crested blazer, striped blouse, house pin, navy skirt or grey tailored trousers, navy crested pullover, navy tights, black polished leather shoes, navy coat (stormproof/quilted/puffer), optional navy hat, and water bottle; Games kit includes navy crested active jacket, navy/yellow crested polo shirt, house reversible games top, navy base layer top, navy crest skort or base layer leggings, navy crest PE shorts, navy base layer leggings (optional), navy training pants, knee‑length games socks, white ankle socks, trainers, hockey boots, mouthguard, shinpads; cricket options are available in summer terms. Boys aged Senior Years 7–11 wear: crested blazer, striped shirt, house tie, charcoal grey trousers, navy crested pullover, dark grey socks, polished black leather shoes, navy coat, optional hat and water bottle; Games kit includes navy crested active jacket, navy crested mid‑layer top, navy/yellow crested polo shirt or fitness shirt, house reversible games top, navy base layer top, navy crest rugby shorts, navy crest PE shorts, navy crest training pants, navy base layer leggings (optional), knee‑length games socks, white ankle socks, trainers, rugby boots, hockey boots, mouthguard, shinpads; cricket kit options and towel are available. Sixth Form uniform allows a dark suit with matching jacket and trousers or a coordinated skirt, white or pastel shirt with tie on Monday/Friday; formal shoes; Tuesday–Thursday can be worn with similar smart appearance; additional guidance covers hair, makeup, accessories and outerwear; an outfit suitable for formal evenings is recommended.

Food Options
Warminster provides four hot meals daily (lunch and dinner) with vegetarian and vegan options; break snacks and a jacket potato/pasta station are available, along with a fruit and yoghurt selection and desserts; menus are varied and seasonal, with locally sourced ingredients where possible; the catering team works with the School Nurse to ensure nutrition and safety; a Nut‑free policy and allergen management are in place, including a detailed allergen matrix for every meal; day pupils are not permitted to bring packed lunches, and external food is managed to protect pupils with allergies.

House System
The House system comprises Arnold, Denys, Finch and Ken. A pupil's House membership is constant throughout Prep to Sixth Form, underpinning tutor groups and a wide range of activities, competitions and community events; Houses are led by a Head of House and a Deputy, with pastoral and mentoring roles and a framework for house life and life skills.
Fees

Annual tuition at Warminster School ranges from GBP 14,634 to GBP 55,044 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Registration fee: GBP 150 payable on registration.
- Deposit / guarantee fee on acceptance: amount to be advised with the offer; a UK deposit example of GBP 500 is used for certain payments via Flywire. The deposit/guarantee is not refundable if an accepted place is not subsequently taken; it will be returned when the pupil leaves the School, less any extras incurred during the final term.

Tuition fees (per term) — academic year 2026/27 (values shown are per term; fees are displayed per term and are one third of the annual fee)

- Courtyard Nursery: variable (fee varies by programme).

- Prep School (per term):
- Years 1 & 2 (Day): GBP 4,878.
- Year 3 (Day): GBP 5,757.
- Year 4 (Day): GBP 6,418.
- Years 5 & 6 (Day): GBP 7,212.

- Senior School (per term):
- Years 7 & 8: Day GBP 9,033; Weekly GBP 13,251; Full Boarding GBP 14,732.
- Years 9, 10 & 11: Day GBP 9,033; Weekly GBP 15,065; Full Boarding GBP 17,187.
- Accelerated GCSE / Pre-IB (1-year programme): Day GBP 10,194; Weekly GBP 16,226; Full Boarding GBP 18,348.
- Sixth Form A Level: Day GBP 9,033; Weekly GBP 15,065; Full Boarding GBP 17,187.
- Sixth Form International Baccalaureate (IB): Day GBP 10,194; Weekly GBP 16,226; Full Boarding GBP 18,348.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Fees are charged as the annual payment for an academic year and are divided into three tranches paid termly in advance. Fees shown on the schedule are per term (one third of the annual total). Fees are inclusive of VAT at 20% where applicable.
- Deposit/guarantee payable on acceptance; the exact amount is advised with the offer. The deposit is retained if an accepted place is not taken and is repaid when the pupil leaves, less any outstanding extras. Extras and charges (see Extras section) are billed in arrears and added to the termly invoice.

Boarding fees and related charges

- Weekly and full-boarding per-term charges are listed above under Tuition fees; flexible boarding and additional boarding nights are charged separately.
- Flexi-boarding (where available) is charged at GBP 62 + VAT per night. Additional nights for weekly boarders are charged at the flexi-boarding rate.
- Insurance of personal effects (optional) for boarders: GBP 18.50 per term. Outings for boarders are charged as incurred.
- From September 2026 full boarding is offered from Year 7 onwards (UK and international pupils); weekly and flexible boarding options are available according to the published boarding policy.

Other costs and additional fees

- Extras charged in arrears include external examination entry fees (GCSE, IB, A-level), pupil organisers, Art & DT materials, revision workbooks and other consumables.
- Music (optional): individual lessons at GBP 25.50 + VAT per lesson; shared lessons at GBP 13.00 + VAT per lesson. There is no refund for missed music lessons. School musical instrument hire is GBP 40 + VAT per term.
- Learning Support: one-to-one lessons at GBP 56 + VAT per session; larger group lessons at GBP 34 + VAT per session; Learning Support assessments GBP 145 + VAT. The School cannot guarantee provision of more than three one-to-one lessons per week; requests for higher levels of support are considered case-by-case. Learning Support lessons and standardised assessments are added to the school bill at the end of every term.
- English as an Additional Language (EAL) (per term): 1 lesson/week GBP 690 + VAT; 2 lessons/week GBP 820 + VAT; 3 lessons/week GBP 960 + VAT; 4+ lessons/week GBP 1,120 + VAT. All EAL lessons are one hour long.
- Optional Warminster School Parents' Association (WSPA) contribution: GBP 10 per term (optional).

Discounts, concessions and bursaries

- Sibling reduction: 5% reduction for younger children in the same family.
- Old Verlucian reduction: 10% for eligible former pupils.
- Armed Forces concession: specific military concessions apply (details and eligibility on the Armed Forces guidance).
- Means-tested bursaries and charitable bursary support are available in some cases; the School operates a bursary policy and a capped bursary fund to assist eligible families.

Refund information

- Deposit/guarantee fees are not refundable if an accepted place is not subsequently taken. The deposit/guarantee is returned when the pupil leaves the School, less any extras incurred during the final term. Missed optional lessons (for example music) are not refunded. Charges for optional services and extras are added to the invoice and handled according to the School's standard invoicing process.

Fee payment options and methods

- Standard billing is termly in advance (three tranches per year). Families may apply to pay fees and extras via School Fee Plan, a 0% interest monthly repayment option administered by Premium Credit Limited; the School acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative in relation to that service.
- Certain payments (for example deposits and registration payments) are payable via Flywire; Flywire supports multiple payment routes including local-currency bank transfers and card payments depending on payer location and currency.
- Invoices for fees and extras are issued by the School and sums shown on invoices should be settled according to the invoice terms; extras are normally charged in arrears and added to the next termly bill.

Administrative notes relevant to fees

- All stated termly fees include VAT where applicable.
- Learning Support, EAL and optional extras are charged in addition to tuition and boarding fees as described above. These charges are added to the termly invoice and are payable under the School's standard payment terms.
Academics

Warminster School teaches British Curriculum, IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme) for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The school delivers GCSEs in Years 10 and 11. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma alongside traditional A Levels in the Sixth Form. The Sixth Form provides three pathways: IB Diploma, A Levels, and Cambridge Technicals (CTECs). The school also offers the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) for some pupils.

Exam Results
In 2026, the Upper Sixth achieved a 100% pass rate across A Levels and CTECs, with 94% of university applicants securing their first-choice place. In 2025, the pass rate was 99% with 95% gaining university places.

Higher Education Progression
Leavers have progressed to universities including Oxford, Imperial College London, King's College London, Bath, Exeter, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, Warwick, Reading and Southampton.

Gifted and Talented
The school identifies and supports talented musicians; the KS3 music curriculum extends the skills of the most able musicians, and music scholars may choose Music GCSE.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Pastoral care is a central feature of Warminster School. Pastoral care is described as warm, consistent and thorough. Pupils should flourish under this care. Staff provide support through a structured pastoral framework that guides daily life and learning. Peer mentoring offers older pupils' support to younger students, helping them feel valued and safe.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Learning Support Department is an integral part of school life. Learning Support provides help for pupils with additional learning needs. The department works with teachers to develop and implement individual learning plans. Support includes assessment and targeted teaching in small groups or 1:1 as appropriate. Collaboration with families supports pupils' access to the curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Warminster School welcomes pupils from around the world. The EAL department helps international learners to integrate into the school and feel at home. It is a small department that brings out the best in each student, encouraging confidence and competence. International pupils needing improved English receive expert tuition in all language skills in small groups addressing their needs. They are prepared for external examinations, including IGCSE English as a Second Language and IELTS. Cross-curricular support is provided, and Home Days bring IELTS examiners to the school.

Mental Wellbeing
The Health & Wellbeing Hub is a dedicated space for pupil wellbeing. The Hub combines a health and medical centre with rooms for the School Counsellor and listening service, sensory rooms, meditation spaces and quiet areas. The School nursing team and healthcare assistants are based at the Hub. Staff provide support for mental health, anxiety and stress, and help is available as needed. A counselling service is available for pupils who require further support.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding and child protection are supported by a designated safeguarding lead and deputy. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Penny Obern; the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead is Phil Titley. The Deputy Head, Phil Titley, coordinates safeguarding matters. The safeguarding policy is one of the key policies and is accessible to the school community. The policy is reviewed annually. Contact for safeguarding inquiries is pobern@warminsterschool.org.uk.
Parent Experience

History
Warminster School began in 1707 when Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth, founded Lord Weymouth's Grammar School to educate boys from Warminster and the surrounding villages. The school became known as Lord Weymouth's School and maintained close links with Longleat, evidenced by the Wren Doorway in School House. In 1973 the institution amalgamated with St Monica's and became Warminster School, initiating its current mixed, co-educational structure. In September 2023 the school celebrated 50 years of co-education and launched the Verlucian Community to strengthen school life and engagement among current families, alumni, staff and parents. The school now serves pupils across a broad age range and maintains historic ties with the Thynne family and Warminster's local church community.

Community
The Verlucian Community connects current families, alumni, staff, and the Warminster School Parents' Association, serving as a central hub for events and community outreach. It is a space to engage, support, and celebrate all aspects of the school community. The school emphasizes a sense of belonging and the enduring friendships formed through its community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Warminster School Parents' Association (WSPA) exists to support school life and family involvement. The Pre-loved School Uniform Shop is run by WSPA and is located behind Ivy boarding house on Church Street. The shop sells pre-loved uniforms and Warminster merchandise and provides informal advice to new parents about school life. WSPA fosters community connections among families and staff and supports activities across the year. It forms a bridge between families and the school, helping to support initiatives and events.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Warminster has a diverse campus with extensive indoor and outdoor facilities. The Longleat Estate woodland area is used as Forest School. The playing fields include five rugby pitches, two football pitches, six rounders pitches and a grass cricket square, with an all-weather Astro surface and hard courts for hockey, netball and tennis. An outdoor swimming pool is used in the summer term, and indoors there is a large sports hall, five indoor cricket nets, a squash court and a recently refurbished gym. The Wessex Science Centre houses state-of-the-art laboratories, and spaces such as the DT workshop, computer suite, art studios, art gallery and photography suite support science and creative learning; the Drama Department provides two studio spaces with lighting and sound, and the Thomas Arnold Hall, Boniface Hall and Recital Room host assemblies and performances.

Sports Facilities
Warminster has excellent sports facilities including an all-weather Astro pitch, tennis courts, numerous grass pitches, a swimming pool, a sports hall and a recently redeveloped gym. Outdoors, there is an all-weather Astro for hockey; netball and tennis on hard courts; five rugby pitches, two football pitches, a grass cricket square with an artificial cricket pitch; a 400 metre grass athletics track with long jump and triple jump pits, throwing areas and a high jump bed. The summer term uses an outdoor swimming pool. Indoors there is a large multi-purpose sports hall for four badminton courts, plus spaces for indoor netball, tennis and hockey; five indoor cricket nets; a squash court.

Academic Facilities
Wessex Science Centre contains state-of-the-art, fully networked laboratories designed to increase versatility for science teaching. The DT workshop, computer suite, art studios, art gallery and photography suite support creative subjects. The Robert Hope Building houses Computer Science and Geography, and The Macdonald Building houses Mathematics. The Library provides study facilities to support pupils' learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Co-curricular activities are supported by Warminster School Sport, with team sheets published on the Warminster School Sport website. Drama has two studio spaces with lighting and sound; Boniface Hall and Recital Room host performances; the Music Department is on campus. Forest School is accessible via the Longleat Estate woodland on campus. The site hosts music and theatre productions, residential summer schools and sporting camps.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Speech and Drama is a popular co-curricular activity, with pupils following the New Era syllabus in Acting and Devising Drama. The Performing Arts include a wide range of musical ensembles and productions, with events such as the Winter Concert, Carol Service, Rock, Pop and Jazz Night, and Cabaret. Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, Ten Tors, and the Combined Cadet Force challenge pupils with leadership, teamwork and endurance. The Green Zone and EDGE programmes expose pupils to external challenges and diverse interests that extend learning beyond the traditional timetable.

Arts & Creative
The Performing Arts have a strong reputation, with a wide range of musical groups including a Big Band, Corps of Drums, String Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and several choirs. Annual highlights include the Winter Concert, Carol Service, Rock, Pop and Jazz Night, and Cabaret, with ensembles performing at school and public events. Drama is taught across year groups and includes GCSE, A Level, and IB Theatre, with productions, workshops, theatre visits, and opportunities to perform at events such as the Edinburgh Fringe. Art encompasses GCSE/IB Art and Photography, with exhibitions, masterclasses, and events such as Create Exhibition and Big Draw.

Cultural & Language
The school runs a French Exchange programme for Year 10 and a biannual French immersion trip for Years 7 and 8. A Spanish Exchange programme is offered for Year 10. These exchanges complement language study and broaden international connections.

Social & Hobbies
A wide clubs programme operates after school through Green Zone, with activities published each term and ranging from Running Club and Origami to Chess, Croquet, Art Club and Zumba. Other after-school opportunities include drama rehearsals for productions and participation in the debating club. For Years 3–6, clubs run 16:00 to 16:45, with day pupils able to choose supervised prep in place of activities on most days. Residential visits and a broad trip programme extend social and hobby opportunities beyond the classroom.

Community & Service
Senior pupils participate in Community Outreach projects, including supporting primary school clubs, visiting care homes, volunteering at charity shops, and helping community members with technology. The Combined Cadet Force provides leadership development and service to the community. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme offers Bronze, Silver and Gold levels with expedition components and opportunities to apply learning in real-world contexts.

Leadership & Professional
The Combined Cadet Force develops leadership through weekly parades, staff supervision and cadet NCOs, with promotion opportunities and weekend training. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme includes leadership and expedition requirements at all levels, with Bronze, Silver and Gold stages. EDGE and the Green Zone support leadership and personal development through outdoor pursuits, practical courses and a wide range of activities that encourage students to take initiative and lead peers. Senior students are encouraged to lead clubs and activities, including drama productions and sport teams.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sport is a central part of life at Warminster, with main sports listed for different terms and weekly PE for younger pupils. The EDGE programme provides an afternoon of outdoor pursuits and practical skills that promote physical and mental wellbeing. Green Zone offers a spectrum of activities from running clubs to Zumba that support wellbeing and balanced lifestyles. Forest School provides outdoor learning in woodland settings to support physical health, resilience and well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
French, Spanish and German are the principal European languages taught. Learning begins in Year 7 (and earlier in Prep) and continues to GCSE; From Year 10, pupils pursue one or two languages to GCSE. Prep teaches French from Reception to Year 6; Lower School (Years 7-8) studies two languages from French, German or Spanish, and Year 9 studies one language. Post-16 options include AS/A2 in French, Spanish and German, and IB language offerings such as French Language B, Spanish Language B (and ab initio), and German A, with self-taught options in French, Russian, Mandarin and Italian.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers the International Baccalaureate with a Bilingual Diploma pathway in which pupils complete the programme in two languages. Languages offered within the IB include French Language B, Spanish Language B, Spanish ab initio, and German A. Self-taught options exist for French, Russian, Mandarin and Italian.

Immersion Programs
Language exchange programmes are run with partner schools in France, Spain and Germany. Pupils can converse with partners in the target languages via Skype as part of these exchanges. The exchanges provide immersive opportunities to practise language skills beyond the classroom.
Admissions

Admissions
The school uses a selection process designed to identify pupils who will benefit from a balanced, nurturing and well-rounded education and who will make a positive contribution to the life of the School and its community. The Admissions Team assists throughout the process to ensure a smooth experience for every new pupil and family. To begin, complete the application form and submit it to the Admissions Team. Entry points are Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+), and Year 12 (16+). Academic requirements apply for the relevant year of entry. The school offers scholarships across multiple disciplines: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport, STEM, Warminster Scholarship and Headmaster's Scholarship. Applicants may apply for up to two scholarships. Scholarships provide up to 20% fee remission and are reviewed annually; scholars are expected to be positive ambassadors for their chosen discipline and the school-wide community. Academic scholarships are by invitation only. Key dates for 2027 entry include 13 November 2026 (application deadline); by end of December 2026 online assessments; 12 January 2027 Scholarship Day; week commencing 25 January 2027 offers made.

Scholarships
Scholarships available: Academic*, Art, Drama, Music, Sport, STEM, Warminster Scholarship, Headmaster's Scholarship. Available for entry into Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+), and Year 12 (16+). Applicants may apply for up to two scholarships. Academic scholarship assessments are by invitation only. Scholarships provide up to 20% fee remission. Scholarships are reviewed annually and scholars are expected to be ambassadors for their discipline and for the school.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in United Kingdom View all schools in Warminster View all schools in United kingdom IB curriculum schools in United Kingdom Open days & tours in Warminster What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools