Milton Abbey School
Milton Abbey School
Blandford Forum, England
Milton Abbey School is located in the beautiful southwest English county of Dorset and is certainly one of the most attractive schools in the country. It is particularly known for its support of children with learning difficulties and for alternative qualifications such as BTECs, designed for pupils who do not want a conventional academic route. Art and the entrepreneurship programme are additional highlights.
The Details
The Academics
Milton Abbey School offers GCSEs, A Levels and numerous BTECs. Exam results are deliberately not published – because the school does not want to reduce its pupils to numbers. This says a lot about the approach: it’s not just about grades but about discovering individual interests and awakening latent potential.
A highlight is the “parallel pathway courses” – practical subjects like computer game design or agricultural management that especially empower pupils with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. The learning support department is committed and professional – a real plus for anyone taking a different path to success.
Furthermore, the school offers an Entrepreneurship-in-Residence programme, giving pupils the chance to develop their own business ideas under the guidance of successful entrepreneurs. One example is a pupil who founded their own drone e-commerce company.
Languages Taught
French and Spanish.
The Boarding
Eighty-five percent of pupils are full boarders, living in one of five newly renovated boarding houses – cosy, manageable and full of character. Pupils usually share twin rooms, with single rooms available in the final year.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
What really sets Milton Abbey apart is the broad academic offering that caters to everyone – whether high flyers or practically minded. Four A Levels? No problem. Prefer a BTEC in product design or agriculture? Also possible. The school meets pupils where they are, without trying to fit them into a mould.
The learning support is among the best we know: a six-strong SEN team, small classes and plenty of personal attention ensure every pupil is seen and supported.
Sport-wise, the school is surprisingly well equipped despite its size – with elite programmes in golf and football, plus riding, sailing, tennis, netball, polo and more. The rural location also brings a strong outdoor programme: riding, fishing, hunting, hiking or mountain biking – nature lovers will feel right at home.
And for entrepreneurial spirits? The Entrepreneurship-in-Residence programme is more than just a project – it produces real start-ups, such as the drone e-commerce company of one of our pupils. Practical, concrete and focused on real life.
Weaknesses
As with all fairly small schools, the range of extracurricular activities can sometimes be a bit limited.
Location
London Heathrow Airport is about two and a half hours away by car.
The combination of a spacious campus in a stunning setting, a modern curriculum and practical orientation makes Milton Abbey a real hidden gem. Pupils who might have flown under the radar elsewhere get a real chance to flourish here – in the classroom and beyond.
Dog lovers are well catered for here: around 50 four-legged friends are part of the school community – including a dog-walking club. You won’t find many more rural boarding schools than this.
Take a look at similar schools
Clayesmore School
Sidcot School
Downside School
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