Castle Court School

What Castle Court School does

Castle Court School is an independent, co-educational preparatory day school located on a 35-acre estate in Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset. Founded in 1948 by Mr and Mrs Donald Scott (originally in Parkstone, relocated to the current site in the early 1970s), it provides continuous education for boys and girls aged from 3 months (Badger Cubs Club) through to Year 8. The school is structured across four stages — Nursery and Reception (EYFS), Pre-Prep (Years 1-2), Junior (Years 3-6), and Senior (Years 7-8) — and operates from 8:15am to 4:30pm with optional wraparound care from 7:45am to 6:00pm.

The school's curriculum combines core academic delivery with the proprietary Prep School Baccalaureate (PSB) framework and the 7Cs values system (curiosity, collaboration, creativity, courage, compassion, commitment, courtesy), supplemented by Forest School, sport, music, drama, dance, and Design and Technology (including CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting). Learning Development and SEND provision, EAL support, and peripatetic individual music, dance, and drama tuition extend the core offer. Technology is non-differentiated: third-party platforms Edulink and SOCS handle parent communication and scheduling, and Vectare manages transport. Specialised facilities include a Performing Arts Centre, swimming pool, sports hall, dance studio, library, and dedicated DT/Art centre. The school reports strong outcomes including 100% first-choice senior school placement, 60% of Year 8 leavers receiving scholarships, over 100 scholarships to senior schools in recent years, 80% musical instrument uptake, and at least 82% Distinctions at LAMDA examinations.

Revenue is generated primarily through termly tuition fees (£3,623 per term for Reception, up to £7,560 per term for Years 7-8 in 2025/26, inclusive of VAT), with ancillary income from individual music/dance/drama tuition (£211 per term), wraparound care, Badger Cubs sessions, catering, and holiday provision. From September 2026, fees will be reduced by up to 30% in Year 3 alongside a redesigned longer school day bundling enrichment. Sibling discounts of 7.5%-15%, a 10% military discount, and means-tested bursaries are offered. The school sells directly to families through year-round open events, private tours, and a dedicated Head of Marketing and Admissions (Jane Robson), with the current Head Katie Johnson (appointed March 2024) personally involved in family visits. The school is independently owned, with no parent company, no external investors, and no disclosed funding events; governance is provided by a board chaired by Ian Johnston.

Name

Castle Court School

Legal name

Castle Court School

Website

https://castlecourt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Castle Court School is an independent co-educational preparatory day school in Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset, serving boys and girls aged 3 months to 13 (Nursery through Year 8) on a 35-acre estate, with a curriculum centred on the proprietary Prep School Baccalaureate framework and 100% first-choice senior school placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

Keywords

• Independent preparatory education
• Prep school curriculum
• Early years education
• Scholarship preparation
• Private day school

Headquarters

HQ city

Wimborne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Termly tuition fees charged to families for educational services. Fees vary by year group, with reductions announced for 2026/27 academic year (up to 30% reduction in Year 3). The school day runs 8.15am to 4.30pm with optional wraparound care before (7.45am) and after (until 6pm) school.
2. Extracurricular Lessons: Individual music, dance, and drama tuition offered as optional add-on services. Individual music lessons are available for most instruments at £211 per term.
3. Badger Cubs Club: Early years sessions for children aged 3 months to 3 years. Currently free of charge with limited places allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Booking is essential.
4. After School Care and Clubs: High teas for those staying for after school care made up of clubs and prep, along with Badger Cub Clubs sessions including Charlie's Chimps musical sessions and craft/play activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Castle Court School is an independent co-educational preparatory day school delivering education to children aged 3 months to 13, structured across Nursery & Reception, Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior phases. The core offering is a full-time, termly-paid education supplemented by co-curricular sport, performing and creative arts, learning development and SEND provision, peripatetic music, dance and drama tuition, wraparound care, and in-house catering, all delivered from a 35-acre Dorset estate.

Product overview

Castle Court School is an independent co-educational preparatory school offering a unified educational experience from Nursery (3 months) through to Year 8. The school provides a comprehensive program structured across four key stages: Nursery & Reception (EYFS), Pre Prep (Years 1-2), Junior (Years 3-6), and Senior (Years 7-8). The offering spans core academic delivery with the Prep School Baccalaureate framework, alongside extensive co-curricular programmes in sport, performing arts, and creative subjects. Specialist services include Learning Development and SEND provision, EAL support, peripatetic music lessons, Forest School, and wraparound childcare. The school operates from a 35-acre estate and is committed to the '7Cs' values framework (curiosity, collaboration, creativity, courage, compassion, commitment, courtesy).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nursery & Reception (EYFS) Programme Early years education programme for children from 3 months to 5 years, featuring specialist teaching in sport, swimming, music and dance, Forest School sessions, and a 35-acre outdoor learning environment.
• Pre-Prep (Years 1-2) Programme Foundation programme for Years 1–2 building on EYFS, offering literacy, mathematics, science, humanities, art, music, drama, dance, Forest School and sport within a nurturing, child-centred approach.
• Junior (Years 3-6) Programme Middle-school programme where children work with specialist teachers across English, mathematics, science, humanities, languages, art, music, computing and technology, with the Prep School Baccalaureate increasingly embedded.
• Senior (Years 7-8) Programme Upper-school programme featuring leadership development, the Prep School Baccalaureate curriculum, scholarship pathways, Extended Project, and preparation for transition to senior schools.
• Sports Programme Comprehensive sports programme including football, rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, tennis and swimming, with pathways for county, regional and national level competition.
• Performing and Creative Arts Programme Programme including music, dance, drama, Design and Technology, Art with CAD design, 3D printing and laser cutting capabilities, and regular productions and concerts.
• Learning Development and SEND Provision Individualised support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, including adapted lessons, targeted interventions, specialist programmes, and partnership with external professionals.
• Badger Cubs Club Gentle introduction to Castle Court for children aged 3 months to 3 years alongside their parents, featuring musical sessions, craft activities and play in the nursery setting.
• Peripatetic Music, Dance and Drama Lessons Individual music, dance and drama tuition offered as optional add-on services for most instruments at £211 per term.
• In-house Catering Dedicated in-house catering team preparing fresh, nutritious hot lunches, breakfast, breaktime treats, and high teas for after-school care, with menus planned in consultation with pupils and parents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of pupils enter their first choice senior school
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Foundation SportsminorOthersHoliday provision partner providing care all year round at the Castle Court estate. Offers sports and activity programs during school holidays for enrolled and external children.
• British Theatre SchoolminorOthersSummer camp partner providing structured introduction to performing arts for learners aged 7-12, focusing on acting, voice, movement, and stagecraft. Develops communication and public-speaking skills in English.
• Poole Swim AcademyminorOthersWeekly swimming sessions held at Castle Court School. All teachers are Swim England or STA Level 2 qualified with correct lifesaving and First Aid training. Small group sizes to maintain teaching standards.
• EdulinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationParent portal platform used by Castle Court for parent-school communication and access to school information, updates, and key dates.
• SOCS (School Organiser Communication System)coreTechnology or IntegrationSchool communication and scheduling platform providing parents access to calendar, events, and school information.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/castlecourtprep
• Xx.com/CastleCourtPrep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Castle Court School