{{short description|School in Dorset, England}} {{Multiple issues| {{more footnotes needed|date=February 2018}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2024}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use British English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox school | name = Clayesmore School | image = Clayesmore School - Main House frontage (geograph 4314568).jpg | image_size = 220px | coordinates = {{coord|50.93142|-2.19644|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | motto = ''{{lang|fr|Dieu premier donc mes frères}}'' | motto_translation = God first then my brothers | established = 1896 | type = [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|Private school]]<br />[[Boarding school]]<br />[[Day School]] | religious_affiliation = [[Church of England]] | president = | head_label = Head | head = | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = | chair = | founder = [[Alexander Devine]] | specialist = | address = Iwerne Minster | city = Blandford Forum | county = Dorset | country = England | postal_code = DT11 8LL | local_authority = Dorset | ofsted = | urn = 113912 | staff = | enrolment = 430 | gender = [[Coeducational]] | lower_age = | upper_age = | houses = {{unbulleted list|Devine|Gate|Manor|King's|Wolverton}} | colours = | publication = | website = {{URL|clayesmore.com}} }}
'''Clayesmore School''' is a [[co-educational]] [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]] for pupils aged 8–18 years, in the village of [[Iwerne Minster]], [[Dorset]], England. It is both a day and boarding school and is a member of [[The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]] (HMC).
The school was founded by [[Alexander Devine]] in 1896 in [[Municipal Borough of Enfield|Enfield]], [[Middlesex]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE CLAYESMORE SCHOOL, IWERNE MINSTER. |url=https://archive-catalogue.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/records/S-340 |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=archive-catalogue.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref> After moving to [[Pangbourne, Berkshire]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heritage Gateway - Results |url=https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MWB21945&resourceID=1030 |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=www.heritagegateway.org.uk}}</ref> and then to [[Winchester, Hampshire]] it finally moved to Iwerne Minster for the summer term of 1933. In 1974 it was joined on the Iwerne site by '''Clayesmore Preparatory School''', originally [[Charlton Marshall]] School, which had been founded in 1929 by R.A.L. Everett. In the following year the school became [[co-educational]].
As of 2023 there are 400 pupils in the senior school (ages 13–18) and 150 in the prep school (ages 3–13). The current head is Joanne Thomson. The school is situated on a {{convert|62|acre|m2|adj=on}} campus.
== History == For centuries the land on which Clayesmore now stands was held by [[Shaftesbury Abbey]]. After the [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolution]] it passed to the Bowyer Bower family. Their family home was built in 1796 roughly on the site of the existing main building. In 1876 the last member of the Bowyer Bower family, Captain T Bowyer Bower, sold the village and estate to [[George Glyn, 2nd Baron Wolverton]]. The Baron demolished the house, laid out the Iwerne estate afresh and commissioned [[Alfred Waterhouse]] to design the present building (now Wolverton House) which was completed in 1878.
In 1904 the [[Frederick Glyn, 4th Baron Wolverton|4th Baron Wolverton]] put the whole {{convert|2612|acre|km2|adj=on}} estate up for sale. This was bought in 1908 by [[James Ismay]] whose father, [[Thomas Henry Ismay]], had founded the [[White Star Line]] shipping company. On Ismay's death in January 1930 the estate was put up for sale in a number of separate lots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legacy of The Great War |url=https://shaftesbury-remembers.goldhillmuseum.org.uk/background/life-at-home/legacy-great-war/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=Shaftesbury Remembers the Great War |language=en-GB}}</ref> Clayesmore School bought the main manor house and the {{convert|60|acre|m2}} in which it stands, and the school moved in during 1933.
For over 60 years, starting in 1940, the school's buildings were used during school holidays as the location for the [[Evangelical Christian]] [[Iwerne camps]].
In 1974, Clayesmore merged with Charlton Marshall School, which later became Clayesmore Prep School. The school became co-educational in 1975.
Clayesmore School officially joined the Inspired Learning Group on September 1, 2025. This is a significant change in the school's 130-year history.<ref name="ILG">{{cite news |last1=Kealy-Roberts |first1=Delilah |title=Inspired Learning Group acquires Clayesmore School |url=https://studytravel.network/magazine/news/0/31396 |access-date=14 January 2026 |publisher=Study Travel Network |date=14 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="SMP">{{cite web |title=Clayesmore School bought by national group |url=https://www.schoolmanagementplus.com/owners-operators/clayesmore-school-bought-by-national-group/ |website=School Management Plus |access-date=14 January 2026}}</ref>
== Iwerne camps ==
From the 1940s until the early 2000s, the school premises were hired during holidays by the Iwerne Trust for their evangelical Christian camps called the [[Iwerne camps]], established by [[Scripture Union]] staff member [[E. J. H. Nash|E. J. H. "Bash" Nash]].<ref name=iwerne>{{cite web|url=https://www.iwerne.org/History|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023061911/https://www.iwerne.org/History|archive-date=23 October 2011|website=Iwerne Holidays|title=History}}</ref> These holidays, aimed at boys from the top thirty British [[Public school (United Kingdom)|public schools]], were highly influential on British evangelicalism, with attendees including theologian [[John Stott]], bishops [[David Sheppard]], [[Maurice Wood]] and [[Timothy Dudley-Smith]], Archbishop [[Justin Welby]] and [[Alpha course]] founder [[Nicky Gumbel]].<ref name=CofE>{{cite book|last=Hylson-Smith|first=Kenneth|title=Evangelicals in the Church of England 1734-1984|year=1992|publisher=Continuum}}</ref>
While the school served as the venue, the camps were independently organized. The camps later became the subject of media scrutiny due to the abuse carried out by camp leader [[John Smyth (barrister)|John Smyth]]; independent reviews identified that while Smyth recruited victims at the camps, the physical abuse primarily occurred at his private residence in Winchester.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2020/29-may/news/uk/iwerne-camps-close-in-wake-of-smyth-case|work=Church Times|title=Iwerne camps close in wake of Smyth case|first=Ed|last=Thornton|date=29 May 2020}}</ref>
== Sports == Clayesmore has a purpose built sports centre on its grounds, including a swimming pool, as well as many other sports facilities. These include a full size astro pitch for hockey, tennis courts and cricket pitches (during the summer months), several rugby pitches, and athletics facilities. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Clayesmore School - Summer Schools |url=https://www.targetenglishinternational.com/summer-schools/clayesmore-school/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=Target English International |language=it}}</ref>
== Heads == Former heads include: * [[Alexander Devine]], 1896–1930 * [[Aubrey de Sélincourt]], 1931–1935 * [[Evelyn Mansfield King]], 1935–1945
== Notable alumni == {{see also|Category:People educated at Clayesmore School}} {{alumni|date=March 2026}}
Former pupils (Old Clayesmorians or OCs) include: * [[Anthony Allen (rugby union)|Anthony Allen]], [[England national rugby union team|England rugby union]] player * [[Edward Ardizzone]], artist, writer and illustrator * [[Martin Bott]], geologist * [[John Brooke-Little]], [[officer of arms]] and [[heraldry]] expert * [[Marcus Cheke|Sir Marcus Cheke]], diplomat * [[John Craxton]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ingram Collection |url=https://ingramcollection.com/artist/john-craxton-r-a/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> painter * [[Robyn Denny]], artist * [[George Devine]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Devine {{!}} Special Collections {{!}} Library {{!}} University of Leeds |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/1928 |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=library.leeds.ac.uk}}</ref>, theatre manager * [[Glynn Edwards]], actor * [[Brian Epstein]], <ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian Epstein {{!}} |url=https://davidabedford.com/research/why-brian-epstein-signed-the-beatles/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>manager of [[The Beatles]] * [[Nicole Faraday]], actress * [[Eric Fernihough]], former holder of the motorcycle world speed record * [[Nicholas C. Handy]], theoretical chemist * [[Tony Hart]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-08 |title=Take Hart: How a Former Gurkha Officer Became Children's Television's Most Beloved Artist |url=https://sandhursttrust.org/news/notable-rmas-alumni/213/213-Take-Hart-How-a-Former-Gurkha-Officer-Became-Childrens-Televisions-Most-Beloved-Artist |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=Sandhurst Trust |language=en}}</ref> artist and creator of [[Morph (character)|Morph]] * [[Graham Hayes]], [[Commando]] * [[Stephen Joseph]], pioneer of Theatre in the Round * [[Lewis McManus]], Hampshire and Northamptonshire cricketer * [[Howard Panter|Sir Howard Panter]], theatre impresario * [[John Plamenatz]], political philosopher * [[Julian Rathbone]], novelist * [[Jeremy Rogers]], designer and builder of racing yachts such as [[Contessa 26]] and [[Contessa 32]] * [[Mike Scott (broadcaster)|Mike Scott]], television presenter * [[Hugh Stewart (film editor)|Hugh Stewart]], film editor * [[Rodney Sweetnam|Sir Rodney Sweetnam]], President of the [[Royal College of Surgeons]] 1995–98 * [[David Walser]], Archdeacon of Ely
== In popular culture == The main house was used as a filming location for the Only Fools and Horses episode, A Touch of Glass (1982)<ref>{{Cite web |last=link |first=Get |last2=Facebook |last3=X |last4=Pinterest |last5=Apps |first5=Other |date=2025-11-20 |title=Del boy, Dorset & a Chandelier |url=https://www.theblandfordexpress.com/2021/12/del-boy-dorset-chandelier.html |access-date=2026-03-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828124957/http://www.isc.co.uk/school_ClayesmoreSchool_Blandford.htm Independent Schools Council: Clayesmore] * [http://www.clayesmore.com/ Clayesmore School official website] * [http://www.ocsociety.co.uk Old Clayesmorian Society official website] * [https://www.inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk/ Inspired Learning Group]
{{Schools in Dorset}}
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[[Category:Private schools in Dorset]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1896]] [[Category:History of Berkshire]] [[Category:History of Hampshire]] [[Category:History of Middlesex]] [[Category:1896 establishments in England]]