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Port Regis, Shaftesbury

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Port Regis details

Address:

Port Regis
Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QA

Telephone:

01747 857800

Fax:

01747 857810

Email:

office@portregis.com

Website:

www.portregis.com

Authority:

Dorset

Admissions:

Comprehensive

Gender of entry:

Mixed

Age range:

3-13

Number of students:

413

Affiliation:

IAPS

Last inspection:

November 2003. Read the full inspection report.

General information

Headteacher: Peter Dix, appointed in January 1994.

Staff: 47 (men 25, women 22).

Background: Founded in 1881; moved to present location in 1940; set in 150 acres of Dorset parkland just outside town of Shaftesbury. Main building, Motcombe House, is a Tudor-style mansion with oak-panelled reception rooms and galleried hall. Facilities include purpose-built science and technology centre, specialist teaching block for arts subjects, 450-seat theatre, nine-hole golf course and Astroturf hockey pitch, in addition to a sports complex which serves as a national centre for junior gymnastics and offers a 25-metre heated swimming pool, squash courts and a health and fitness suite; new music school, and dining hall. The school aims to include all pupils in school teams and sport is played every afternoon, with outstanding results. Pupils enjoy rugby, football, hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, tennis, swimming, golf, and squash. French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, drama, German, Italian, Mandarin and Hebrew are taught. Creative and performing arts are taken very seriously, with pupils producing work in art, music and drama; 68 per cent of year five pupils receive individual instrumental tuition. The school has wide range of extra-curricular opportunities. It encourages pupils to raise funds for charity and holds regular sponsored walks and events. It fosters community links, encouraging local membership of the golf course and sports club and providing design and technology lessons for the local primary school. Over-subscribed, with three applications per place. Selective; suitability of school for child and family taken into account; selection by interview. This is a school where the children are successful, as well as happy, considerate and courteous. The staff and children are loyal and hardworking, and the parents are extremely supportive.

Approach to discipline: 'Common-sense approach. Emphasis on positive reinforcement of good behaviour. Very strong pastoral system backs this up (qualified school counsellor and director of pastoral care, back up house parents, assistant house parents, head of the boarding, housemother, assistant housemother and eight matrons). Strong tutor system (children choose their own).'

Uniform: Boys: grey trousers, choice of shirt in school colours, navy-blue jumper. Sunday best: white shirt, tie. Girls: grey skirt, choice of shirt in school colours, navy blue jumper. Sunday best: kilt in school colours, white shirt. 'Enforced quite rigorously. Play clothes allowed after-school hours.'

Special needs: Educational support unit provides for children with mild to moderate learning difficulties. Full-time head of unit plus eight part-time staff.

Inspection: November 2003: ?Port Regis is a very happy school with many strengths. The leadership of the school is excellent. Pupils benefit from the very good teaching, the high quality facilities and the very good curriculum. Consequently pupils achieve high standards in relation to their abilities and their personal development is very good. The governance and management is very good and ensures that all staff are valued and work effectively together for the benefit of the pupils who speak well of their school.?.

Secondary schools: Bryanston School (12 pupils); Marlborough College (12 pupils); Sherborne School (12 pupils).

Boys' age range: 3 to 13.

Girls' age range: 3 to 13.

Over-subscribed: 3:1.

Factors taken into account other than academic ability: Children should be able to cope with the Common Entrance curriculum. Parents should accord with the school's ethos.

Selection procedures: Interview with family (plus previous report).

Day pupils: 151.

Weekly boarders: 120.

Full boarders: 150.

Average class size (Year 5): 15.

Subjects taught at seven: 15.

Subjects taught at 11: 16.

All teachers hold teaching qualifications?: N.

Teachers with degrees: 45.

Specialist teachers used: Yes: English (year six), mathematics (year five), science (year five), French (year one), history (year six), geography (year five), religious studies (year six), combined design and technology (year three), information and communication technology (year four), drama (year three), physical education (year three), music (year one), art (year two).

Subjects taught in addition to national curriculum: French, religious studies, combined design and technology, information and communication technology, life skills, physical social and health education, drama, music, Latin and Ancient Greek.

Sports offered: Rugby, football, hockey, netball, cricket, athletics, tennis, swimming, golf, and squash.

On-site sports facilities: 35 acres of square fields, golf course and Astroturf hockey pitch, in addition to a sports complex which serves as a national centre for junior gymnastics and offers a 25 metre heated swimming pool, squash courts and a health and fitness suite; new music school and dining hall.

Percentage receiving instrumental tuition (Year 5): 75%.

Daily act of collective worship?: Y.

Pupils sit SATs?: N.

Common entrance?: Y.

Percentage admitted to senior schools on reduced fees: 25%.

Major scholarships won: Major academic scholarships to Charterhouse, Bryanston School, Sherborne School for Girls, Canford School, St Mary's School Shaftesbury. Major Music scholarships to Sherborne School for Girls. Major All Rounder scholarships to Canford School, Sherborne School for Girls, Bryanston School, Millfield School, King's College Taunton. Major Sport scholarship to Canford School. Major Design and Technology scholarships to Bradfield College, Bryanston School.

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